Page 121 of Play to Win

“Plus I kept telling you over and over in every text and voice message I left.All damn weekend.”

“That too.And that’s what I’m really sorry about.I should have talked to you.But this is what freaked me out—the fact that I was so hurt and jealous when I saw you and JP together.I ...”He stumbles a bit, and I can see this is hard for him.“That meant I really cared about you, and I didn’t want to, because I knew you were leaving at some point.Our marriage wasn’t real, and I kept telling myself that was fine, because I was too busy with my new job, trying to prove myself and build a winning team.I had no time for a real relationship.”

I nod, my throat squeezing.

“But itwasa real relationship ...itis.I’m in love with you, Lacey.”

I go very still.I stare at his face, his dear, familiar, beautiful face.His eyes are earnest, a little notch between his eyebrows, his mouth firm but with a hint of anxiety.“You are?”

He nods slowly.“I love you.I couldn’t help it.Everyone loves you.But not like I do.I love your honesty.Your open heart.Your loyalty to people you care about.I love how you looked after your brother, even when I disapproved of it.I love your fifty billion hair products all over my bathroom.”

“My hair is high maintenance.”

“And Ireallylove your hair.”

I nod.I know this.

“I love how you’ve made friends with my family and the people who live around us.I love how parties just seem to spring up out of nowhere when you’re around.”

“Are you sure you love that?”I bite my lip.I know there are times he likes to chill, just the two of us.

“I do love it, as long as I get you to myself sometimes.I love that you laugh at my bad jokes.And I love your massages.Actually, it’s not the massages ...it’s the fact that you know when I’m stressed and you’re willing to give up your fun to make me feel better.”

“Because ...”I choke up and have to swallow past a massive blockage in my throat, blinking my eyes.“Because I love you too.”

“Ah.”He lifts my hands and kisses them, keeping his eyes on me.

My heart swells up huge in my chest and I pull in a shaky breath, fighting tears.“I love you too.I love your bad jokes.”A smile trembles on my lips.“I love your nitpicky OCD tendencies.I love that you went to see Chris and kicked his ass.”

“I didn’t have to kick his ass.He was already doing what he had to do.”

“Still.”My chin quivers.“You’re so generous and smart and honest.I love you.”

He closes his eyes and presses my hands to his lips.I think he might be about to cry.

“I love you,” I say again softly.

He nods and opens his eyes, and they’re shiny.“I also came here to give you this.”He reaches behind him to grab the gift bag he brought and hands it to me.

Curious, I take it and reach inside.Wrapped in bright pink tissue is ...Pete.My heart leaps and my jaw goes slack.“Oh my God!You got him back!”

“Yeah.”

“How did you do that?”I clutch Pete to my thudding heart.

“I asked at the leasing office if anyone found your suitcase.They did.The guy tried to return it, but nobody was home at your apartment.”

I nod slowly.

“He kept it in the office for a while, and then he gave it to Goodwill.”

My eyes widen.“You ...”

“He didn’t know which one it ended up at, so I spent today driving around to every fucking Goodwill store in Las Vegas.”He shakes his head, but he’s smiling.

Because I’m smiling too.Hugely.

“I finally found it in Paradise.”

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