Page 32 of Playing A Risk
Nervousness snakes through my belly. “She helped me outof the club and came back with me. I didn’t ask her to, but I was wasted. I remember her helping me to bed. Then I passed out. Nothing happened.
“At least, I don’t think it did because I was in no shape to perform. I woke up the next morning to find her sleeping next to me. I didn’t know she was one of our sponsors, so when she showed up in my office the next day?—”
“You were with her the night before our first meeting?” Dorothy’s eyes round.
“Technically, I met Isabella Saturday, but she left Sunday morning. So yes, she was here the day before she met you.”
Dorothy shakes her head. “I didn’t make that correlation until just now, but fuck. I must look like an idiot.”
“No, you don’t. If anyone looks like an idiot, it’s me.” My heart rate ticks up.
“Geez, this week keeps getting better by the minute.” She pushes away from me. “So you lied to me when I asked you about her?”
“No, I didn’t. I told you that was the first time I’d seen her since I was with her. That was true, and I didn’t get her number.” I lower my head in shame. “You won’t want to hear this, but I remember thinking she was you throughout the night. I pictured you in her place.”
“Wow, Hunter. That’s just great.” She hops out of her chair and brushes by me. “Not only did you bring her back here, but you thought about me most of the time you were with her. And that didn’t stop you.”
I hurry to rise to my feet. “That’s not what I meant. I was just saying… Fuck. I was wasted and couldn’t get my thoughts straight. It’s not an excuse, but I was missing you. And I still don’t think anything happened.”
Dorothy’s hands ball at her sides. “But she’s saying something happened?”
“Yes. I don’t know how it could be possible, though.”
Dorothy’s brows furrow. “If it did, do you think it’s okay because you thought she was me?”
“No. None of this is alright. If anything, it shows how broken I am without you. Fuck, Dorothy. We weren’t even together when it happened and I still feel like I cheated on you by having her in my bed.
“I thought telling you would help, but now I feel like it’s all for nothing. I don’t get you anyway, so why put you through the pain of knowing?”
Her shoulders soften, and she takes a pause. “It is better that you told me. But it still hurts.”
I exhale a heavy breath. “Yeah, I know. But I swear I don’t think anything happened with her.”
She nods and walks near the fireplace. “Can I ask you something and you promise to tell me the truth?”
“Anything.”
She turns and faces me. “Have you slept with anyone since we’ve been…since we first got together?”
“I swear on my empire, there has been no one else since the day I kissed you in that hotel room. I wish I could remember that night with Isabella, but I can’t.”
I place my hand over my heart. “But even if I’m right and nothing happened, she was still in the bed I share with you, and for that I’m sorry. Nothing like that will ever happen again if you say there’s a chance for us.”
I take her hands in mine. “It’s your turn now.”
“My turn for what?”
I take a risk and swallow any self-doubt. “Is there a chance of us getting back together?”
CHAPTER 9
DORI
“How do you feel, Dori?”my therapist, Samantha, asks from the giant screen in Hunter’s home office.
One thing’s for sure, Hunter’s gone out of his way to ensure my every need is taken care of.
She’s asked this question about six different ways during the video session and my answer remains the same.
