Page 38 of Playing A Risk
CHAPTER 10
JAMISON
After two daysof radio silence from Dori, I’m crawling out of my skin, not knowing where she is.
Fuck.
I can’t blame her, but she should be more aware of how her avoidance won’t work. She didn’t let me explain why I left her at the club and look where that got her.
Where could she be?
I should’ve told her about Lauren and Aricin from the start, but I was trying to protect Dori from additional stress and rectify my situation with Lauren first.
How am I going to fix this mess I’ve created?
I check my emails, and a thought comes to mind. Aiden said to send her an email if I needed her. Well, I need her, so ready or not, here comes a letter.
Dori,
I can’t express how sorry I am. The last thing I wanted was for you to find out about my son like you did. I should’ve told you about him when we went out that night, but there’s a reason I didn’t.
Please let me explain what that is face-to-face. I don’t want to put it in a letter because I want to be there with you in case you have questions.
I’m sorry about Lauren as well. Although we are no longer a couple,we share something that will tie us together for life. No matter how terrible she treats me, I’ll never leave her to deal with our issues alone. That’s not who I am as a man. I think you already understand that.
She shouldn’t have hit you, and I pray she didn’t hurt you. She has problems, Dori. I’m trying to get her to see that, but she’s young and stubborn.
If you just hear me out, you’ll see I meant no ill will by keeping this from you. If anything, I was trying to protect you from needless pain and Lauren’s abuse.
I thought I could deal with it on my own, so everything would’ve been handled by the time I told you about my past. Things would’ve been in place so we could’ve moved forward without another obstacle standing in our way.
I wanted to create something that you could easily accept and move into. Never did I hide it from you because I didn’t want you to know.
I love you, Dori. I have for a very long time. Please don’t shut me out. Please remember what we have. Not only are you meant to be my lover, but you’re part of me. I can’t lose you.
Please don’t walk away from our love. It only happens once in a lifetime. Don’t let it skip this one.
You know we’re supposed to be together. It’s always been us. You and me, my sweet temptress.
Jesus, I love you so much it hurts, and I pray I didn’t ruin us. I’m so sorry, Dori. I’m begging you to please, please, please talk to me. Let me make it up to you. I promise I will.
Forever my love,
Jamison
I send it off and sit, staring at the screen and willing a response to come in. My breathing kicks up as I wait. I swipe my palms down my pants.
When nothing comes back, I decide to burn off some of this energy at the gym, so I change and make my way into the exercise room.
Halfway into my routine, Hunter comes in. He’s doing something on his phone and not paying attention to anyone inthe area. I study him for clues as to whether he knows where Dori is. He’s not ten steps into the room when the door opens behind him.
A woman with short, wavy brown hair and a pretty face comes through the opening. She grabs Hunter by his bicep.
He faces her and they share a brief exchange. Then she pulls out her phone and types away as he speaks to her. When they’re done, she gives him a thumbs-up and leaves.
Who was that?
Hunter turns back and spots me stepping away from the squatting cage. He tips his chin my way and jumps onto a treadmill. I shouldn’t be surprised he doesn’t approach me since we aren’t friends, but he’s too relaxed. Too confident, almost.
