Page 52 of The Forever Game

Skimming my hand down her back, I try to pull out a few second-nature moves in the hopes of finding some sense of normal, but she tenses beneath my touch.

Fuck. We have to talk about how I left things.

“Hey, lil mouse.” I soften my voice, aware we’re in a crowded room but knowing we have to break this ice… even if it is in front of a bunch of people.

She glances my way and can obviously read the look on my face, because her expression buckles and she shakes her head. The look of pleading in her eyes is telling me she can’t do this here, and I get that, but…

Shit, getting her to talk about how she feels has always been impossibly hard. Maybe I can take her?—

Tink! Tink! Tink!

Asher taps his fork against his wineglass, grabbing the attention of the room.

“Speech!” Casey pumps his fist in the air. “Go, Bax-Man!”

Baxter cringes as we start to cheer. Mikayla grins, clapping loudly beside me. She’s probably relieved by the distraction.

Bax clears his throat and looks down at Tammy. He holds her hand like he’s drawing strength from her.

“I, uh…” He clears his throat again and checks his cards. “Thank you all for coming. Tammy and I are so happy you could make it.”

“Finally!” Asher heckles him, and everyone starts to laugh.

“True. Looks like we’re actually going to make it this time.” His face lights with a grin. “Thanks for sticking with us. I love this beautiful woman beside me so much.” He turns his smile to Kai and winks at him. “My family is the most important thing to me, and being able to make it all official tomorrow is something I’ve wanted for a long time now. We?—”

A phone beside me starts ringing. It’s on full fucking volume and draws the attention of the entire room. All eyes swing our way, and I glance at Mick, who is turning beet red.

“Shit,” she mutters under her breath, digging it out, then wincing at the screen. Bolting out of her chair, she makes an escape out the side door, answering the call instead of ignoring it.

What the actual fuck?

I frown after her, reeling at the fact that she took the call during Baxter’s speech.

Gritting my teeth, I sit back, my muscles tense as I listen to the rest of my friend’s gushy tribute to his bride-to-be. I’m fuming by the time he’s done, stalking out of the room to follow Mick while the guests applaud, then raise their glasses in a toast to the couple.

It doesn’t take long to find my woman. She’s pacing in the hallway, her heels digging into the rug and her ankle slightly twisting when she reaches the wall. With a huff, she pulls it off, dumping it down and hissing, “I told you I’m booked this weekend. You said it was okay. You signed off on this!”

My eyebrows wrinkle. I hate hearing her in distress. It makes me want to rip the phone out of her hand and yell at Ryan, tell him to fucking leave her alone.

“You did what?” she balks. “When?” She scoffs, like she can’t believe what she’s hearing. “You should have told me that!” Clenching her jaw, she listens to the rest of the call, pulling off her other shoe while sighing, “Yeah, yeah, I get it. Whatever it takes, right?”

I frown, not liking those words one bit. Hating the defeated slump of her shoulders.

Where’s my fighter gone? Where’s my Mick?

“I can’t tomorrow… One of my best friends is getting married. I told you that… Can’t they just delay?” She rolls her eyes. I’m pretty sure she’s aware of me standing here but doesn’t want to acknowledge that fact. “Yeah, I get it… Yes, I’m grateful. Thank you.” She’s saying it, but she isn’t meaning it.

Her expression looks anythingbutgrateful as her nostrils flare and she says a terse goodbye before hanging up.

“What was that about?”

She glances up but doesn’t look me in the eye as she crosses her arms and shrugs. “Just a work thing.”

“You look pretty pissed.”

“Yeah, I just…” She holds up her phone, then sighs, rubbing her forehead and wincing.

“Mick, what did Ryan want this time?”

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