“Good luck for later,” I said, slipping it over her knuckles.
From her opposite hand, she removed her own, doing the same and placing it on my wrist. Seeing it there seemed to lock something in place. Like now my pre-match routine was incomplete without our little ritual.
“Same for you,” Chloe said, grinning as she held up her hand. My bracelet hung loosely on her wrist, but it still looked perfect, like it was meant to be there. She gave it a little shake, letting it slide up and down her arm. “Besides, with all the luck in these things, there’s no way we can fail.”
32
Inés
Red Wine Supernova—Chappell Roan
“Is this your idea of heaven or what?” Chloe grinned, stretching her arms out wide as she stood in front of the bar. The shopfront, painted a deep burgundy red, had windows that shimmered with a smoky grey tint. Above her, the sign read: “Vine & Grape.”
I glanced at her, noting the way her hair was pulled back with two delicate gold clips that caught the light. “Is this a wine bar?”
“Where else would I take you?” she replied, flashing a playful smile as she stepped to the door and held it open for me.
Inside, the air was warm and inviting, with racks of wine bottles lining the dark-blue walls. The soft lighting bounced off polished wood, creating a cozy yet elegant atmosphere.
“I half expected an escape room,” I admitted, taking in the décor before turning back to her.
We’d both reached the next round of the competition after successfully beating our opponents. Chloe had taken her last match in two sets, whereas I’d stretched my match the full three. My injury was hurting less and less, getting more used to the stress of constant sport.
Chloe chuckled, the sound low and rich, as she casually tucked her hair behind her ear. “I think I have better taste than that.” Shewore a sleek black bandeau, her strong shoulders and perfectly defined collarbone on display like they’d been carved by angels.
She looked effortlessly stunning, and there wasn’t even a hint of nerves in her demeanor. She knew it too.
Leaning in, her voice dropped to a near whisper. “Plus, I don’t think you’d hate the idea of being trapped in a room with me for forty-five minutes.”
“I fear our competitive drive would tear us apart,” I murmured, letting my eyes wander back to hers. Her thick lashes framed her sparkling eyes, and when her hand brushed the small of my back, I felt my heart skip.
“Not ideal first-date material,” she agreed, her grin turning wicked as we reached the host stand. Her eyes trailed over me, bold and unabashed, like she was savoring every detail.
“Unless you planned to trap me in there with you on purpose,” I teased, arching a brow.
Chloe’s hand lingered at the small of my back, her touch featherlight yet deliberate. “Oh, I wouldn’t need an escape room to do that,” she murmured, her voice dipping lower as her gaze met mine. “I already have you exactly where I want you.”
Heat flushed through me, her confidence contagious, and I couldn’t stop the smirk pulling at my lips. “Bold of you to assume I wouldn’t beat you at that game too.”
Her laugh was soft, her fingers giving a subtle squeeze at my waist. “I guess we’ll have to see who wins this round.”
We hadn’t even sat down at our table and the flirting had been endless. God help me.
The host appeared, checking Chloe’s reservation and guiding us to a secluded booth, the lighting so dark I could barely make out the faces of the other diners.
At least it would be private.
“I actually prearranged the menu. I hope you don’t mind,” Chloe said, sitting down next to me.
“Feels like an awfully big assumption for a first date.”
“It’s good, I promise.”
When the server arrived, she was carrying a tray with six tasting glasses, all filled with a dark glossy liquid. The server placed them on the table, and I noticed that each was numbered, one to three, with a delicate label hanging from the stem.
“As requested, here is our Ruby Flight, a selection of red wines from around the world,” the server said with a polished smile. I glanced at Chloe, unsurprised to find a smug grin spreading across her face.
The server placed a small menu between us. “This outlines the wines, if you’d like to learn more.”
