Page 89 of The Wedding Pact

‘Then consider it done. Just let me know when. I have a lot of time on my hands to fill now and it’s all yours.’

She fixes me with a serious look.

‘It’s important to me that we’ll be equals in any kind of relationship we have.’

‘We will be.’

There’s silence for a moment, where she looks away from the screen, and I hold my breath, hoping she’s not going to sign off and leave the chat now.

After a few more painful seconds, she turns back with a twinkle in her eye and says, ‘I tell you what, I’ll play you for it. The opportunity to win a date with me if you beat me at a game.’

I blink at her. ‘Seriously?’

‘Deadly.’

‘Which game?’

‘You choose. I’ll give you that advantage, since it’s quite likely I’ll beat you at whatever I’d choose.’ She smirks at that.

I raise an eyebrow back.

‘Hmm. That’s quite a challenge.’

‘I thought you liked a challenge?’ she points out.

‘I do.’

‘So, go on then, choose your game.’

‘I choose Mandolin’s Realm.’

Her eyebrows shoot up. ‘Seriously, dude? You know I’ll smash you at it.’

‘We’ll see. Maybe I’ve been practising it for just such an occasion.’

‘Okay, I challenge you to a speed run from the beginning.’

‘Until when?’ I ask.

‘Until we’re spent and can’t play any more.’

‘I’m never giving up,’ I warn her.

‘I’m counting on it.’

‘I guess it’ll give us plenty of time to chat.’

‘That’s the idea,’ she agrees.

‘Any subject goes?’

‘Well, to a point. I’m not going to be getting into politics with you right now.’

‘Good for me. How about our most secret fetishes?’ I joke.

‘Sure. If you’ve got the balls for it.’

‘Oh, I have the balls, don’t you worry about that.’