Love Delayed

“Okay,” she perked up. “Meet you back down here in ten!” She smiled and damn near ran out of the kitchen.

Less than twenty minutes later we were out in the back flinging snow at one another. Zoey jumped on my back, trying to get me to fall into the snow. She was very physical; always touching and trying to roughhouse with me. It was cute. Maybe because I knew she could never overpower me, even when I conceded and let her take me down. I found myself making animalistic noises to scare her as she ran for cover. We played out there for over an hour before calling it quits.

Zoey showered, and while I went downstairs to run, she cooked dinner. After my time on the treadmill, I showered and slipped on fresh clothes. I went looking for Zoey and found her in the guest bedroom. She was lying on the bed, looking at her phone.

“Hey, you bored yet?” I asked from the door.

She glanced up at me, but didn’t have the smile or sneaky grin she usually wore.

“I thought you got lost in this place,” she noted on a yawn as she stretched in the bed.

“Funny,” I chuckled. “Is dinner ready? You ready to eat?”

“No. I’m not all that hungry yet.” She sat up on the bed, then that smile slowly appeared. So damn pretty. “And we can’t eat yet. I haven’t gotten my turn at the game.”

I had to take a second to think of what the hell she was talking about. Then it hit me; the damn game she proposed earlier. She must have been able to see me registering it from the look on my face because her cocky grin appeared.

“Mmmmhmmm!” she confirmed smugly. “Don’t think I forgot.”

Her expression was sly, but seeing that she hadn’t tried anything since last night, I couldn’t believe it was suggestive. All day, I’d been questioning my decision of turning her away. Suddenly, there was nothing I wanted more than to explore that delicious body of hers. Shit! I can’t think about that right now! I didn’t want to ruin my friendship with her, no matter how much it made me feel like a bitch.

Zoey jumped off the bed and met me at the door. She nudged my arm with her fist. “My turn to play “Play the Game You Want to Play.” And my game is “Hide and Go Seek”!”

Zoey’s eyes grew big as lemons, she was so fucking excited. I thought it was funny and busted out laughing.

“Hey!” She punched me this time. “I don’t see what’s so funny!”

““Hide and Go Seek” in the house, Zo? What are we…three years old?”

“Did I laugh when you wanted to go play in the snow?”

Trying to slow my breath, I argued, “That was more like a physical activity.” She had to be kidding me.

“Well, this one is more mental.” She crossed her arms over her chest and pouted. She wasn’t kidding.

“Okay,” I exhaled. “When do you wanna get started?”

“Now!” she bounced on her toes in delight. “And to show forgiveness for your lack of appreciation of my game, I’ll let you go first. The only rules are you cannot leave the house and cannot hide behind locked doors. Deal?” She extended her little hand.

I took it and gave her a firm shake. “Deal.”

“Yippee!” she jumped up and down on her toes again. I couldn’t ignore her boobs bouncing in her thin t-shirt. “Now, you go and I’ll count to fifty.”

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