Chapter 10 Thomas , hovering nearby , shot Eden a look so full of jealousy . After all , no one didn't dream of going national . He'd busted his tail to get into Everbright High , training ' til he dropped - not just for the school's killer college placement , but for its legit connections , the kind that could catapult one to the big time . All his grind was for a moment like this . Everyone in the room figured Eden would be all over it like a kid on free pizza . But with all eyes on her , she just flashed a chill smile and shrugged . " Nah , I'm good for now ." Thomas's jaw hit the floor . " Say what ?! " Before Pater could jump in , Thomas was already freaking out . " Why ? The national team's where you make a name for yourself ! You could be out there snagging medals ! Your long - distance game is straight fire ." He was practically vibrating , ready to sign her up himself . To him , a shot like this ? It was like finding a winning lottery ticket in her locker . 1 The national team didn't just roll out the red carpet for anybody . Eden's grin turned sly, her amber eyes catching the light like they were glowing . " Running's cool , I guess , but I'm kinda okay at other stuff too . " Thomas blinked , totally thrown . ' Uh , what's that supposed to mean ? " Okay at other stuff ? Is she messing with us ? She is , like , sixteen , and talking like she could dominate every sport in the playbook . No way . " God might toss you a bone or crack a window , but He wasn't out here handing you the keys to the castle . ' Being that good at everything ? That's like the universe personally catering your victoryap .' Thomas and the other instructors just laughed it off , figuring she was dodging the invite with some half - baked joke . They weren't buying it . But they weren't ready to let her off the hook . The instructors opened their mouth to nudge again , but Eden cut in , smooth as butter . " Well , sir , Thomas here's gotta be up to snuff too , right ? I'm not chasing that dream , so maybe give him a shot . " Thomas's eyes lit up like he'd just won the state championship . At six - foot - two , he towered over Eden's five - foot - five frame , but right then , he felt like he could hug the world . His eyes got a little watery as he stared at Peter , hope practically spilling out of him . 1/3 Chapter 10 Peter gave a slow nod . Thomas's scores were always top - notch - straight - A material . If Eden hadn't been a total phenom , he'd have been the star of the show . But Eden was a walking highlight reel . When she stepped up , everyone else kinda faded into the background . " Sounds good , " Peter said , eyeing them both . " You two are absolute beasts . Whatever road you take , you're gonna own it . " Thomas was about ready to do a backflip . ' The national team ! I'm getting a shot at the freaking national team ! ' He looked at Eden like she'd just hung the stars . ' This girl is a total rockstar . A total legend with a heart bigger than a football field . " ' From that moment on , Thomas swore he'd have jumped in front of a bus for her . Sure , this might've been no biggie to Eden , but to him ? It was life - changing . Once the instructors double - checked with Eden and jotted down Thomas's contact info , Thomas couldn't hold it in . He turned to her , practically bouncing . " Eden , if you ever need anything at school - like , anything - I'm your guy . No questions asked . " Then it hit him . Eden Wright . As in , the Wright family , one of Drea City's big five , the kind of family that could buy the school and still have cash for a private jet . His own family had some pull in local politics , but the Wrights ? They were on a whole other level . Still , he'd seen the tea on the school's online forum . Eden's place in the Wright family was messy . Some kids wanted to be her friend , but they were too spooked about crossing Julie , the family's golden girl . Most just played it safe , keeping their distance and watching from the sidelines . Thomas didn't care about the drama . Eden had just handed him a golden ticket . She was his hero , no contest . Eden just shrugged , like it was no big deal . Just another day of being awesome. As they chatted , Thomas caught Eden pausing by a table in the break room , her eyes locked on something . Curious , he leaned in . A chessboard sat there , the pieces in a full - on showdown . The room was all chill vibes , but the board ? Straight - up war zone . Black and white pieces faced off like rival teams at a playoff game , neither side giving an inch . The tension was so thick one could cut it with a knife . Black moved like a tank , slow and calculated , White zipped around , quick and sneaky . Together , they turned the board into a battlefield , a clash of smarts and grit . Eden's eyes sparkled . She could tell these players were the real deal . 213 12:30 Mon , 15 Sept Chapter 10 Thomas , who'd flunk Chess for Dummies , scratched his head . " Yo , Wright , you're into this too ? " Eden studied the board , a sly smirk tugging at her lips . Something unreadable flashed in her eyes . " Let's just say I've played a round or two . " Chess was a quiet kind of fight . Every move was a test of brains and guts . This board was a total nail - biter , black and white dead even , neither ready to back down . But if one squinted , black had a tiny edge - just a whisper of a plan that could flip the game . Peter noticed them eyeballing the board . " You a chess geek , Eden ? " he asked , raising an eyebrow . Eden gave a small nod . 04 ཏྰ 71 % ° Peter grinned , like he'd just stumbled on some prime gossip . " That board's from a match Mr. Jack Mendoza played with his grandpa last week . They got stuck right here , couldn't finish . Jack's been staring at it like it's his life's mission Knock knock . The break room door swung open . Talk about timing - Jack , tall and lean with a deep tan , stood there , pulling his hand back from the knock . " Hey , boss , time to hit the field . " Eden raised an eyebrow , cool as ever . " Hold up , Mr. Mendoza . " Jack blinked at the petite girl , all calm and collected . She pointed at the board , her voice steady , like she'd already seen the endgame . " Your black pieces ? Move here . " Jack's eyes went wide . He stared at her for a second , then at the board , his face shifting from " huh ? " to " no way . " Black was all about playing the long game , outsmarting the other side . With one small move , Eden's suggestion changed everything . It was like tossing a pebble into a still pond - the ripples spread , and black's setup suddenly clicked into place . In that one move , the game flipped . Black's strategy locked in , cornering white with nowhere to run . Checkmate was just a heartbeat away. 3/3 Title: A Boyfriend on Loan, A Real Love on Way Author: CrushReels Genre: Romance, Modern Status: ongoing In "A Boyfriend on Loan, A Real Love on Way" by CrushReels, Felix Lloyd finds himself in a predicament as he seeks to pacify his family's marriage expectations by renting a girlfriend for the holiday season. However, a serendipitous airport mishap leads Kendal Scott, the wrong woman, into his life. As Felix and Kendal navigate this unexpected twist of fate, the novel delves into themes of familial pressure, mistaken identities, and the complexities of modern relationships. CrushReels intricately weaves together elements of romance and contemporary dilemmas to create a compelling narrative that resonates with readers seeking a blend of heartwarming moments and unforeseen connections. 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