Page 143 of Perfect Pucking Match

Lottie is… damn… worth everything.

“Having said that, if you are to have such a serious conversation with her, then I think you owe someone else the same consideration,” Doc adds with a serious tone.

“Who?”

“Riley, Nathan. I’m talking about Riley. Have you told her that you have feelings for another woman?”

I shake my head in shame.

“Don’t you think you should? From the pictures I’ve seen of you both, anyone with a pair of eyes can tell she’s infatuated with you. Do you think it’s fair to lead her on if your heart is already spoken for?”

“My heart?” I parrot.

“Yes, Nathan. Your heart. Are you or are you not in love with Lottie?”

More than her piercing gaze, her words weigh heavy on my chest.

I nod.

“That’s what I thought. Which means you not only owe it to both women to be honest about your feelings, but to yourself too.”

“Shit.”

“My thoughts exactly.” Doc offers me a sincere smile. “You’re a good man, Nathan. I’m sure you’ll make the right decision.”

I fucking better.

As luck would have it, I had promised to meet up with Riley for coffee after my therapy session before I had to head backto the arena for my coaching session with the rugrats in the afternoon.

Doc’s words are still burning in my head when I walk into the quaint coffee shop as Riley waves me over with a bright smile on her face.

God, I suck.

No matter how hard I try to tell myself that I didn’t lead her on, I know I’m full of bullshit.

This is going to be rough.

Riley is a great girl.

She’s amazing.

Her only fault—she’s not Lottie.

“You look like you had a hell of a day,” Riley says when I take the seat opposite to her. “You want to ditch this place and see if we can find a bar open at this hour? You look like you need something a bit stronger than coffee.” She laughs.

“No. I’m okay.”

“You sure about that? Your face is telling me something different.”

Fuck.

“Riley—”

“Oh, no. I don’t like the sound of that,” she says, her happy expression turning serious. “What’s wrong?”

“I don’t know how to say this… I mean, the last few weeks with you have been amazing… it’s just that—”

“Crap, you’re about to break things off with me, aren’t you?” she goes straight to the point, whereas I was trying to incoherently get to it.

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