The Game

by Natalie Clarke

  She glances my direction, seeing me standing watching them and a huge smile spreads across her face.

  I almost fall to my knees. God, how much I love her.

  “Morning,” she greets.

  “Hi.” I make my way across the kitchen, around the island in the middle and circle my arms around her body, pinning her to the counter behind her, one of my hands cups her cheek and I place my lips on hers. I almost get lost the feel of her when I realise, we aren’t alone. I begrudgingly tear my lips away from her and glance to my right where my mom is standing, watching us, her jaw on the floor.

  “Morning, mom,” I say.

  Hayley lets out a little giggle, burying her face in my chest, hiding the blush that has crept flushed her cheeks rosy pink with embarrassment.

  “Good morning.” My mom picks her jaw up off the floor and offers me a smug smile. She eyes both me and Hayley before turning her attention back to the food. “Hayley and I were cooking breakfast.”

  “I see that.”

  “I’m going to go and set the table, won’t be long,” she announces before leaving the kitchen.

  “I panicked a little when I woke up and you were gone,” I confess.

  “You thought I’d left?”

  “I don’t know, I guess I did.”

  She cups my face with her hand and brings her lips to mine, pressing lightly. “I’m not going anywhere.”

  My lips collide with hers. I grip her thighs and lift her onto the counter, her legs dangling either side of me. I hold her against me, massaging her ass while I grind my crotch into hers, my dick growing hard, she whimpers into my mouth.

  My mother coughs behind me as she comes back into the kitchen. She eyes us, her eyebrow raised, her mouth curved up into a smirk.

  I pull Hayley off the counter and set her back down on her feet, I hear her let out a shy giggle. “I’m just going to the bathroom.” She pecks me on the cheek as she passes and floats out the door, her cheeks are flushed again.

  My mom walks over to the cooker, turning over the bacon and sausages as they sizzle in the pan.

  “She’s lovely, Kyle.”

  “I know.”

  “I heard you when you told her you love her. I can’t describe the feeling of hearing you say that to her just now, and she to you.”

  “Never took you for an eavesdropper, mom,” I joke.

  “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to.”

  “It’s alright.” I smile.

  “I’m so happy you found her. That’s all I’ve ever wanted for you, you know, for you to find someone like her, to find love.”

  “I didn’t plan to, it just sort of happened.”

  “That’s how it’s meant to happen. It's meant to take you by surprise and knock you off your feet.”

  “What is with this family becoming so philosophical, first dad and now you too?”

  She laughs.

  “I’m sorry for storming out last night.”

  “It’s alright, I never realised just how much it hurts you, not having known her.” I look down at my feet, a pang of pain shoots to my heart. She places her hand on my arm comfortingly. “I do know she loved you, Kyle, never doubt that. In the short time she had with you, she loved you a lifetime’s worth. And I know, that if she saw you now, she would be so proud of the man you’ve become.”

  My eyes sting with tears. I nod slowly. I bring my eyes up to meet hers. She must see they are glassy and red because she reaches up to touch my cheek.

  Hayley comes back into the kitchen but stops when she sees us. My mom and I break apart and she continues cooking breakfast.

  Hayley walks over to me and I grip her hips gently, bringing her closer. I press her up against me and wrap my arms around her as she leans her head into my chest, her hand placed over my heart.

  Chapter 27

  Hayley

  After we finish up with breakfast, Kyle takes me on a tour of the house, which coincidentally concludes in his bedroom where we end up having sex two more times.

  When we eventually leave his bed and we are showered and dressed, we head back downstairs to find his parents and Luke in the back yard, his dad speaking into his phone, pacing the far end of the yard against the line of trees, his mom clipping the hedges and breaking off the dead-heads of her flowers. As for Luke, he’s reclined on a sun lounger by the pool in just his jeans, anyone would think it was the middle of summer, when actually it’s early october and it’s freezing.

  “So… what have you two kids been doing? Been up there a while,” he teases, one eyebrow raised, the corner of his mouth curved into a knowing grin.

  “Fuck off, man,” Kyle replies, shaking his head.

  Luke’s phone pings beside him, he picks it up and begins tapping at his screen.

  “Another one of your fuck buddies, brother? Who is it this time, Danielle, Lucy, Chelsea?

  “Gwen.”

  “Wait. As in my best friend Gwen?” I ask.

  “The very same.”

  “Kyle, can I borrow you a second?” Kyle’s father calls from across the yard.

  Kyle turns to me and presses a light kiss to my cheek before he heads over to his dad.

  I perch on the edge of the sun lounger next to Luke, leaning my elbows on my thighs.

