Page 107 of Playing My Rivals

My fist hits the steering wheel and almost cracks it in half.

I’m a sweaty mess when Melanie answers her door. “Hi, Jami. Get in here.”

“Where is she?” I hurry inside Melanie’s apartment. I need to see for myself Dori’s not harmed.

“She’s in there.” Mel moves to the side and points.

Dori peeks her head around the wall. Relief, anger, worry, and everything in between engulf me simultaneously. I rush to her and take her in my arms.

“Tell me you’re okay.” I sink my face into the nape of her neck and inhale.

Her lavender and vanilla scent calms my agitation. She cries and shakes in my arms.

“I’m so sorry.” It’s all she can say.

For the first time since I’ve known her, Melanie’s speechless. She backs up, sits on the edge of her couch, and stares at us in fascination and horror. Not even she can believe how much we’ve fucked up this situation.

It’s not more than five minutes later when Hunter pounds on the door. Dori insists I hide in Melanie’s bedroom. When I refuse, she falls to her knees and cries uncontrollably. It rattles me into submission and I retreat against my urge to fight.

Shouts about lies, betrayal, and hypocrisy vibrate from wall to wall. Hunter threatens to kill me more than once.

Melanie mediates their verbal sword fight. To her credit, she’s a worthy opponent and keeps him in line by threatening media leaks. Not even I would’ve thought to use those. I guess it pays to have an outsider's perspective.

It’s when Hunter asks Melanie for a minute alone with Dori that the seams of my threaded reality start to unravel. His words are scissors snipping away every last stitch from the blanket of love I share with Dori. With every clip he takes, the further we come apart.

He tells her he’s going to make sure I lose my contract and never get work with any company worth partnering with. Dori tells him she’ll stay away from me for good if he promises her he won’t sabotage me professionally. Personally is a different story, but it’s something she overlooks.

I’m letting her slide on that because she’s thinking of me and my reputation. She’s trying to do what’s best for me. And for that, I love her even more. She begs for his forgiveness, which he gives.

It’s what happens next that takes the final cut in our quilt of love and separates Dori and me to the point where we’ll never be the same. There’s not enough thread in the galaxy that could sew us back together.

He tells Dori he can’t live without her. He’s willing to work through this shit show if he can have another chance with her and she caves.

His voice booms through the room even though he’s speaking at a normal level. “I’ll give him accolades and go to bat for him if you promise to give a hundred percent to making this work between us. I’ll even give him the best recommendation he could hope for.”

“How can I trust you on that?” she asks, still crying.

“You have no room to talk about blind trust.” He pauses. “You’re more than lucky I have some self-control because I’m still seething and want any reason to destroy him.”

Control and trust.

How ironic.

I guess the devil wants to pay me back for using his name for the sake of pleasure.

“I do trust you. It’s just… I’ve never seen you that way.” She comes into view for a second as she passes by the doorway.

Yes, that’s right. I’m in Melanie's room with the door open. The lights are on and Hunter has no idea I’m here.

I was hiding behind the door until Melanie came in and waved me over to a bench that sits at the end of her bed. She whispers that we can sit on it and see out from our angle, but their view is obstructed. They can’t see in unless they’re straining.

Hunter continues to tear Dori and me away from each other. “I wasn’t myself. You’ve got to know I’d never hurt you. He’s the one who enraged me so much. I love you and I’m sorry I scared you.”

“I know you do, but…you did scare me. I thought you were going to kill him.” Dori sniffles.

“I’m sorry. Trust I would never hurt you. I’ve forgiven you for everything else. Give me some time and I’ll get over this. I can forgive you for this as long as you can honestly say you love me.”

I brace for what I know is coming.

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