47 Chapter Forty-Six

It had been five days since Harley and Ivy had taken refuge in Jayden's home to recover from their injuries.

During this time, an unexpected camaraderie had formed between them, although Ivy remained somewhat distant.

Tonight, Jayden decided to bring them all closer together by organizing a game night.

The living room was transformed into a cosy gaming den, with a large TV, multiple consoles, and stacks of board games. The trio gathered around the couch, eager to engage in some friendly competition.

Jayden handed each of them a controller, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

"Alright, ladies, let the games begin!" Jayden announced, his voice filled with excitement. "Our first game of the night: Super Smash Bros!"

Ivy seemed reserved at first, not entirely sure what to expect." *Sigh* this is stupid. Why did I even agree to come to this."

Harley points at herself, while Jayden points at Harley." Oh...Right." Dammit, Harley was her only weakness.

Though reluctant Ivy decided to play anyway. However, as the games progressed and the intensity of the game increased, she found herself getting more and more engaged.

The three of them laughed, shouted, and exchanged friendly trash talk as the colourful characters battled it out on the screen.

"Take that, Harley!" Ivy exclaimed, skillfully manoeuvring her character. "You won't defeat the power of nature!"

Harley grinned mischievously, retaliating with swift moves. "Oh, you think you can outsmart me, Red? Think again! Prepare for a beatdown!"

Jayden watched the playful banter between the two, thoroughly entertained.

He tried his best to keep up with their skills but often found himself falling behind. Nonetheless, he had a great time, revelling in the camaraderie and laughter shared between them.

As the game intensified, Ivy saw an opportunity to gain an advantage. With a sly grin, she unleashed a vine from her hand, quickly wrapping it around Jayden's eyes. Surprised, he momentarily lost control of his character.

"Hey, no fair!" Jayden protested, his voice muffled by the vine. "I can't see a thing!"

Harley seized the chance, using her character's swift moves to tickle Jayden's side, causing him to burst into laughter and lose his focus completely. Ivy and Harley exchanged triumphant glances, revelling in their successful distraction.

Ivy removed the vine from Jayden's eyes, her green eyes sparkling with mischief. "Looks like victory is ours, Mr Barber!"

Jayden chuckled, regaining his composure. "Well played, ladies, well played. But don't celebrate just yet. The night is still young, and there are many more games to conquer!"

They continued their game night with a variety of other games.

Jayden suggested a classic favourite that required steady hands and strategic thinking...Jenga.

They gathered around the table, eyeing the towering Jenga blocks with a mix of excitement and trepidation.

"Alright, folks," Jayden announced, pointing at the built Jenga tower. "The objective here is simple: Take turns removing a block from the tower and place it on top without causing it to collapse. The one who topples the tower is the loser!"

Harley grinned mischievously, eager to win by any means necessary. "Oh, this is gonna be fun! Let's see who has the nerves to keep this tower from crashing!"

Ivy raised an eyebrow, surveying the tall, wobbling structure. "I'm not one for games, but I'll give it a try."

Jayden nodded. "It's all about precision and control. Let's see who's got the skills."

They took turns, carefully removing one block at a time and placing it on the top of the tower.

The room grew silent as each player's concentration heightened, aware that the slightest tremor could spell disaster.

Harley, true to her mischievous nature, couldn't resist testing the limits.

With each block she removed, she wiggled the tower slightly, trying to destabilize it without causing an immediate collapse.

Her playful laughter filled the room as she eyed Jayden and Ivy, challenging them to keep their composure.

Ivy, normally reserved, surprised everyone with her steady hands and meticulous moves.

She maintained her focus, studying the tower's structure and carefully selecting blocks that would keep the tower stable.

Jayden, enjoying the friendly competition, played it safe at first, opting for blocks that seemed easier to remove.

He wanted to test the tower's limits without risking its collapse. He couldn't help but smile as he observed Harley's attempts to provoke a topple.

As the game progressed, the tension grew.

The tower leaned precariously, its delicate balance on the verge of collapse.

