Page 42 of Playing For Keeps
I let that sink in. My lungs empty, and my body hollowsout. As helpless as I feel, I know if we find Dorothy, I’ve got to let her go.
I twist away to escape the finality of it all and retreat to relax on the couch. “My advice is to work toward a resolution with them. No matter how upset you are about them being together, the fact remains they love each other.”
“That’s going to be hard to do. My dad trained me to think this way, and I’ve spent years trying to keep them apart. It’s hard to see it any other way.”
“I can only imagine.”
“How can you just give up? Don’t you want to make it work with her?” Aiden sits in the spot Dorothy usually does. “Our plan was to get your mom arrested and you to tell Dori about her job. Once that was in place, you would get her back.”
“I know, but I’ve got a lot to consider going forward.” I bend over and rest my forearms on my legs, glancing at him. “Have you forgotten that Isabella’s pregnant with my son?”
He rolls his eyes. “Way to fuck this entire plan up. And why didn’t you tell me about it before today? It could’ve helped.”
“I’ve been trying to get used to the idea. But one thing is for sure, and that’s Dorothy doesn’t deserve to have to sit and watch Isabella carry my son. Not after she’s lost two babies of her own.” I want to rewind my sentence instantly.
“What do you mean she’s lost two babies?” He dials in on me. “Did you get Dori pregnant?”
Fuck me.
“The stress is getting to me. Forget I said anything.”
“Answer the question, Hunter.”
“No. It wasn’t mine.” I tense, knowing all hell is going to break loose now that Aiden knows that probably means it was Jamison’s child.
Before that happens, Jonah treks into the room. “Where’s Melanie?”
“You scared her off with your possessive bullshit.” I stand to be on his level and slap his chest with the back of my hand. “Why didn’t you tell me you two were working out a long-distance relationship?”
He rakes a hand through his hair. “Because it was still up in the air, and I didn’t want to get a lecture from you.”
“Like I have any room to lay into you about your choices with women.” I glance at Aiden right as his phone goes off.
A snap of adrenaline smacks me in the heart.
Aiden pulls out his phone. His face turns white, and he looks up at us. “It’s your mom. We haven’t come up with a plan, and now I’m fucked.”
CHAPTER 11
JAMISON
Melanie stalksoff through the lobby of my complex. “Jonah comes across so kind and sweet until he sees me with someone who I might have shared a past with.”
“He sounds a lot like Hunter in that regard.”
“I guess, but I don’t understand it. What difference does it make?”
“It doesn’t, but he obviously doesn’t like the thought of you being with anyone other than him.”
“That’s ridiculous. I’m close to thirty years old, and it’s not like I’m a virgin. And on that topic, I’m sure he’s been with a lot more people than I have.”
“It’s possible, but who knows?” My gunshot wound shocks me like a live wire. I wince in pain. “Do you mind if we sit? With all the stress, my injury is giving me a lot of problems.”
“I wasn’t thinking about that. I’m sorry. Where do you want to go?”
I point to the waiting area. “If we could just decompress here, that would be great. Besides, I don’t want to be too far away in case something happens with Dori.”
“Of course.” Mel strides over to the seats and sits. “I thought you took something for your pain earlier?”
