Page 60 of The Player

“You sure?” I look at him through bleary eyes, and he huffs.

“Yes. Go.” He gets up, hobbling, and I realize what a prick I’ve been over the last year. My damn injury took me by the wayside, but I let it drown me. Fuck.

Getting up, I walk into my bedroom, throwing myself against the door and trying to cope with the fact that I’ve been a damn poser for the last year or so. How the hell did I sink so low? Shaking my head, I know this isn’t something I should be worrying about right now. Bryson told me to get cleaned up and get some sleep. And that’s what I plan on doing.

Taking my clothes off, I think about Julie and how I want to feel her sucking my cock in the shower, and my dick comes to life. Closing my eyes for a moment to control myself, the cold water hits me as I move into the shower stall.

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

Aaron was my stalker. He… My mind refuses to reconcile this bit of information. Even now, as I sit at the breakfast table with Lennox and five other strangers. The food gets better every time I eat here, and Lennox loves the smiling pancakes.

“Lennox, what do you say we try to take a trip out of town for a few days?”

His unruly curls block his eyes from seeing me until he pushes them out of the way. “With Dad?”

The way he says it with so much hope makes my heart ache. I can’t tell him no, but I also don’t think I can fully truly trust Aaron right now. My mind is telling me that it’s not a good idea to be around him.

“How about me and you, kiddo?”

He frowns at me, and I know I’ve said the wrong thing. “Why not with Dad?”

Gulping, I look at him as people begin to stare at us. “I think you and I need some time away for the weekend. I’ll let you skip school today, and we can go to Dallas for the weekend. We’ll get to see some of your favorite places.”

Shoot, I sound like I’m trying to bribe him. Maybe I am? My heart races as he picks a chocolate chip out of the pancake and pops it into his mouth.

“Is something wrong, Mom?”

Lennox is too smart for me to try and fool him. How do I tell him his father is a psycho and that I’m in love with him but can’t be with him? Not until I get it straight in my head that he won’t hurt either of us. I mean, he killed for me. That says something, right?

My mind is trying so hard to make things right, but I don’t think it will be. Putting on a brave smile, I push my hand through his hair and look into his eyes. “Yes and no. I don’t want to tell you what’s going on because it’s a grown-up thing, but I don’t want you to think I’d lie to you, either.”

Leaning down, I whisper in his ear. “Right now, I need some room to think from your Dad. Can you be my big boy and go with me while I work through it?”

His little arms wrap around me, and my whole world just falls into place. He’s always been my peace. There’s only one other person who has ever made me feel that way, and I’m trying to get away from him.

“Yes, Mom.”

I chuckle. “Thank you, sweetheart. Now finish your breakfast, and we will get out of here.”

“Okay!” He’s excited now that I’ve included him in my little secret mission. How am I going to get past Kaylee, though? She’s here this morning since we stayed the night.

“Hey Aunt Kaylee.” Lennox gets up and hugs her. “Mom and I are going out of town.”

I look away and at my food. Lying to Kaylee would be a sin worse than death to her, so I know I can’t do that. Taking a deep breath as she sits down, I look at her. “My brother did something, didn’t he?”

Giving her a pointed look, I squirm in my chair. “Not exactly. I just need some time to think before things get out of hand.”

Lennox eats the last piece of his pancake, standing up. “Come on, Mom, we should get on the road.”

Eight. My son is eight and acts like an old man. I can’t help but smile at him. “We have plenty of time. It’s only a two-hour drive.”

Kaylee’s phone goes off and she stands. “We aren’t through here.” She points to me and I nod.

When she leaves, I get up and grab my purse off the back of the chair. “Let’s go, Lennox.”

Coward. My brain is screaming at me, telling me to not run, but it seems like it’s the only option I have right now. It’s not. I could stay and face the craziness that Aaron threw my way.

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