Page 53 of Go Deep

All I crave is acceptance, and the one guy who gave it to me is the one I kicked to the curb. Maybe this shit show with Vince is my karma for hurting Shane. Maybe it’s my turn to experience that rejection and loneliness.

And it fucking sucks.

The elevator pings, the doors creak open.

Is it too late to call Neil and cancel?

A deep sigh deflates my lungs. I push off the back wall and step out of the elevator like I’m getting ready to walk death row. I turn right and stop short at the sight of Vince leaning back against the wall, looking sexy as fuck in a charcoal gray suit that hugs his massive, muscled body…a rock hard body I can still feel plastered against me. He doesn’t look up, just keeps talking into his phone in a low voice.

The urge to grab his phone and hurl it at the wall consumes me but fuck him. I won’t give him the satisfaction of letting him know I give a good goddamn. I tug at the collar of my shirt, my spine stiffening when I realize I have to move my feet now. And somehow, as if he feels my eyes boring into the side of his skull, he looks up from the phone.

For a second, I let myself get pulled into his deep chocolate brown eyes. For a few seconds, memories loop through my mind. His mouth, so hot and hungry, his hands so demanding.

Maybe he remembers that, too. Maybe I can help him remember…

And then without warning, his eyes ice me out completely,like he doesn’t even recognize me. He shuts me out like we’ve never even met.

That sonofabitch.

My jaw damn near crashes against the floor when he gives me a nod, turns on his heel, and walks toward the announcer’s booth.

“Are you fucking kidding me?” I pound my fist against the wall, ire flooding my insides.

He stops at my outburst, just before opening the booth door. I walk toward him and clench his shoulder.

Vince shrugs off my hand and turns to face me with a death glare.

“You really have the balls to blow me off after what happened?” My voice shakes with rage. “You’re pathetic.”

His gaze hardens. “Nothing happened.”

“If that’s what’s gonna help you sleep at night, then fine. Fuck you.”

Vince gives the hallway a quick look before turning back to me. “I told you it was a mistake. My mistake.”

“Oh, trust me. It was all mine.” I glare at his impassive expression, not sure if I want to pummel his ass into the ground or devour him like I did the other night.

“This is an important event. I gave up a lot to be here.”

“Be here.” I flash a tight smile. “You mean, be here withme, right? The gay quarterback who’s gonna tarnish your precious reputation?”

Vince’s jaw tightens. “I told you I was sorry. What happened the other night was my fault. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

“Don’t flatter yourself. I’m not hurt. I’m pissed off. There’s a big difference.” My heart beats like mad against my chest, the pounding between my temples almost drowning out my words.

“I’m doing what I have to do.”

“Is it what you really want to do?” I bite out the words, unable to stop them and fuck, I really wish I had.

“Yes.”

Because hearing that is like taking a machete to the chest. He gutted me with one single word.

When he walks away this time, I let him. I don’t rush after him. I just watch him.

I lose track of time while I stand in the empty hallway, a sense of dread hovering like a black cloud. A sudden tap on my shoulder jolts me. I slowly turn, my stomach sinking into my shoes when I see the face of the man who turns my blood into molten lava.

Oh, yeah. This is definitely karma.

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