  “So are you and Gwen like together or…?”

  “You mean are we seeing each other or just bumping uglies?” he snickers. “It started with the latter, but now I’m not so sure. I like her, she’s fun."

  “She never said anything to me.” Why has she never told me about her and Luke?

  My eyes drift over to Kyle who’s in deep conversation with his dad, as if sensing my eyes on him, he glances over his shoulder, his gaze landing on mine and he smiles. I smile back before averting my gaze.

  Luke sits up, turning his body to face me. “You know, I’ve never seen my brother like this before,” he says. “It’s nice to see him happy. All his life he’s been so lonely, no matter how many girls flung themselves at him, he was never really interested. When he told me about you, I couldn’t believe it. I can see why he loves you. I’m happy he has you.”

  “Thanks Luke.”

  Chapter 28

  Hayley

  “I’m so happy for you, son. She’s wonderful,” my dad says.

  I look over at Hayley, who is talking with my mom and Luke beside my car on the driveway.

  “I’m so proud of you.” He pulls me into a hug, patting me on the back. “Take care of her.”

  “Always.”

  We head over to the others where my mom is now embracing Hayley into her arms.

  “... and you, thank you for having me,” Hayley says.

  “You’re welcome, we're so happy to have met you.”

  I reach for Hayley, taking her hand in mine. “You ready?”

  “Yeah.” She smiles up at me.

  “Goodbye, Hayley,” my father says, reaching over and hugging her.

  Luke muscles in and wraps his arms around her. “See you around, sis.”

  She giggles. “Sis?”

  “You’re a part of the family now.” My heart swells at his words.

  After saying our goodbyes, I throw our bags on the backseat of my car and they wave us off as we drive out of the driveway and head back to the city.

  She looks over at me and smiles, lacing her fingers through mine as it rests on the shifter. “I love you.”

  That right there, is my new favourite sound. Nothing compares to hearing the girl you love say she loves you too.

  “I love you too, baby.”

  ∞∞∞

  When we eventually arrive back at my apartment it’s early evening, the light outside gradually fading into darkness.

  Hayley was planning on cooking dinner for us both, but of course, my kitchen looks like an exact replica of Old Mother Hubbard’s very empty cupboards, and so, once again, we order takeout before settling down in front of the TV.

  After a little persuasion involving some fondling and a l
ot of kissing, she finally agrees to watch The Shawshank Redemption with me, the greatest fucking movie ever made. I must have seen it in excess of one hundred times, each time I love it even more.

  But watching it this time is something completely different, throughout the whole thing, I find myself glancing over out of the corner of my eye at Hayley sat next to me, my arm stretched out, resting on the top of the sofa just behind her head, my focus slowly shifting from the movie onto her.

  Soon I find myself not paying the movie any attention whatsoever, my eyes completely fixed onto Hayley as I watch her watch the movie, gauging her reaction. I watch her laugh, but mostly I watch her cry as silent tears flowing freely down her cheeks throughout the entire last thirty minutes, her chin trembling as she tries to hold them back.

  Once the movie is over and the end credits begin to roll, I reach over and pull her only my lap, so she’s sat sideways, wrapping her up in my arms, kissing her temple as she whimpers against my chest. I stroke the strands of her hair that is beginning to stick to her wet cheeks away from her face, tucking it behind her ears.

  She looks up at me, her eyes red and puffy with tears. “I’m a mess,” she sniffs.

  I wipe away her tears with my thumb and capture her mouth with mine. She reaches around and winds her arms behind my neck, her tongue slipping into my mouth, deepening the kiss.

  I slide my arm under her knees and behind her back. Without breaking the kiss, I rise to my feet, cradling her against my chest as I carry her into my bedroom, kicking the door shut behind me.

  Chapter 29

  Hayley

  “So, are you going to tell me about you and Luke or not?” I ask, turning my body around fully so I’m facing her, my legs tucked up underneath me as I sit on Gwen’s couch, Gwen sat at the opposite end.

  My question catches her off guard, as she stares at me wide-eyed. “Um... I was going to tell you, I just didn’t know how.”

  “Gwen, you’re my best friend, did you think I’d be mad at you?”

  “I don’t know, with Luke being your boyfriend’s brother and all...”

  I scoot over the couch and come to a stop next to her, putting my arm around her shoulders. “Gwen, if he makes you happy, then I’m happy for you. I can’t believe you were scared to tell me.”

  Gwen rests her head on my shoulder, wrapping her arms around my middle. “It started the night we met at Terry’s, we slept together. Since then, we’ve been like, fucking... a lot. It’s great and he’s great but I kind of find myself wishing it were something more. I really like him.”

