CHAPTER 10 - Couple Games
Jayna Stewart should have known something like this was coming.
She just didn't expect it to come with a microphone, a crowd, and a giant banner that read:
"Oh absolutely not," Jayna muttered under her breath.
Beside her, Ginny froze. "What... is that?"
From the front of the pool deck, one of their old classmates-now apparently self-appointed event host-beamed into the microphone.
"Alright everyone! Since we have so many couples here this year, we thought it'd be fun to do a little bonding activity!"
The crowd cheered.
Jayna groaned.
Ginny slowly turned her head toward her. "You told me this reunion would be chill."
"It was supposed to be," Jayna shot back.
"Jayna and Ginny!" the host called excitedly. "Our newly engaged couple-come on up!"
The crowd erupted again.
Ginny whispered, "I hate them."
Jayna smirked. "Too late to back out now, fiancée."
Ginny glared at her. "I'm blaming you if this ends in humiliation."
Jayna leaned closer, voice low and teasing. "If we go down, we go down together."
Ginny's stomach flipped.
They stepped onto the small stage area by the pool.
There were three stations set up.
Jayna read the signs out loud:
"Trust Walk. Synchronized Balance. Compatibility Quiz."
Ginny stared at the setup. "...we're going to die."
Jayna bumped her shoulder lightly. "Relax. We've survived worse."
Ginny looked at her. "Have we?"
Jayna smiled, dimples showing. "We survived breakfast PDA."
Ginny flushed immediately. "Do not remind me."
Ginny was blindfolded.
Jayna stood behind her, hands on her shoulders.
The goal: guide Ginny through a simple obstacle path.
"Ready?" Jayna murmured.
Ginny swallowed. "No."
Jayna leaned closer, her voice soft and steady, meant only for Ginny.
"Trust me."
Something in the way she said it-
calm, grounded, sure-
made Ginny nod.
"Okay."
Jayna's hands slid down from Ginny's shoulders to her arms, gently steering her forward.
"Step forward... small step... good... now a little to the left..."
Ginny followed her voice.
Every word.
Every direction.
Without hesitation.
The crowd faded.
The noise faded.
All Ginny could hear was Jayna.
All she felt was Jayna's hands guiding her.
Steady.
Safe.
They reached the end in one smooth motion.
The crowd clapped.
Ginny pulled off the blindfold, blinking up at Jayna.
"You didn't let me trip."
Jayna's smile softened. "I said I wouldn't."
Something quiet passed between them.
Mable, watching from the side, crossed her arms-but she was smiling faintly.
They had to stand on a narrow beam together and complete simple movements in sync.
"Okay," Ginny said, stepping up carefully. "We cannot fall in front of everyone."
Jayna stepped behind her. "We won't."
The instructor called out the movements.
"Lean left!"
They leaned left-together.
"Lean right!"
Together again.
"Turn and face each other!"
Ginny turned-
And suddenly she was very close to Jayna.
Chest to chest.
Hands instinctively finding Jayna's arms for balance.
Jayna's hands moved to Ginny's waist.
Their bodies aligned.
Breathing synced.
The world went quiet again.
"Uh..." Ginny whispered, eyes wide.
Jayna's lips twitched. "Focus, baby."
Ginny nearly slipped.
Jayna tightened her hold, pulling her steady.
"You're okay," Jayna murmured.
Ginny swallowed.
They finished the round without falling.
But neither of them let go immediately.
They sat side by side, holding up small boards to answer questions about each other.
"Favorite food?"
Ginny wrote: Steak
Jayna wrote: Sushi
They both held up their boards.
Ginny blinked. "You like sushi?"
Jayna blinked back. "You like steak?"
They both laughed.
"Okay maybe we're not that compatible," Ginny teased.
Jayna smirked. "We're working on it."
Next question:
"Who said 'I love you' first?"
They both froze.
Ginny coughed. "Uh-"
Jayna leaned closer, whispering, "Just pick something."
Ginny scribbled quickly.
They held up their boards.
Both of them had written:
They both stared at each other.
The crowd went wild.
Ginny burst out laughing. "You would say it first."
Jayna shrugged, amused. "I'm emotionally available now, remember?"
Ginny shook her head, smiling.
---
By the end of the game, they were laughing.
Actually laughing.
Not faking.
Not performing.
Just... enjoying each other.
As they stepped off the stage, Jayna reached for Ginny's hand automatically.
Ginny didn't even think about it.
She just intertwined their fingers.
Natural.
Easy.
Real.
Jayna glanced down at their joined hands.
Then at Ginny.
A small smile tugged at her lips.
"Not bad, fiancée."
Ginny smiled back.
"...not bad at all."
And somewhere in the background, TK Prince whooped loudly, while Apple Chrome-watching through a video call Ginny had forgotten was still open-screamed in delight.
Mable Lee just shook her head, amused.
Because whatever this was between them-
it was no longer just a performance.