Page 72 of The Game

I sigh and turn my phone over in my hand. Then I type:

Text me when you’re close.

I’m waiting on the street with Pepper on a leash when Adam rounds the building on the corner. The paparazzi have melted away, along with Arty, but I’d be a fool to think Arty’s doing anything other than biding his time. Meeting him was a mistake.

Adam’s long loping stride eats up the sidewalk, his right hand tucked into his pocket as he moves. There’s something so sexy about it that I want to groan out loud. He’s hot in all these subtle, unintentional little ways.

His face lights up when he spots me standing on the sidewalk, and now I feel even worse.

He grins and nods down at Pepper, who’s going berserk jumping up and wagging her tail. “Was she raring to go? Expecting another blow-dry?”

I laugh.

He takes hold of my hand and tucks it into his elbow. “Where to?”

“Let’s just walk.”

Halfway up the block, as Pepper sniffs at everything she can stick her nose in, I clear my throat. “Adam, I think we should stop seeing each other.”

He turns toward me, frowning. “What? What do you mean?”

“I think we should stop …” I gesture between us as a flush builds on my neck. “Doing this. Getting together, being friends.”

“Stop being friends?” He sounds incredulous, and I’m dumbstruck, too. The thought of not even seeing him even as afriend…That wasn’t really what I meant… I want to groan out loud. Why didn’t I plan this better?

“When we first met, I never thought of us getting together.”That’s a lie, Anna. “My life felt like such a mess. I’d just got through two bad relationships, and one of those guys was still harassing me, but now he’s also hasslingyou. I said to you at the beginning I didn’t want more or anything complicated. I think this is moving toward something I’m not ready for.”

Something flashes across his face. Like a wince of pain. Oh, sweet Jesus, I don’t want to do that to Adam. A flush is building on his neck, too.

“You also said we shouldn’t overthink this, that it was something you wanted to explore,” he says.

I close my eyes.I did say that.

“Anna.”

“That was before people started doorstepping you and Arty Maroz paid you a visit!”

“He’s an asshole, Anna. We’ll sort Arty Maroz out.”

“You don’t understand what we’re dealing with,” I mutter.

He folds his arms over his chest. “Why don’t you tell me what we’re dealing with?”

No. Nope. I can’t do that. Oh God, how am I going to persuade him? Do I have to hurt his feelings? Hot sweat drips down my spine. I’m in this disaster of a conversation now. The only way out is through.

“When we did the jujitsu in my gym, it took me by surprise. It was just friends, and then I did something stupid,” I say. “I persuaded you. I rolled my hips into you. And you were right to be cautious.”

His fists clench by his side. “It wasn’t just you, Anna. I didn’t need any persuading in case you’ve forgotten.”

“Whatever, I …”

“It wasn’t stupid.” He clears his throat. “Am I something stupid to you?” Hisvoice is gruff and angry, and it cuts through my skin like a barbed wire. I’ve never seen Adam angry before.

“No. No of course not.”

“It sounds like it.”

“You said you had a bad relationship in college, and I …”

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