Winning Back His Ex's Wife's Broken Heart by Hayley

Chapter 59

Sarah's

POV

The air between us still felt charged as Richard and I said goodnight that evening. I had pecked him on the cheeks.

Thinking about it made my cheeks turn red, It was as if we were high school crushes. But the next day, I knew I had to keep things light-too much, too soon would be overwhelming. So, I texted Zoe and a couple of other friends about a game night. As soon as the idea popped into my head, it felt perfect. I could already imagine Richard's reaction. The late afternoon rolled around, and I set out snacks and grabbed a stack of board games and cards, feeling a strange excitement to see how he'd handle the night. When he knocked on the door, I opened it to find him standing there, looking a little out of his element.

"Game night?" he asked, glancing inside with a slightly raised eyebrow.

"Game night!" I replied, waving him in.

"Wait... what kind of games?"

"Not the Monopoly type, if that's what you're worried about," I teased, closing the door behind him. "More like charades and maybe some Pictionary."

He let out a relieved sigh, giving me a grin. "Good, because I still haven't recovered from the last time I played Monopoly. I think I'm banned from then house."

Just then, Zoe and Matt walked in, bringing laughter with them. After the introductions, we settled on the couches, starting off with a safe choice-charades.

imagining Richard doing something as silly as acting out "dancing giraffe" or "superhero stuck in

card, and his face twisted in shock. "You're kidding me," he said, shooting me a look that was part-amused, part-exasperated. "Is this even possible?" "You're up for the challenge," I said with a

the middle of the room,

raised one hand as if he were conducting an invisible

his head, giving us a look that clearly said, *Really?* He hunched

as if peering over a ledge. He paused, then jumped back in

on his

smiling as he kept his act going. He ducked down, peeking around an imaginary

squinted, trying to piece it together, until something clicked. "Oh! Are you a... secret agent

to keep going. "Trying to steal something!" I

you!" He slumped onto the couch, wiping pretend sweat off

in. Seeing him relaxed and comfortable, part of

who was playful, who could laugh at himself, who wasn't just

it as a makeshift microphone, and belted out a few notes-intentionally out of tune. I closed my eyes and gave it my best "rockstar face," fully leaning into the role. When I opened my eyes, Richard was grinning, clapping along with everyone

karaoke superstar!" he guessed, leaning forward with a smile that felt warmer

down. My heart was racing from the ridiculous performance, but I could feel a lightness between us, a closeness

friendly competition. By the time we wrapped up, I felt like I'd spent the evening

Richard stayed behind, hands in his pockets as he stood by the

admitted, a little sheepishly. "I can't

leaning against the doorframe.