The Sigma Wolf

Chapter 22 - Silly Game

Susie

I entered my place and quietly made my way to my room. I stared at my reflection in the mirror. Ajax must be blind. There is no way I am a beautiful woman, nor everything he said to me earlier. Is he playing a joke on me? I took a deep breath, trying to get my emotions in check because all I saw in his eyes was raw honesty.

I took a pajama set out, with a change of undies, and decided to shower. I washed properly and scrubbed my face, trying to remove the orange coloring from my face. After almost scrubbing my skin raw, I left a faint orange glow, one I could live with for a day and a half.

I did all my skin care routine, and dressed. I combed my hair and let it air dry. I looked at my reflection and sighed. This was as good as I could get, considering the circumstances. I wore my fluffy slippers. I was about to exit my room when I stopped.

What the f**k am I doing? Why am I entertaining any idea of spending time with him? Isn't Alan the one who lives in my heart? Isn't Alan the one we want? But if that was a certainty, why do I feel attracted to Ajax? Why is Ajax pursuing me? What the f**k am I doing? What the f**k, Susie?

I sat at the edge of my bed. I am nothing special. I am a regular she-wolf with Alpha blood, but also useless. I am not skinny but rather curvy. I am not into fashion or cosmetics, so I looked barely above average in my good days. I am funny, in a goofy, naive way, that many would like to take advantage of. I don't consider myself intelligent or extraordinary. I am pretty good at the arts, but that is about it.

My mother has always looked at me with disdain. She has never shown praise or admiration for anything I have ever accomplished. This is most likely because my accomplishments are not worth noticing, like the ones of my sisters.

I closed my eyes. My heart told me to give Ajax a chance, but the voice in my head… the little nasty green goblin of self-reproach and insecurity, kept chanting I should keep myself away from him. I sighed. I should have gotten to bed and rested.

Convinced that staying away from him was the best option, I opened the covers of my bed and crawled into it. As soon as my head hit the pillow, my heart pounded. What the f**k am I doing? He has been great to me, and I should not stand him up again. He will be waiting for me, and I should at least show up to tell him I need to sleep. He deserves better.

With that in mind, I got out of bed, fixed my hair with my fingers, and resolved. I made my way out of my place and stood outside his door. He said he would leave the door open. Was he waiting for me? Did I take too long to get ready? What if he was sleeping already? Should I intrude? Knock? Just barge? Goddess!

Taking a deep breath, I placed my trembling hand on the main door handle and slowly twisted it, opening the door. I was greeted by an amazing smell—the smell of pizza and munchies. I stepped in, and Ajax lifted his head from the kitchen and smiled. "Hey, you got here just in time."

He looked at me and chuckled. I looked at my outfit and felt self-conscious about the purple moon and stars pajamas I was wearing. Was it awful? Too childish? "Come in; you know I don't bite," he said, and then added under his breath, "unless you want me to." I heard him but decided to pretend I didn't.

I slowly walked inside, closing the door behind me. "Do you need some help?" I asked, trying to sound as casual as possible.

"Can you take some plates and set the coffee table before the TV?" He said, and I nodded. I made my way to the kitchen, and he pointed at the pantry door, and I nodded. I stood on my toes to reach for the plates, and once I got them, I moved to the TV area and settled the table as he asked me to.

He walked in with homemade pizzas that smelled heavenly and placed them on the table. Only then did I realize what he was wearing. Just like me, he had showered. His dark hair was still damp. He was wearing a pair of Sponge Bob loose pants and a gray t-shirt. I had never thought he would wear something as silly as those pants. I giggled, and he lifted his eyebrows, "What?" He squinted his eyebrows,

"Sponge Bob?" I giggled again, and he laughed.

"What? They are comfy!" He shrugged his shoulders, "Not everyone can wear cute pj's," He added, and I had to stop myself from rolling my eyes. I was not comfortable when others praised me, it was so rare someone did, that when I got a praise, it made me feel like a fish out of water.

"Let me get the wine and other munchies," he said, and I sat on the floor. Somehow, I felt completely comfortable and safe around him.

I waited for him, and he sat next to me. "So, I didn't know if you just wanted to hang out, eat, or watch a movie… but considering we just watched one earlier…" He paused and bit my lower lip. His chest vibrated with a grumble, and I looked at him,

"Pizza?" He offered, and I nodded,

He took a slice, placed it on my plate, and then served one to himself. "So, tell me a secret about yourself…" He said, and I shrugged my shoulders,

"There is not much to tell." I sighed and he shook his head. The fire and determination in his eyes showed me he would squeeze out of me my deepest, darkest secrets tonight, and the butterflies in my stomach convinced me that I would be glad to tell him everything.

"I don't think so…" He paused, "You are guarded and on edge. You don't seem to trust easily and keep your circle of friends closer to you. I have observed you; you tend to be a loner, not always around them, but just enough to show you care." He said that if he were a cartographer, he would have traced a very accurate map of me.

"You are very observant, then," I replied, and he sighed.

"Maybe, but I wonder what made you feel you can't trust anyone?" He asked, and I sighed.

"Are we going to get dense with our conversation?" I lifted my eyebrows, and he shook his head.

"How about we play a game?" he suggested, and I shrugged my shoulders,

"What kind of game?" I asked because I was not up to stripping poker or anything nasty.

"Something simple, 20 questions." He said and then added, "With a twist..." he bit his lower lip, and I could clearly see him throwing the hook, waiting for me to chew on it. My brain screamed to me to leave the hell out of there, but my body and heart wanted to see what he had planned.

"A twist?" I asked, and he nodded.

"Yeah, you ask a question, and we both answer it like a regular 20-question game. If you or I feel the other is lying, we let the other know…" He paused, "by kissing the other on the lips." He finished.

I gasped. Was he for real? My mind reeled when he added, "So if you don't want to be kissed, you must tell the truth…" He said. Of course, I was saving my lips for Alan, so if I told the truth, nothing would happen, right?

Again, my mind kept telling me it was a trap while the rest of me jumped up and down in excitement. After all, what's the harm in playing a silly question game?