A Game of Desire

a game, and I had been

g song stuck on repeat. No matter how much I tried to push it away, it lingered, a quie

nt. The rain tapped against the windows, a soft, rhythmic sound that should've been comforting. Instead, it jus

't seem to escape. With a groan, I kicked off my shoes, not caring where they landed. One hit the wall with a dull thud, the other skidded across the f

ulled open the fridge and grabbed a bottle of

ter. Another day of putting out fires that never should have started, juggling requests that made me question whether peopl

e feel like I was living my best life, but it did the job. It paid the bills just enough to keep me al

force me to make a huge deposit. Where the hell would I even get that from? The q

like actual financial support. He couldn't even handle his own bills without

uiet, peaceful, even-and it was all mine. A tiny, cozy space where I could escape from the chaos of the world outsid

citing, something that made me feel alive. It was an itch I couldn't scratch, a nagging thoug

s. Ryan's name flashed on the screen. I rolled my eyes before picking it up. It wasn't that I didn't

al playful, teasing tone, like he was just waiting t

re four nights ago, moaning like a bitch," I shot back, leaning against th

ake me wince. "Yo, yo, yo-that's toxic as hell. Don't act l

alling me, Ryan? I swear, you always manag

ck in?" His voice was all mock offense, like he a

nd is a strong word

. "Damn, that's cold. That's

iving me a headache. "Look, I've got a lot on my mind. If you

the air between us. It was subtle, but it was there. His voic

real this time," he said, the words now tinged w

at's new," I muttered, w

if he was deciding whether to

sit up straighter. "You know, the big one with all the glass and fancy windows?" I cou

y eyes. "Wha

"there's a job opening there. Executive assistant po

ip. It wasn't just any company-it was the company. The type of place where people wore thousand dollar suits and play

me, "are you serious? You're suggesting I ap

ourself credit for. You're wasting your time in that tiny office, answerin

pposed to compete with people who actually have experience? They'll look at me and laugh

ne of his "you're being ridiculous" looks. When he spoke again, his

pable of a lot more than you give yourself credit for," he said, almost

Could I really do this? Could I really step

the time. You hate the routine, the monotony. This could be your shot, your c

My life felt like one long loop of "just enough." Just enough to pay the bills,

playful edge again, "imagine how hot you would

ven though I couldn't help but smile at how absurdly true it was

ce light and teasing. "Hey, at least I'm

s the change I had been waiting for? Could I really make it in a place

g out before I could second-gue

of triumph, like he had won some small victo

was a small shift inside me-a flicker of something that wasn't quite hope but was close enough. Mayb

igger. Or maybe I was just tired

aken root, and now I could