Alice, meanwhile, hadn't looked back at him. She was still hiding her face behind her hands, quiet but clearly trying to control her emotions.
A part of her was embarrassed for losing. Another part of her was grateful that he hadn't humiliated her. And yet another part—the biggest part—was simply happy. Happy that he hadn't rejected her, even after seeing the worst sides of her.
He didn't call her possessive. He didn't say she was suffocating. He didn't run away or try to comfort her with empty words.
His solution had been simple, almost too simple, but clever enough to make her love and hate him at the same time.
He had simply accepted all of her.
"You really are a bastard," she whispered again.
Isaac smiled.
She finally turned her head, peeking at him through the gaps in her fingers. "Don't think this is over. I'll challenge you again."
"I look forward to it."
She sat up, brushing the dust off her skirt. "Next time, I won't lose."
