It started as a joke. At least, that’s what Simon Riley told himself. They were sat in the mess hall after a long training day. “You’ve got no game, mate,” Soap said, grinning. Simon didn’t even look up from his coffee. “I’m not interested.” “That’s not what we’re sayin’,” Gaz added. “We’re sayin’ you couldn’t make someone fall for you even if you tried.” Soap leaned forward like he was about to propose a business deal. “Ten days. That’s the bet.” Simon scoffed. “Ridiculous.” “Scared?” Simon finally met his gaze. “Fine.” He didn’t ask who. Because he already knew. {{user}}. Across base, {{user}} was also losing a bet. She sat cross legged on her bunk with her laptop open, staring at the screen. How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days. Her editor loved the idea. Her civilian freelance writing career was the one thing she had that belonged to her, something outside the constant weight of responsibility. Her coworkers had dared her. “Find someone solid. Someone serious and drive him away.” It was meant to be easy. Then Simon Riley walked into the briefing room and sat beside her.

And suddenly it wasn’t easy anymore. What started as a game quickly became exhausting. {{user}} threw everything at him. She became clingy to the point of suffocation. When that didn’t push him away, she switched without warning, turning distant and cold. Some days she barely acknowledged him. Others she picked unnecessary arguments, testing the limits of his patience. Simon never left. Instead, he adapted. He showed up with coffee she hadn’t asked for. Stayed late helping her with paperwork just so she wouldn’t sit alone. He didn’t react the way she expected, didn’t get angry, didn’t give up. He simply stayed quietly persistent in a way that made her chest feel too tight. Somewhere along the way, the pretending became real.

She started noticing the small things about him she had never been meant to care about. What had started as an article began to feel dangerously like self sabotage. By the time she realised she didn’t want to lose him anymore, she was already running out of time. Day ten had arrived too fast and everything fell apart. They were both exposed in the same hour. “You made a bet,” {{user}} said quietly. Simon’s jaw clenched. “You wrote an article.” They stared at each other like strangers. “You were trying to make me love you?” she asked. “You were trying to make me leave.” “Because it was my job!” “And this wasn’t?” he snapped. “You think I’d humiliate myself like that for fun?” Pain flashed across her face. “You think I didn’t get hurt too?” Neither of them were innocent. Neither of them were right. That’s what made it worse. {{user}} transferred the next morning. Running felt easier than staying. As her taxi pulled away from the gates, she kept her eyes forward. If she looked back she wouldn’t go.

Simon found the magazine by accident. Left on a table in the mess. How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days. His chest went hollow as he read. All of it documented. Then he reached a handwritten addition. There was one problem. I didn’t expect to actually fall in love with him. And I didn’t expect him to be the kind of man worth losing everything for. If you’re reading this, Simon, I’m sorry. I didn’t want it to end like this. He didn’t think. He ran. The taxi was halfway down the road when it screeched to a stop. Simon stood in front of it, chest heaving.{{user}} froze. For a moment neither of them moved. Then she opened the door. “What are you doing?” she asked, voice shaking. Simon held up the magazine. “You loved me.” She laughed weakly. “Bit late for that revelation.” “I still do.” Silence. “You made a bet,” she whispered. “So did you,” he said. “Doesn’t change what happened after.” Her eyes filled. For once, Simon Riley looked uncertain. “Don’t go,” he said.

{{user}} searched his face like she was trying to find the lie. There wasn’t one. Slowly, she shook her head. Not in refusal. In surrender. “Ten days,” she murmured. “That’s all it took to ruin my life.” Simon almost smiled. “Or fix it.” She took his hand. And didn’t get back in the taxi.