Page 124 of Love is a Game

“Hey,” I cut off the agent mid-spiel. “This is urgent. I’ll have to get back to you.”

“Of course, Mr. Allen. Just remember, these properties are in high demand—”

“Yeah, got it,” I say, already walking out the door, hitting the call button before I can think better of it.

The phone barely rings twice before she picks up.

“Hi,” she says breathlessly…way too sexy for my well-being.

“What the hell are you doing?”

“Trying to apologize.”

I shake my head. “And what wisdom tells you that texting lame jokes qualifies as an apology?”

“Well, it got you to call me, didn’t it?” she says smugly.

“Just as a wellness check. Because you’re acting pretty sketchy.”

“You mean you really don’t want to talk to me?”

I can picture the pout on her lips as I step onto the sky-deck between apartments, staring over the city. Our city. The one we got to know together. The one that holds layers of memories I can’t seem to escape. There’s no running from her.

Fuck. I may as well face it.

She’s in my head so deep I don’t think I’ll ever get her out.

I grip the phone. “Well, talking to you has got me exactly nowhere, Pen.”

A pause.

“I know,” she says finally, small and uncertain.

“So what’s this about?” My voice is tight, edged with frustration I don’t bother to hide. “You want to send me around the obstacle course again? Got some new hoops for me to jump through? Some hidden surprises you’ve added for maximum entertainment?”

“You’re still angry.”

“I guess I am.”

Another thick silence. Then, quietly—

“Tuck…I know I don’t deserve it, but I want to ask you for another chance.”

A sharp exhale leaves my chest, and I lean on the railing barrier, pressing my knuckles hard against my forehead. Maybe someone should sculpt me like this—instead ofThe Thinker, this version could beThe Knucklehead. The idiot who keeps giving in.

Another chance? Yeah. For a kick in the guts.

“Pen. Listen. I think, if I want to keep an ounce of self-respect here, I’m gonna need more than an apology that starts out with a knock-knock gag.”

“I was just being creative so that you’d respond!”

“Sure. But do you get that it might feel like you’re not taking this seriously? At all. That you’re still not ready to address the barriers that are holding us back? How do we ever move forward if we can’t discuss— ” I wince as I realize I’m dredging up Mason’s words. “What’s blocking the way?”

“You’re right.”

“Again?” I stare at the phone, stunned at her acknowledgement.

“You’re right! It’s me. I self-sabotage my own happiness because I’m screwed up. And it affects you unfairly. And you did all that amazing stuff all week long to convince me to take things seriously between us and—”

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