  “For the record, I think he likes you a lot too.”

  My phone begins to vibrate in my pocket. I pull it out and look at the caller ID, it’s my uncle.

  “Hey.”

  “Hi, sweetheart.”

  “Is everything alright?” I ask.

  “Look, I just thought you’d like to know, Kyle’s here, at your dad’s.”

  “What? Why is Kyle there?”

  I give Gwen a worried look.

  “He came to talk to your dad.”

  “Oh God, I’m on my way.”

  “Hayley, wait-” I hang up the phone before he can reply.

  I turn to Gwen. “We need to go to my dad’s, now.”

  “Come on.” Gwen leaps from the couch and grabs her keys from the table.

  ∞∞∞

  Gwen pulls up on the curb behind Kyle’s Mustang. “You sure you don’t need me to come in with you?”

  “No, thanks though. I’ll see you later, okay?”

  “Okay. See you later, babe.” She blows me a kiss before I jump out of the car and run up the driveway.

  I burst through the front door, raised voices filtering in from the living room.

  “... It's not like that,” Kyle says.

  “Like hell,” my father spits.

  “John, come on, maybe it’s not such a bad idea,” I hear my uncle say.

  I swing open the door. “What’s going on?” The room falls silent.

  Kyle turns toward the door and sees me. “Hayley.” He walks towards me, taking my hands in his.

  “What are you doing here?”

  “I came to make amends, seems like I’m wasting my time.”

  “Dad?” I ask, turning to face him.

  “Hayley, I don’t want this man in my house, and I certainly don’t want his goddamn money!”

  “Why would he offer you money?”

  My dad recoils slightly, as if he’s said too much. He sighs in defeat, his gaze landing on an open letter on the table.

  I pick it up and read it.

  Dear Mr Roberts,

  This is to notify you that your failure to pay the mortgage of this property since June of this year has rendered you in violation of our loan agreement dated February 28, 2001. The amount due for repayment is $79,600.

  You are hereby requested to pay the above-mentioned amount within 14 days, failure to do so will result in the repossession of this property. Your cooperation will be appreciated.

  “We’re being evicted?”

  “I'm sorry.” My dad’s face crumples as he slums back down into his chair.

  My knees buckle and I sink into the chair behind me, clutching the letter in my hands.

  Kyle kneels down on the floor in front of me. “That’s not going to happen, I won’t let it. I’ll pay off everything, you don’t have to worry.”

  “Kyle-”

  “No. Let me do this for you.” He cuts me off, he takes my hands in his, bringing them up to his lips.

  I shake my head in protest. “I can’t let you do that.”

  “We don’t want or need, a dime from the likes of you,” my father spits.

  Kyle gently pulls me to my feet. “Come talk with me, alone?”

  I nod and he guides me out of the living room, up the stairs and into my bedroom. I perch on the side of my bed as Kyle looks down at me.

  “Why won’t you let me help you?”

  “Because... because it feels wrong. It makes me feel cheap, like I’m using you for your money or something.”

  “But you’re not.”

  “I know, we both know that, but that’s how it feels… how it looks.”

  “Fuck how it looks. I am offering to help you, I’m offering to help the girl I care about, the girl I can’t get out to my fucking mind, the girl I’m completely fucking crazy about. The girl I love.”

  My heart swells at his words.

  “The thing is,” he continues. “I knew your dad was desperate for money when I made that deal, I just didn’t know how badly. If I’d known…” He shakes his head, breathing in deeply.

  I smile up at him. “It’s a lot of money Kyle.”

  “You are so stubborn.” He shakes his head, the corners of his mouth curving up with a hint of a smile. “Just let me help you.”

  I take a deep breath. “Look, if you really insist on doing this, then we pay you back.”

  “Not necessary.”

  “No, Kyle, the only way I agree to this, is if you let us pay you back, even if it means I’m still paying you off when I'm eighty, with my bus pass in hand leaning on a walker.”

  He chuckles. “Fine, if you must, you can pay me back, if it makes you feel better.”

  “It doesn’t, but it helps.”

  He kneels down in front of me between my knees, takes my face in his hands and presses his lips to mine, my arms winding around his neck.

  “Thank you,” I say against his lips. “You don’t know what this means.”

  “You’re welcome.” He touches his lips to mine one more time before pulling us both up to standing. “I’m going to make a couple of calls.”

  “Okay. I’ll be downstairs."

  He nods.

  I kiss him on the cheek before I leave him in my room, head back downstairs and re-enter the living room.

  “Hayley, I won’t take money from that man,” my dad says.