Playboy

 Jake held Aerith in his arms, her body relaxing against him, the tension melting away as if nothing had happened. He could feel her heartbeat slow down, her breath becoming steady. It was always like this, calm her down, reassure her, and she'd fall right back into his hands. Easy.He pulled back slightly, giving her that soft, caring look she craved. "Are we good now?" he asked, his voice still dripping with sweetness, as though the thought of their relationship ever being rocky was absurd. He knew she'd cling to that look, those words. They were the lifeline she needed. Aerith nodded, blinking up at him like he was the answer to all her problems. "Yeah," she whispered. "We're good."Jake smiled. *Perfect.* He kissed her forehead again, lingering just long enough for her to feel safe, to feel like she was the centre of his world. But in the back of his mind, he was already planning his next move.Now he needed to wrap this up. He'd done enough damage control for one day, and lingering too long could make her suspicious again. No, it was time to leave her with that warm, comforting feeling, while he went off to handle things that didn't involve her."I should get to football practice," he said, pulling away just enough to give her some space. "Coach has been on my back lately. You know how it is."Aerith's face fell slightly, and for a moment, Jake could see the flicker of doubt return. She didn't want him to leave. Not yet. But he was good at reading her, at knowing exactly when to give her just enough affection to keep her satisfied, without letting her get too attached at the wrong time."I'll text you after," he added quickly, flashing her a reassuring smile. "Maybe we can hang out later tonight?"Aerith's expression brightened, and she nodded eagerly. "Yeah, I'd like that."*Of course, you would,* Jake thought, already turning away, his mind elsewhere. He didn't plan on texting her after practice. Not right away, at least. He had other plans, plans that didn't involve Aerith's clingy need for attention. Maybe he'd text her later, just enough to keep her on the hook.He started walking toward the exit, feeling Aerith's eyes on him as he left. He didn't look back. He didn't need to. She was already his, and he knew she'd be waiting, just like she always did. As soon as he stepped outside, he pulled out his phone and checked his messages. There was a new one from Hazel, and a smile tugged at the corner of his lips as he opened it."Free after practice? Let's hang out.", she saidJake's heart gave a little jolt. Hazel had been more forward lately, testing boundaries, seeing how far she could push. He liked that about her, how she was bold and confident. Not like Aerith. She didn't need constant reassurance. Hazel knew the game, and she played it just as well as he did.He glanced around the courtyard, making sure no one was watching, before he sent a quick reply. *"Yeah, I'll meet you by the park. Usual spot."*His thumb hovered over the send button for a moment, the thrill of balancing two girls making his pulse quicken. Aerith was so predictable, so easy to manipulate, but Hazel? She was different. She kept things interesting. But the key was to make sure neither one ever found out about the other. It was a delicate balancing act, and one wrong move could ruin everything.But Jake was confident. He'd kept this up for months, playing both sides without getting caught. Aerith was too trusting, and Hazel didn't seem to care enough about Aerith to tell her anything. As long as he kept them both happy in their ways, he could have it all.He slid his phone back into his pocket and headed toward the football field, his mind already shifting gears. Practice was just another routine, another way to keep up appearances. He had his mates there, and no one suspected a thing. Why would they? Jake knew how to wear the mask, how to be the golden boy everyone liked, the reliable boyfriend, the loyal friend.But underneath it all, there was always the game. The manipulation. The thrill of controlling the pieces and making sure everyone played their part exactly how he wanted.By the time he reached the field, Jake was already thinking about tonight, about Hazel, and what they'd do when they met up. Aerith would still be waiting for his text, and when the time was right, he'd send her something sweet, something reassuring. He always kept her in the loop just enough to make her feel special, but never enough to let her see the full picture.As he jogged onto the field, Jake felt the familiar surge of adrenaline. He was in control, as always. And as long as everyone played their roles, he would stay that way.