Page 75 of Playing A Risk
“Such as?”
“Such as if we had sex with someone and if it was good or not. The normal talk most people have.”
“Women discuss a lot more than that.” She slides up to my side. “You have nothing to worry about, so don’t get all weird knowing that. Anything I’ve ever said only puts you in the highest light.”
“That’s good to know.” I wrap my arm around her waist. “Are you excited about opening your present?”
“Yes, but I told you not to get me anything. I haven’t been able to go shopping, so I don’t have one for you.”
“What I’m giving you is for the both of us, so don’t think twice about it.”
We get to the sofa near the Christmas tree. She curls up in the corner of the couch and admires the tree while I reach for her gift below.
“You know, Hunter. We did a good job decorating. We make a good team.”
I’m on one knee, ready to push myself up from the floor. My gaze crawls up the tree. I rotate to her and approach her on my knees with the wrapped box in my hand.
“Team. I like the sound of that.”
She smiles down at me. “We’ve always made a good pair. And I think we could make a stronger one in time.”
“What are you saying?”
“With time, I think we could have a strong relationship.” She pats the cushion next to her. “Sit next to me while I open what you got me.”
I slide beside her but hold her present. Her declaration about being together hangs before me.
“I need to say something before you open this.” I swallow hard and peer into her eyes. “You need to talk to Jamison before moving on with your life.”
She draws her chin back. “Why are you bringing him up?”
“It goes back to what I said in the limo on the way home from the ball. I don’t want to win your love by default. That means hearing him out.”
I want to kick myself for saying this, but if she discovers his reason and wants to try with him again, it’ll be more earth-shattering for me if we’re together. She needs to decide who she wants with a clear mind and all the facts.
She shakes her head. “Why would what he has to say override how I’m feeling about you?”
“I’m not saying that would happen for sure. I’m just saying you’re making a decision based on half the information. That won’t bode well for any of us.”
She takes my hand in hers. “I appreciate you considering that, but I’ve been thinking about this and working on it with my therapist. Jami and I have a lot of obstacles in our way. We always have. If it’s not this, it’ll be something else.
“It’s our pattern, Hunter. I won’t lie to you. A part of me will always love him, but he has hurt me beyond words by keeping something so important from me. I can’t see me getting past it.”
My heart jackhammers. I’m throwing myself on a stake, but it must be done. “What if I told you I think it’ll make a big difference if you hear him out?”
“I’d say you’re wrong.”
“Dorothy, remember when you blocked his number before? There was a good reason he left you that night. I don’twant you to make the same mistake. Not this time and not with this.”
She huffs a heavy sigh. “Say I go downstairs and he tells me everything. Do you think it’s okay that he kept that from me for so long?”
“Look at all I’ve kept from you. Don’t you think I did the same thing?”
I can’t believe what I’m doing. I want to smack myself and regain my senses, but I’m on a roll.
My moral compass has taken over. That or all of my desperation and fear has me losing all rational logic. My therapist might even say I’m self-sabotaging.
Dorothy studies me with emotions swirling in her eyes. She considers it for a moment as I prepare for this time with her to end.
