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I bit back a smile and looked away from his face.
“I told you, I’m bored, and you’re the only person awake.”
“So, you need company?”
“Something like that.” I shrugged.
“I have some magazines on the table,” he said and returned to work.
I stood up and looked around. I stopped at the wine bar and grabbed one bottle of scotch and a glass. Someone snatched the bottle from me before I could open it.
“Not tonight,” Tristan said, putting the bottle of scotch at the top of the bar, far from my reach.
His towering height stood an inch away from mine as he put the drink away. My hands itched to touch his chest that was so close to my face. I could make out the outline of his pecs and abs from his black T-shirt. The wave of heat from his body made me miss our night cuddles. I missed the brush of his stubble against my cheek and the way he always drew small circles on my hip. He pulled away and returned to his seat.
“Buzzkill,” I sighed and sat down again. I leaned closer to the large chessboard on the table. “Can we play chess?” I asked.
“I need to work, Chloe,” he sighed.
“Just one game.” I pouted.
“Can you play?” he asked.
“You’re about to find out.” I smirked.
I moved to the floor and sat down, placing the chessboard between us. I took the white side of the board and left the black side for Tristan. He brought his coffee with him and took the space in front of me. His long legs folded.
I stared at the chessboard, trying to recall everything Nana had taught me, but I could only remember moving the pawn. It didn’t take two minutes before Tristan kicked my king out. We played another round, and I was still clueless. I could see Tristan holding back his laughter anytime I moved.
“Come on, Chloe. I‘m giving you all the chances to win here,” he said, and I rolled my eyes in defeat.
“Okay, you got me. I suck at chess,” I admitted.
“I can teach you,” he offered.
“Don’t bother; it’s a waste of time.”
“Do you have anything else you want to do?” he asked and took a sip from his coffee.
“I brought my Uno cards with me. You can’t beat me at that one.”
I wasn’t surprised Ciara had packed it. She’d been hell-bent on getting rid of the cards because I always beat her at it.
“Okay, bring the cards.”
I stood up and rushed to my room, bubbling in excitement. I got the cards and went down to grab a bottle of apple cider wine. Tristan frowned at me when I entered the room with the bottle.
“It’s nonalcoholic,” I said, sitting down on the polished wood floor.
I shuffled the cards and shared them between us. I smiled at my wild cards.
“Loser gets to stand under the rain for fifteen minutes,” I said, and he agreed, barely paying attention as he organized his cards.
Tristan went first, and he didn’t have the right card. I took a swig from my drink and played my wild card. I giggled when he didn’t have the card I’d requested.
“Uno,” I chirped after a few minutes of dropping and picking cards.
Tristan smiled and gave me a high five. I picked up my drink to take a sip, and that was when I noticed the number of cards Tristan had. He was deliberately letting me win. I reached closer and took his cards. He’d had every opportunity to win, but he hadn’t.
