Page 37 of Playing With Secrets
Her eyes close, and she shakes her head. “Please don’t.”
The tone of her voice and those two words are like a steel fist to my jaw. I’m disoriented. After everything’s said and done, she doesn’t want us to be together. It’s never going to be me.
Once again, I’m obliterated. “Oh, I see. I guess… I assumed after?—”
“After nothing. This is done. As far as I’m concerned, nothing happened.” She sucks in a shaky breath and hooks me with a glare. “If you bring it up to me again, it’ll be the last conversation we have unless it’s work-related.”
“Dori, you can’t be serious.”
“I’m dead serious. Am I making myself clear?” She pushes up on her forearms and spits hate fire into my eyes.
My soul turns into a hollow ghost. I can’t move my gaze away from her because I’m waiting for her to take it back. It never comes. My hopeful heart is shredded.
I huff in frustration. “Crystal clear, but before it’s done and we never speak about this again, I have some things to say. You don’t get to dictate everything because I’m a part of this too, Dori.”
“Jami, stop.”
“No, you’re not the only one hurting. I feel the loss just as much as you do. And if you doubt that, you shouldn’t.”
The water in the bathroom turns on, so I know I only have seconds left.
“Dori, I’m not running cold anymore. I would’ve been there for you through all this. You could’ve leaned on me, butyou turned to Hunter instead. When you look back on this, know the distance between us was your choice. Not mine.”
My body trembles. I steady myself and then finish what I have to say.
“You need to keep your appointments with the doctor. You may require further treatment or else there could be terrible consequences to your health. And finally, read the damn list of things to avoid.” My blood races and seethe inside. “Now we’re fucking done.”
I stand and glare hard into her eyes, stuffing all the hurt and pain down deep inside me. She and our lost child are just two more things I love that will be added to the list that makes up my eternal pain.
That thought has me rubbing my chest to work the ache out of my heart from being trampled on by the beautiful temptress that lies before me.
I should be surprised when I find Melanie pacing in my office, but I’m not. “Good morning, Mel. What’s new today?”
“That’s why I’m in here. I haven’t been able to get ahold of Dori. Hunter assigned everyone on the marketing team tasks that are marked urgent. When I went to talk to her about it, I was told she’s not coming in today.”
“There’s your answer, so why are you looking at me like I have something to do with this list of urgent matters?”
“What happened at her doctor’s appointment?” Mel rests her hands on the back of the chair and stares me down.
“Dori’s sick. Some kind of female infection.” I place my computer bag on my chair and move some papers that were left on my desk.
“Jamison Stone. Are you telling me you gave her an STD?”
“God, no. You need to get your facts straight.” I scowl and set up my desk.
“You were the one who said it.” She rounds the chair and moves to the edge of the desk. “Who gave you the atomic wedgie that’s stuck in your ass?”
“Ask your best friend.” I pretend to be looking over something important while forcing my agony away.
“Now she’s my best friend? What’s the problem with calling her by her name?” Mel pushes the papers over and climbs onto my desk.
Not in any mood to play her games, I deadpan, “This is a desk, not a chair.”
“Hmm. I see you’re not having any of my charm today.”
“Charm? Is that what you call it?” I shake my head. “Mel, I’m not upset with you, but I need to get to work. I have so much to do and little patience to do it.”
“What’s that got to do with me?”
