Red Card to Your Heart: You Don't Deserve My Love Extra Time novel Chapter 73

@EatShitIfTrue: "Okay, I give up. I'm livestreaming myself doing a headstand and eating a keyboard."

@SoConfused: "What's with the awkwardness and deliberate avoidance? Something feels off!"

@LightsOut: "Oh, Caspian turned off the lights... What are they about to do?"

@WhatAreWeMissing: "What on earth are they doing?! Did I miss something?!"

Actually, nothing happened.

Caspian lay on the cold floor, wrapped in a thin blanket. His breathing was so light, it was almost inaudible.

I lay on the bed, staring up at the ceiling, completely wide awake. The bed frame was so old, that even a slight movement sent it creaking and groaning.

I used to complain about it all the time. But after that, I’d sigh and say to him, "Caspian, be careful...try to be quiet."

When we were young, it felt like we had endless energy. We couldn't get enough of each other, wanting to be together every second.

Now, just a slight shift in bed, the sound of the old bed frame creaking, and it brought back all those memories.

And I wasn’t the only one remembering.

Caspian tossed aside the covers, slipped on a simple gray t-shirt, and went outside, the door closing quietly behind him.

In the neon-lit darkness, I saw him holding a cigarette.

I didn't see him smoke, but holding one, letting the smoke curl around his fingers.

Nearby, car headlights swept by, and Caspian came face to face with Jax, who had just stepped out of his car.

“Just bringing by the cheesecake,” Jax said, leaning to peer through the cabin window.

He took in the sight of the blankets, one on the bed, and one on the floor, as if each was occupied, and smirked knowingly.

Though they didn't know each other well and Caspian barely acknowledged him, Jax inexplicably felt the need to prove his presence.

“She’s been wanting this for ages, kept on at me to buy it. She won’t take it from anyone else. She'll be over the moon when she sees it tomorrow.”

"Oh really?" Caspian responded, finally giving him some attention.

“Why would I lie?” Jax said, “She's on this show to win me back."

The cheesecake, I never even saw it when I woke up the next day.

The live stream ended.

This time, the post-show interview brought all four of us together for the first time.

I was running late, and was the last one to enter the room.

A staff member handed me an earpiece, but my freshly washed hair was too smooth, and it kept slipping.

On the other side, Vivienne and Jax were drawing question cards.

I lowered my head, fiddling with the earpiece, as it nearly fell off.

Suddenly, a hand reached out from my left, and gently steadied the earpiece.

“Thank you,” I murmured, wanting to take the earpiece from Caspian's hand.

But he didn't let go. Instead, he helped me put it on, and then, with a quick adjustment, he made sure it was secure.

It wasn't a romantic gesture, just a simple act of helpfulness between colleagues.

After all, cameras were rolling, and there were so many people around.

"Got it," he said, his voice low and gentle.

A strand of my hair had become tangled in the earpiece, and he’d had to lean closer to free it.

My reflection in the window looked detached.

"Same question," the producer said, "Please answer, Caspian."

He and I were a team, so we had to answer the same question.

Vivienne wasn't his first love, but no one knew who it was that he truly loved.

“She’s terrible. She really is terrible.” Caspian's tone was soft, with a hint of suppressed hurt.

Everyone in the room perked up, eager to uncover some gossip.

"Such a strong reaction," the producer continued, "What did she do?"

“For example,” he turned his head, dragging out each word, “married someone else, but said she loves me the most."

His words didn't make much sense, and no one seemed to understand what he meant.

But Jax couldn't help but frown slightly.

The producer flipped over the last card.

"Daisy, what would you like to say to your first love right now?”

A hundred safe answers flew into my mind, but what came out was, “I hope he doesn’t hate me too much.”

It was a reasonable answer that fit the situation perfectly. Everyone in the room understood. They all thought I wanted to reconcile with Jax.

Jax's usual nonchalant demeanor returned. He raised an eyebrow, wanting to keep stringing me along, without giving me an easy out.

But, when the same question was asked to Caspian, he said, “I was just kidding, I don’t hate her at all.”

That was when Jax started realizing that something was wrong.