Page 3 of Dario

"You get on. I'm not ready yet."

He doesn't like it, but he gets on. I wait a moment for him to find a seat, then signal the driver to get going.

I turn my back on the bus and climb onto the smaller one. Luckily, I'd told the driver to wait.

In the back of the bus, I make myself comfort- able for the five-hour ride back to Boston.

Tired and grumpy,I’m in no mood for Dario to grab me as soon as the bus pulls into the Viking Arena and I get on. I dig in my heels, but he's too strong for me.

"Dario," I snap, "what the hell has gotten into you?"

"You knew I wanted to talk to you, but you got on the other bus!"

"Didn't you realize that I didn't want to talk?" I stand facing him with my hands on my hips.

"You don't get it," he mumbles.

"I'm going to regret this," I mutter. "I don't get what? Because from where I'm standing, it's simple. You saw me by the pool and told me you wanted to ask me out. Then you went and spent the night fucking Naomi!" I let out a loud breath. "Did I misunderstand something?"

His sad, dark eyes meet mine. "No!"

I blink back tears because he's destroyed my hope that he didn't have sex with her. "All right then." I walk away without looking back and find my nice red SUV. I get in and leave the arena feeling alone and lost.

CHAPTER THREE

DARIO

Madden throwsan arm over my shoulders. "Why was Gemma crying?" The words snap my head up. "What?"

Madden winces. "She was crying when she got into her car."

Sighing, I admit, "She asked me about last night. Accused me of going from her to that chick at the club."

"Shit." Pause. "You did end up with that chick at the club, though."

"I didn't take her back to the hotel. At least I don't think I did."

"You didn't. She gave you a blowjob in the restroom."

"I really fucked up."

"You told me last night that everything with Gemma was hopeless. That's why you got drunk. That's why I didn't step in when Naomi showed up." I swallow hard, my eyes getting misty. "I'm in love with her."

"Naomi?!"

“Gemma, you fuckwit!” I shove him. "How the hell is she going to forgive me?"

"You could try telling her the truth."

"I have to get rid of this hangover first."

"Come on, we'll get some sleep and come up with a game plan."

Not only hadI woken pain free, but I had a plan on how to talk to Gemma. I’ll admit to anyone that I’d been an asshole the night before. I’d loved talking to Gemma by the hotel pool even though it had been brief. Then as I’d headed back to the room, Madden had been getting dressed to go and meet up with Bradford at the club. I shouldn’t have gone. It had been too tempting though. Part of me knew there really wasn’t much to screw up with Gemma because of our contracts.

So, why am I sitting outside of Gemma’s apartment building with the intention of apologizing for my shitty behavior? It’s something that I’m not used to doing.

Getting out of the sun, I step into the foyer and notice the building isn’t secure. The inner doors and elevator look to be. You must have an access pass if you want to go up to an apartment.

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