Page 7 of Gamble
Her friend had left off the word ‘again’ but they both knew the word belonged at the end of the sentence.
After one divorce and two major breakups in the nine years since college graduation, Reagan had the worst track record in the men department of any of their close-knit group of sorority sisters. She’d known it was getting bad when her friends had all stopped teasing her about her doomed love life since it just wasn’t funny anymore.
“I appreciate your concern. I know he hasn’t been around, but he invited me to go away with him at the end of the month for a few days.” She put on her most cheerful smile before adding, “I’m counting on getting things back on track then, if you know what I mean.”
The ladies shared a scandalous chuckle at the thought of a sexy weekend away with the sex-god that was Tristan Goodrich.
Reagan gave her friend a little wave across the counter that separated them, heading toward the employee parking lot. Even with the covered garage shading the cars, the interior was hot in the California summer heat. She was just starting her car to get the air conditioning going when Tristan’s face lit up her cell phone.
“What a pleasant surprise!” she exclaimed. “I was just thinking about you!”
“Hey, baby. How was your day?”
Just hearing his voice helped settle some of her insecurities.
“It was fine. My last surgery was with one of my favorite doctors, so that was a delightful surprise.”
“You’ll never guess what great news I have,” he interjected, not paying any attention to her reply.
Reagan sighed, turning up the air conditioning as she asked, “I love great news. You’re coming home early this week?”
“Naw, even better.”
She doubted that.
“I was talking with Jules and Jeff and mentioned that we were going away for the weekend in a few weeks. They reminded me that it’s been months since their last road trip to Las Vegas so they’re going to meet us there. Isn’t that great?”
“Vegas? You didn’t tell me we were going to Vegas.”
“Surprise!”
“Tristan, since you go to Vegas at least four times a year, it isn’t exactly a surprise. You promised we would go somewhere more romantic on our next getaway,” she complained. Even to her own ears she sounded whiny, and she hated it.
“Aw come on, we always have fun there and you know it.”
She bit her tongue to temper her response. “We have had some fun there, yes, but I’m not into gambling… and you know the smoke inside all of the casinos makes me sick. I was countingon going to Napa and wine country. Remember, I won that free night at the spa there?”
“Yeah, I remember, but it doesn’t expire until next year. We have plenty of time.”
Reagan opened her mouth to voice her opinion, but just in time bit back her response. She’d lost not just one, but two, relationships because she’d been too pushy. That had been their words, not hers. Other words they’d used for her were ‘stubborn’ and ‘uncompromising.’
She was determined to work on the undesirable qualities that had tanked most, if not all, of the intimate relationships she’d had as an adult. Moving to L.A. and changing jobs had been just the first steps at compromise with Tristan.
And it looked like going to Vegas would be her next.
“Okay, it sounds fun.”
“That’s my girl. We’ll have a great time with Jules and Jeff. You’ll see.”
Reagan somehow doubted that since every time she’d been around Tristan’s gaggle of close friends, she’d always felt like a fifth wheel.
“Listen, I’m taking several hospital administrators to dinner tonight, so I need to head out. I’ll call you tomorrow. Bye.”
And he was gone, not even waiting for her to get another word in. After the call ended, she realized it was for the best, since all she wanted to do was complain that she’d moved to L.A. so they could go out for dinner together.
This is what I get for dating a pharmaceutical sales rep. All he does is travel.
Reagan pulled out of the garage and into the late-day sun. The temperature on her dashboard read ninety-three degrees. There was no way she wanted to go home and cook, but she hated going out to eat alone.
