Page 32 of The Swiping Game
12
DEAN
Three hours.
That’s how long I’ve been sitting in Neil’s office going over contract after contract, all while Tara has been thirty feet away from me, knowing my secret, and I can’t do anything about it.
“I think that’s it,” Neil says, handing me back the papers to finalize the last contract of the day.
“Yup, that’s it,” I say, though I’m not entirely sure. I’ve been doing my best to stay on my game, but every few seconds, my mind would wander back to Tara and what she must be thinking.
“I’m glad we worked everything out before the summer,” Neil says, standing up and stretching. “Want to go get lunch? I’m going to say it’s your treat, because after that, I think you took all of our money.”
I let out a practiced laugh as I put the final papers and folders into my briefcase. “I’d love to Neil, but I have another meeting in an hour. Rain check?”
There is no meeting. At least not one that he needs to know about. I just need him out of here so I can talk to Tara.
“Fine, I’ll let you out of it this time,” he says as he stands from his desk. “As always, good doing business with you.”
I reach out and shake his hand, wondering if this is the longest end to a meeting in history or if that’s just how it feels because I can see Tara out of the corner of my eye. Though, from the best I can tell, she’s not looking at me. In the three hours I’ve been trying to catch a glimpse of her, she hasn’t looked this way once.
I’m fucked.
“I’ll get these back to you early next week.” I start walking toward the door, hoping he follows.
“No rush,” Neil says as he exits the office. Thank God. “Tara?”
She looks up at us, and as soon as I see her eyes, my heart falls to the floor. Three hours ago, they were full of happiness and life. Now they’re red and puffy, and all because I was too scared to tell her the truth.
“Yes, sir?”
“Order me lunch?”
“Already did, sir. It should be here in a half hour.”
“Splendid. Braxton, as always, a pleasure doing business with you.”
“Same.”
We shake hands one more time before Neil heads back to his office. He’s not even in there for a second before Tara turns away from me.
“Let me explain.”
She sharply turns back to me. “Here’s your phone. Please delete my number and forget anything we ever talked about.”
“Tara,” I say, walking to the other side of her desk so I can try and meet her eyes. “Please, let me explain.”
“No explanation needed, James,” she says, though she still won’t look me in the eye. “I’m guessing the donut jokes were getting old? So you upped your game into tricking me online and making me fall for you? Good one. I’m sure you can tell your other sports agent buddies at the gym. Now, please leave.”
“I did what?” I step around her desk and grab her chair, spinning it so she has no choice but to look at me. “Everything you just said couldn’t be the farthest from the truth. I never meant to hurt you. Just give me a chance to tell you my side of the story. Please. Somewhere private?”
There’s defiance in her eyes at first, and I really think she’s about to tell me to go do things to myself that are anatomically impossible. Then her gaze softens, and I say a silent thank you to whoever is listening.
“Fine,” she says, standing up and pushing past me. “You have ten minutes.”
I follow Tara down a hallway before she turns into a room. She shuts and locks the door when I realize we’re in some sort of copy room.
“Here?” I ask.
