When He Gives Me His Warm Love

During the tryout period, Jason Wright's flings came and went like clockwork.

Some comments quipped, "Bro, isn't your girlfriend gonna flip?"

He replied, "I hung in there for a year—what am I, a charity case?"

I showed up at the birthday bash as expected. He figured I'd learned my lesson, so he flaunted his childhood sweetheart, making a show of it in front of the guys.

"Into her? She's keeping her virgin act and we're living apart. Who'd put up with that? Depends if she plays nice."

But he didn't know I was there just to end things.

Later, I made it to the top of the world, just as I'd hoped, and he regretted it.

I finally got Jason's contact. He texted me his location, telling me to come over.

The message took me by surprise.

Cloudbrook Heights, the swankiest spot in Arlington City.

He'd never mentioned that before.

Today's his birthday, but we'd fallen out a month back over his state badminton team tryout.

"Grace, even if I'm getting engaged today, you wouldn't show, right?"

"Sorry, I'm starting; I can't back out—"

"A stupid game over me?"

Those were his last words to me.

Summer rains are quick, and I was drenched stepping out of the car.

Security blocked me, so I called Jason.

He replied coolly, "Got it."

Background noise mingled with music and laughter.

Then the lobby phone rang.

"Yep, letting her in now."

He handed me a beat-up umbrella, missing the neat row of new ones stashed in the back room.

The downpour made the twenty-minute walk feel like an eternity.

I remembered Jason's harsh words in a spat.

"Grace, you're 19. Others have conquered the world at your age. What's your end game? Why can't you be with me? What do you want that I can't give?"

Back then, I thought he was just mad, but he truly looked down on me.

During the team selections, his new squeezes rotated in and out.

Some comments quipped, "Bro, isn't your girlfriend gonna flip?"

He retorted, "I waited a year, and she didn't care. Why should I? Am I running a charity?"

Perhaps I was always a joke to him.

My dedication was laughable. I'd been hitting shuttles since I was five, fourteen years of sweat, and still no spot on the state team.

I was nothing next to what he had.

"Miss, who are you here for?"

The door swung open, revealing a chic crowd in the lobby.

I stashed my umbrella outside and said, "Hello, everyone, I'm here for Jason Wright."

"Check out her umbrella, how gauche."

"You don't get it. The height of gauche is being on trend."

They pretended not to hear me.

That's when I realized the security were in on it.

I should've known better that they always thought less of me.

They'd been hostile ever since Jason and I argued.

"I'm here for Jason."

"Are you a parrot? Hilarious." A girl with mini skirt and bouncy curls scoffed.

"Olivia, really?" A guy glanced my way. "Sorry, she's blunt, but we all just mess around here. No offense."

They apologized, but their words rang hollow.

"Heard you're an athlete. On the national team? Or are you a world champ? What's your ranking lately?"

"Jason's a trip, huh? Didn't even bother to come get you in this downpour. Where's he at?"

"He's upstairs in the billiard room, schooling Ava. Why head up and ruin their fun?" The curly-haired girl blared, eyeing me scornfully. "Oh, you didn't know? They're almost engaged."

I stayed silent.

The crowd seemed to relish the drama, likely hoping I'd break down.

But I was here for one reason only.

"Please, ask Jason down."

"And you are?" The curly-haired girl sneered, and I felt a sharp sting on my right cheek.

A sudden slap silenced the room.

No one intervened.

Her smug expression said it all, "You're just a nobody, and you think you can land Jason? Didn't you know he's practically engaged to Ava? They are a perfect match, out of you badminton players' league!"

But I hit back.

"Olivia, you okay?"

She staggered back, stunned into silence.

Another figure hurried down, her corseted dress making her seem ethereal.

"Grace, what the hell?!"

I looked up to see Jason, fuming behind her.