Page 74 of Playing For Keeps
He and I make eye contact, and a part of my heart breaks off. He looks like someone just kicked him in the stomach.
I glance at Jami. “Give me a minute to talk to him.”
He nods with a look of understanding. “We’ll wait for you over here.”
I veer off in Hunter's direction and pray this goes well. “Hey there. Can I steal a moment from you?”
CHAPTER 18
HUNTER
If Jamison’scheerfulness isn’t enough to tell me I won’t like what Dorothy has to say, then the gleam in her eyes when she came around the corner, staring at him in awe, definitely is.
I step away from the counter and meet her as she treks toward me. “You can always have a moment of mine.”
“Are you checking out?” She stops before me.
“No. I’m extending my stay.”
Her brows knit together. “Why?”
I rub my aching neck. “Isabella’s giving me a hard time about some things, and I need to settle them before I go.”
“Sorry I asked. It’s none of my business. It’s just a habit.” She wraps her arms around her waist. “I wanted to let you know I’ve decided what I want to do about my job.”
“That was fast.”
“I know, but…” She glances at Jamison, and a smile spreads across her face. Her gaze comes back to me full of apologies. “I don’t want you to hear it from anyone else so…Jami asked me to marry him, and I said yes.”
And here I thought her not taking her job back would sting. The jolt of the blow is like being electrocuted. It causes me to stumble backward.
I asked her to marry me more than once over the time I was with her, and she always said it was too soon. They’ve been together for a couple of months, and she says yes? The pain hits me unexpectedly, and my brain short-circuits.
I really need to find a way to get over her. Otherwise, I’m going to die knowing she’s building a life with him.
I shift to cover up my emotions by sliding my hands into my pants pockets. “Congratulations.”
“Thanks.” Her expression softens. “Hunter, I’m not trying to hurt you. I just thought you deserved to hear it from me.”
“I appreciate it.” My chest cracks open, and my heart crashes to the floor. “You know I only want you to be happy.”
“I know, but?—”
“But nothing. If you recall, I never planned to tell you about your job because I thought you would be better off in Miami with Jamison. Trust me. I think this is the right thing to do.”
She reaches out and touches my forearm. “You’re a wonderful man, Hunter. I’ll always hold our time together close to my heart.”
“Same here.” I swallow the lump of grief that’s stuck in my throat. “It’s better this way. Between the issues with my son and the therapy I need to continue to fix my fucked-up brain, you’re making the best decision for all of us involved.”
She brings her arm back to her waist. “Your brain isn’t fucked-up. This situation is.”
“I’m sure my therapist would put up a pretty good case arguing otherwise.”
“Don’t put yourself down like this. You’re too special to think there’s anything wrong with you.”
“Very well. I’ll stop if it means that much to you.” I shift away, getting ready to excuse myself.
“Hunter, there’s one more thing.”
