Page 112 of Play to Win

“He came to see me the other day.”

My lungs compress painfully and I can’t breathe.“He did?”

“Yeah.He was tough, but it’s okay.He’s looking out for you.You totally deserve someone like that, Lace.”

I blink rapidly, my eyes prickling again.“Well, it’s not what it seems, actually.”I don’t really want to tell him the whole story right now.

I’m so hurt by Théo’s silence and refusal to talk about what happened.I know he has to focus on business.The draft is a big thing and he has all kinds of meetings, plus he was sitting in a hockey arena last night for the first picks and again all day today.I watched it on TV, anxiously looking for any glimpse of him, then staring at the TV when he got up on the stage to make their picks, so proud of him and impressed and admiring.But he could take a minute just to message me back.I’ve told him the truth about what happened and if he doesn’t believe me ...

He doesn’t believe me.

I guess that’s pretty obvious from his silence.

Well, fuck him then.

My chest aches and pressure burns behind my eyes and cheekbones.I draw air into my lungs, slowly, shakily, and expel it out.“I’m coming home,” I whisper to Chris.

Taylor’s eyes nearly pop out of her head.“What?”she mouths.

“What?”Chris says.

“I’m coming home.”I say it louder.Stronger.

“What about your husband?”

“It’s a long story.I’ll tell you when I’m there.I’ll text you when I know when I’ll arrive.”

“Okay,” he says slowly.“Are you okay, Lace?”

“Sure!I’ll s-see you soon.”I end the call.

“What are you doing?”Taylor demands.

I sigh.“Théo’s pissed at me and apparently not speaking to me.”

“Uh ...why?Did you leave the lid off the toothpaste again?”

“Ha ha.No.”I tell her the story of what happened when he came home from Vegas.“He’s such an idiot.”

“Uh, yeah.How could he think that?”

“Déjà vu, I guess.”I shake my head.“I’ve texted him and left voicemails for him and he’s not answering.Clearly he doesn’t believe me and I’m not staying with someone who doesn’t trust me.”

“No.”Taylor shakes her head.“No, you’re not leaving.”

“I am.”My voice is thready.“I can’t stay here if Théo really thinks I would cheat on him with his brother.”

“You need to talk to him.”

“Tellhimthat.”I’m already looking up flights.This money Chris sent me will come in handy.I can leave tomorrow morning and be back in Vegas by noon.Perfect.“He’s the one who won’t talk.”

“At least wait till he gets home.”She flattens her hands on the table and leans forward.

I shake my head, my heart heavy and hurt.“No.I can’t do this anymore.I love him.”My voice fractures.I close my eyes.A fist squeezes my throat while another one twists my guts up painfully.“I shouldn’t have let myself fall for him, but I did.I knew I needed to look out for myself.Nobody else will.So that’s what I’m doing.”I lift my chin.“Chris seems to be turning things around.I don’t need to hide here anymore.I can go home and go back to my regular life and ...”My regular life wasn’t all that great, to be honest.There’s so much I’m going to miss from here ...the ocean, the beach, the people.Especially Taylor and Everly.And Byron.“And start again.”

“I’m going to miss you,” Taylor whispers, her eyes shiny.

I reach across to grab her hands.“I’m going to miss you too.”

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