Page 51 of Playing With Secrets
DORI
My heart erupts with betrayal.“Answer me!”
Jami and Mel take a quick peek at each other. They remain standing near the window in his office like they’re statues.
They’re going to make up a lie and hide their relationship from me.
Spots take over my vision and I sway.
Jami runs to me and grabs me by the waist. “Calm down and breathe.”
“You want me to calm down? You can’t honestly think that will be my reaction.” I try to pull away, but he tightens his grip.
“No, you don’t. You aren’t pushing me away this time.” He shifts with me in his arms and shuts the door behind him.
“You’re manhandling me, so let me go now or else I’ll scream.”
Mel and Jami.
Good God, I should’ve known. My blood races and everything in my sight distorts. He releases me, but I trip over my feet.
He takes me in his arms and stares into my rage-filled eyes. “Dori, stop for one minute and listen to me. I won’t try tomove you, so please take a deep breath and sit down. We can explain everything.”
I study him, looking for deceit, but I only see his anxiousness for me to hear him out. I blink a few times and pull in a gust of air.
“Okay, I’ll sit, but don’t lie to me. I know you both well enough to know if you do.” I step out of his hold.
I glance at Melanie, who’s staring at me, her eyes full of apologies. Her shoulders soften and she walks to the other chair. We maintain eye contact until we’re both sitting.
Jami retreats to the edge of his desk and gazes down at us. “You came in at the end of a heavy conversation.”
“I know. I walked in on it. Remember?” I flip my hair over my shoulder, trying to forget what I heard.
“It wasn’t what you think.” Melanie chimes in, but her voice is timid and apologetic.
“I promise you, Dori. Melanie and I are not talking about running away together. Nor are we dating. We’re friends who have something in common.”
I roll my eyes. “Yeah, you both want to run away with each other.”
“No. I’m talking about you. You’re the link here.” Jami kneels before me.
My eyebrows knit together. “Then explain what you were talking about because I heard you tell her you were ready for your happily ever after. Right after that, she asked you if that meant running away. You said yes. Tell me how I misunderstood any of that.”
She clasps her hands together and rests them on her lap. “We were discussing life. Jami mentioned he was considering moving away after he completes his contract so he can find his perfect ending.”
“That doesn’t help me understand anything.” I prod her to continue.
Melanie leans toward me. “I’ve been down, so when I saidwe could run away and live happily ever after, I wasn’t suggesting we do it together. It was about me leaving. I said we because he was already talking about doing it.”
“You’re both thinking about moving away from here? Why?” My gaze flits between the two of them.
A new kind of disbelief fills me. If they both move, I’ll have nothing personal of my own. My life will revolve around Hunter and my job. My heart thumps against my rib cage at the thought of losing them.
Jami stands and rests against the edge of his desk. “For me, getting out of this city has to do with going where I can find what I want. I’m going to be twenty-eight soon and have one friend here who is old enough to be my grandfather. That’s not much of a social life.”
“Now I’m offended. You say we’re friends and I’m not old. Do I not count?” Melanie glares at Jami with her arms folded.
He shakes his head to disregard her question. “Mel, you and I are friends, but face it. Once I’m done working here, we’ll lose touch.”
