19
Amanda forced herself out of bed, her body protesting every movement as she dragged herself into the kitchen. She grabbed a bottle of water, chugging half of it in one go before slumping against the counter.
The conversation with Ericka still lingered in her mind.
She hadn't expected her to text at all, let alone keep bantering with her like this was normal.
Amanda tried—really tried—to convince herself that this was just Ericka being Ericka. Direct, confident, composed. But something about her responses felt... different.
Like the game hadn't ended when they left the club.
Like it had only just begun.
Her phone buzzed again. For a split second, her pulse spiked, expecting another message from Ericka.
But no—this time, it was Samantha.
Samantha: I KNOW YOU'RE AWAKE. ANSWER ME.
Amanda groaned, knowing she couldn't avoid her forever. She picked up the phone, dialing before she could talk herself out of it.
Samantha answered on the first ring.
"Finally! I thought I was going to have to break into your apartment."
Amanda exhaled, rubbing her temples. "Sam, I literally just woke up."
"Oh, I know. That's why I'm calling instead of banging on your door. You probably look like a corpse right now."
Amanda rolled her eyes, grabbing a coffee pod and shoving it into the machine. "Appreciate that."
"So, let's cut to the real conversation," Samantha said, voice dripping with excitement. "How's your morning-after-Ericka experience going?"
Amanda froze mid-sip.
"Excuse me?"
"Oh, don't play dumb. I know she texted you."
Amanda choked on her coffee. "How the hell do you know that?"
"I have instincts," Samantha said, sounding far too pleased with herself. "And also, I know for a fact that woman wouldn't just disappear after last night."
Amanda stared at the wall, debating whether she should even bother denying it.
She sighed. "She might have texted."
Samantha squealed. "TELL ME EVERYTHING."
Amanda winced. "Jesus, Sam, my head hurts."
"This is your fault for being a coward and waiting this long to call me back."
Amanda slumped into a chair. "It wasn't anything crazy. She just asked if I was hungover."
There was a pause.
Then—Samantha burst into laughter.
"Oh my God."
Amanda scowled. "What?"
"You guys are so in trouble," Samantha said between laughs. "That is not a normal boss-assistant conversation."
Amanda rubbed her temples. "Can you stop making this a thing?"
Samantha ignored her completely. "So, what else? Because I know for a fact she didn't just check in and leave it at that."
Amanda hesitated.
The next challenge.
She chewed her lip, debating whether or not to tell her.
But Samantha was relentless. "AMANDA. SPILL."
Amanda sighed. "She said she won the dare."
Samantha gasped dramatically. "And?"
"And I may have... asked what the next challenge is."
The silence was deafening.
Then—
"B—" Samantha cut herself off, inhaled deeply, and continued, "Babe. Babe. BABE."
Amanda sighed. "I hate you."
"No, you love me, and also, you are flirting with this woman."
Amanda groaned. "It's not flirting."
"Oh, honey," Samantha cackled. "It is one thousand percent flirting."
Amanda didn't even bother arguing.
Amanda sat back in her chair, pressing the heel of her palm against her forehead as Samantha continued rambling on the other end of the line.
"This is huge," Samantha was saying. "I mean, I knew there was something going on last night, but I didn't think you'd actually keep flirting with her after you sobered up."
Amanda groaned. "I'm not flirting."
Samantha scoffed. "Oh, please. What do you call it, then? Banter? A little friendly workplace rivalry?"
Amanda hesitated. "I don't know. It's just... I don't know."
Samantha sighed dramatically. "You do realize you just played into her hands, right? You literally asked for a next challenge."
Amanda chewed her lip, replaying the text in her head. Maybe she had been reckless, but it had felt natural in the moment. Ericka had teased her, so she teased back. That was all.
Right?
Before she could spiral too far, her phone buzzed again.
A new message from Ericka.
Amanda's breath caught as she stared at the notification.
Samantha, sensing her silence, practically vibrated through the phone. "Oh my god. She texted again, didn't she?"
Amanda swallowed. "I hate how well you know me."
"I hate how predictable you are," Samantha shot back. "Now open it before I lose my mind."
Amanda rolled her eyes but tapped the message.
Ericka: You'll have your next challenge soon. Be ready.
Her stomach did an annoying little flip.
Samantha practically screamed in her ear. "What did she say?"
Amanda read it aloud, and Samantha made a noise so loud and inhuman Amanda had to pull the phone away from her ear.
"This woman is playing with you," Samantha gasped. "And you are loving it."
Amanda exhaled slowly, staring at the text. Loving it? No.
Curious? Maybe.
A little bit thrilled? ...Absolutely.
Samantha's voice snapped her out of her thoughts. "So what's your move?"
Amanda frowned. "What do you mean?"
"I mean, are you gonna keep playing? Or are you gonna fold?"
Amanda glanced at the message again, the challenge hanging between them in the silence.
Slowly, she typed a response.
Amanda: I'm always ready.
She hit send before she could think too hard about it.
Samantha gasped again. "Oh, you are so in over your head."
Amanda leaned back in her chair, letting out a slow breath.
Yeah. She was.
And something told her this game was only getting started.