Each player's move became more nerve-wracking and the room echoed with whispers of anticipation.

Harley, sensing an opportunity, boldly removed a block from the lower section of the tower.

It wobbled, and swayed, but remained standing, defying all expectations. She chuckled, her eyes gleaming mischievously.

"Hahaha, Beat that suckeres!" Harley said completely sure of her victory.

Ivy, determined to outlast her opponents, made strategic moves, removing blocks from the middle and upper sections of the tower.

She maintained a calm composure, masking her competitive spirit.

Jayden, feeling the pressure, carefully studied the tower, searching for the perfect block to remove.

His hands trembled slightly, but he took a deep breath to steady himself.

With precision, he pulled out a block and expertly placed it on top, the tower holding its ground.

Laughter and playful banter filled the room as the tower reached new heights, defying gravity and their expectations.

The atmosphere was a mix of suspense and amusement, each player striving to outwit the others without causing a collapse.

In a climactic moment, Ivy made a daring move. She skillfully extracted a block from the tower's base, causing it to sway and tremble. The room held its breath as the tower teetered on the brink of collapse, but miraculously, it remained upright.

Ivy erupted into cheers and laughter, relieved that the tower had survived yet another intense round.

They revelled in the exhilaration of the game, their competitive spirits fueling the excitement.

Eventually, as the night wore on, the Jenga Tower reached its tipping point.

With one final move, Harley delicately extracted a block, causing the tower to sway, tremble, and finally succumb to gravity.

The room erupted in cheers and laughter, the collapse of the tower marking the end of an exhilarating game.

Ivy and Jayden high-fived each other and gloated. Meanwhile, Harley dropped to her knees in defeat, before proclaiming that she would dust the both of them in the next game.

...

Two days quickly passed since the memorable game night, filled with laughter, fun and perhaps an angry Harley who may or may not have smashed the monopoly board with a hammer.

Where did she even get said hammer... it's a mystery even to Jayden.

As the sun rose on another day, Jayden woke up, expecting to hear Harley's usual morning ruckus.

However, a strange silence enveloped the apartment. Confused, he sat up in bed, scanning the room for any sign of his new acquaintances.

With a sense of unease, Jayden noticed that both Harley and Ivy were gone. Their absence left a void in the apartment, and he couldn't help but wonder where they had gone without a word.

As he glanced at the mirror, something caught his eye.

Jayden moved closer, noticing two lipstick marks—one on his neck and another on his cheek.

The first one bore the words "Harley was here," while the second one carried the distinct scent of flowers, a signature of Ivy.

A mix of curiosity washed over him. He couldn't help but smile, realizing that his new acquaintances had left their playful marks as a reminder of their presence. It was their way of saying goodbye while leaving a piece of themselves behind.

Examining the mirror more closely, Jayden noticed that underneath the lipstick marks, Harley and Ivy had left their phone numbers.

It was a thoughtful gesture, an open invitation for him to reach out if he ever wanted to talk or connect.

Feeling a mix of emotions, Jayden decided to cherish the memories they had created and respect their individual journeys.

He knew that their paths might cross again in the future, but for now, he needed to focus on the present.

With a renewed sense of purpose, Jayden got ready for the day and headed to the barbershop.

The comforting routine of grooming and interacting with customers provided a sense of normalcy.

He immersed himself in his work, focusing on each precise cut and engaging in conversations with his clients.

Just as he settled into his day, Jayden received a text from Lola, his girlfriend.

The text informed him that Lola's bar, Mixology Grove, was about to have its grand opening next week.

Excitement surged through Jayden as he read the message.

Lola had put her heart and soul into the bar, and he was thrilled to support her endeavour.

The news of the grand opening brought a glimmer of anticipation, promising new experiences and opportunities.

Jayden responded to Lola's text, expressing his congratulations and promising to be there for the grand opening.

He knew that Lola's success was a testament to her dedication and talent, and he couldn't wait to celebrate with her.

As the day unfolded, Jayden found solace in the familiar rhythm of his work and the anticipation of Lola's grand opening.