"Should we make this into a bet?"
"Ok. What were you thinking?"
She tapped her finger on her chin, pretending to think for an answer she had ready since before they met, "Let's keep it simple. Winner gets a wish granted." She quickly glanced at him before looking away, a little embarrassed at the idea of him possibly knowing the trap she just laid out.
He raised an eyebrow. "Sure," he said, playing along. Maybe he knew what was happening. Maybe someone else used this tactic on him before. Or maybe he didn't, because he wasn't as experienced as she put him out to be. Regardless, she shrugged off the doubtful voices in her head. There wasn't a point in trying to figure that now, and focusing on these thoughts would only pull her away from the present.
The day went on. Prior to today, she hadn't decide whether she wanted to win this bet or to lose on purpose. She wasn't necessarily a competitive person, and to some extent she wanted to see how he would react. Would he be competitive? Would he not play into this little game that they had agreed on? Regardless, at the end of the day when they were tallying up the points they earned from the games they played, she did come out on top. She smiled, pleased with herself. Winning always felt nice.
"So what's your wish?" he asked. She looked at him while trying to push down the intrusive thoughts bubbling up in her brain. He wasn't trying. He was only humoring you. He's just being a good sport. He doesn't even want to grant you this wish.
She took a deep breath. "Hmm... my wish is for you to answer this question." He looked at her expectantly.
"Can you see yourself liking me?"
His eyes widened in surprise. He opened his mouth to answer, and then closed it. He looked off to the side. It took everything in her to stop herself from saying "Haha, just kidding!"
Finally, he looked at her, a little sheepishly, a little shy.
"Yes. I can."
She smiled.
"Good. Me too."
