Page 110 of Playing My Rivals

I want to be supportive and compassionate, but it’s not coming out. I need her to say what she needs to say before I lose my mind.

“We need to talk and you refuse to take my calls.”

“Well, you have my attention now.”

“Some of the things you overheard that night at Melanie’s weren’t the truth. I don’t want to lie to you, so I’ll tell you. I do have love for Hunter, but I can’t do this without you. I love you too and I’m dying inside.” She sucks in a shaky breath.

“That’s just great, Dori. We’re back to where we started.” Annoyance spews off me.

Every time I’m near her, she kills me a little more than the time before.

Her eyes hook with mine, heavy with longing. “No, we’re not. You need to understand I’m not with him. Not in that way. I haven’t been with anyone since you.”

That was the lead-up, and I spotted it a mile away. She hasn’t had sex since me. She and Hunter were broken up before that, so it’s just me.

I’m the only one it can be. Point taken. “Just say what you need to say, Dori.”

Tears rest on her eyelashes. She blinks them away and turns from me. I can’t help but want to hold her even as I get ready for her blow.

“I need you in my life, but don’t deserve you because I’ve hurt you. For that, I’m so sorry. But we’re always going to be intertwined.” She takes a deep breath and stalls for a minute.

I can’t take it anymore. “Dori, I’m just going to ask since you’re struggling. Are you trying to tell me you’re pregnant?”

CHAPTER 26

HUNTER

My hands curl into fists the second I see Dorothy and Jamison together. I knew she’d run to him after we had our last discussion about it. I didn’t think she would go to him this fast, but here we are.

There’s panic in her eyes as I approach. “Hunter. This isn’t what it looks like.”

I shake my head. “It’s fine, Dorothy. I don’t think it’s anything other than two friends sitting in the lobby and having a conversation.”

Jamison stands beside her, puffing out his chest. He wants to murder me as much as I want to kill him. It’s too bad. I liked the guy until he couldn’t keep his eyes and hands to himself.

“Jamison, when you’re done here, we need to discuss something in private.” My eyes shift from him to her. “I trust you to speak to him without me. Now it’s your turn to give me the same favor.”

Her shoulders relax. “You’re right. It just makes me nervous.”

“You have my word. I’ll keep it clean.” I should add physically because, mentally and emotionally, I’m going to obliterate him.

He won’t see it coming and I’m good with that. Better than good. I’m looking forward to the taste of sweet revenge on my tongue.

Dorothy addresses Jamison. “Can you promise to do the same?”

His facial features grow tight. “Yes, but Hunter, Dori and I have one other thing we need to discuss. I’ll text you when we’re done and we can figure out a place to talk.”

That goddamn name, Dori. They fell right back into the nicknames they have for each other the second they decided to tell me they shared a past. It makes me want to slam him against the wall and serve him a brutal beating.

“Come to my place when you’re done. We can talk there.” I start toward the door.

Dorothy stops me. “I would prefer if you two would meet in public. Why don’t you talk over dinner in your building’s restaurant?”

Jamison and I glance at each other and nod at her suggestion. It’s probably a wise one. If we get into a private place, we might tear each other apart like the savage beasts we are. But she’s smart and puts us in our cages and throws away the key.

“Thank you. I’ll call you later.” She grants me a warm smile.

It somehow reassures me. We’ve been slowly working to build our trust.

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