Page 78 of Devious Gambit

“Why did you ask then?”

“To see what horseshit you’d pull.”

“Got a way with words, you do.”

She tilted her fair head of bleach blond at me. “Did you screw up?”

“Sort of.”

She groaned. “What did you do this time?”

“I don’t want to talk it.”

“You look like shit,” she announced. “And has this latest stunt got something to do with a girl?”

“You could say that, but not in the way you were thinking. Anyway, is the spare room still free?”

“Yes,” my sister told me.

“I need to catch up on some sleep. I drove all night to get here.”

“Are you running away from someone?” Erin asked me as I walked up the hall to the spare room.

“No,” I called back. As soon as my head hit the pillow, I was out like a light. It was another six-hour drive to Chicago and two hours into the journey, I started to fall asleep at the wheel. So I pulled up on the side of the road and slept for three hours. I had the natural ability to sleep peacefully just about anywhere, as long as I was reasonably comfortable. I’d slept in closets, on the wooden deck, even in the weed garden. All of those occasions involved alcohol, but who’s counting.

Several hours later, I woke in a comfortable bed with expensive cotton sheets, feeling a shitload better. I checked my phone for messages. There were several left from teammates and Coach Cullen, wondering why I hadn’t shown up for the flight to our college game destination that morning. I completely forgot to ring him to say I was sick as a dog. I’ll likely get penalized, maybe stood down for a couple of games, but I couldn’t give a shit. All I wanted was to be deep down in the ocean away from all of this crap. I would’ve liked to fly out to Maui immediately, but I’d have to return for Christmas anyway.

After replying to messages and apologizing to Coach Cullen, I mindlessly scrolled through Tiktok, seeking silly vids to cheer me up, only to feel even more like shit. I was dangerously close to messaging Gallagher just to ask if she’s okay, but I talked myself out of it. It was too soon and she’d probably ghost me anyway.

I found myself gazing mindlessly at the pics I took of her at landmarks from Upper Peninsula to Stillwater only two days previously, although it felt longer. She has such a sweet face, shy smile and dreamy eyes filled with so much hope, only for asshole me to come along and crush them all. An understated beauty, that’s what Gallagher is.

When I examined the selfie of us together standing outside the historic hotel, I stumbled across a little surprise. I hadn’t looked at the pic since I took it and didn’t realize that I glanced at her face when I took the shot. She was looking timidly at the camera, but smiling happily, whereas I was gazing at her like a man who was in love.

Fuck. I tossed my phone aside after looking at that pic, obviously I played the game so well that I even fooled myself.

Distinctive sniffing sounds outside the door, pulled me out of my slump, and got up to open the door for Celli. He wagged his black tail giddily as I gave him a hug and another ear scratch.

“Sleeping Beauty has arisen,” my sister called from across the hall.

“You working?” I poked my head into her office.

“I’m always working.”

“You’re too good for Luxon.”

“I know. So, are you ready to tell me why you’re here?”

“No. But can I stay until after Christmas?”

“Of course you can. My home is your home, plus you’re too chicken to go home to ma and pa.”

“No, I’m not.”

“I’ve already messaged mom to let her know that you’re here, and she wants you over for dinner.”

“Fuck, seriously. Why did you do that for, Erin?”

“Because I love to see my little brother squirm.”

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