Page 79 of Never Date A Player
Lewis leans over the counter and Mira runs her fingers through his hair for him, removing the white powder. He shifts slightly and I catch the side of his face. He’s grinning, his gaze on her pure affection.
I feel like I’m intruding and that’s—not right.
Mira was in distress, but she’s clearly not now, yet Lewis is spending time with her instead of his girlfriend, whom he hasn’t seen in almost a week. And after we made love for the first time? Is this how it’s going to be—me competing with Mira for his time? I want to be important to him.
Why didn’t he tell me what was going on in his life?
This isn’t right. None of it. My stomach constricts and I press my arm against the knot that’s formed. I step back, trip over a piece of outdoor furniture, and stumble down the stairs. The rush of blood in my ears drowns out all sound as I hurtle toward my car.
He says she’s like a sister, but in this moment, I see the man I love making another woman his priority while I’m left on the outside. Again.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Cali’s lying above Jaeger on the couch like he is the couch when I open the front door.
She smiles briefly from her cozy spot on top of her boyfriend and then her eyes widen. “What’s wrong?” She pops up and Jaeger sits up beneath her, turning down the volume on the television.
“You were right.” I dump my purse on the kitchen counter and open the fridge, wonder what I’m doing because the thought of food makes me nauseated, and slam it shut.
Cali stands next to the counter, arms loose at her sides. Jaeger stares from the edge of the couch, his face tense with concern.
“I saw them together.”
Cali’s eyes scrunch in confusion. “Who?”
“Lewis and Mira.”
“You saw them—having sex?”
“What? No. They were hanging out, but he kept so much from me. He’s been lying to me—omitting—I don’t know. Nessa told me Mira is wanted by some loan shark. When Lewis didn’t call, I went over.”
“Mira is what?” Cali glances at Jaeger. “Gen, what are you talking about? You’re not making sense.”
Cali’s confused. I’m confused.
What I saw didn’t look like a woman with debt and stress. And Lewis didn’t seem like he was worried for her. They appeared as if everything was okay. But if things are okay, why hasn’t he been by? What happened to us?
“Did you talk to him?”
“No. I ran.”
Cali sighs deeply.
I brush off her censure. “You said so yourself, I should stay away from him. I’ll never be as important to him as she is.”
She leans her hip against the counter. “We’ve established that I don’t know as much as I think I do when it comes to relationships.”
“You picked Jaeger, and he’s the ideal boyfriend.”
“Thanks, Gen.” Jaeger grins from the couch.
Cali shakes her head at him. “Not helping.” She turns to me. “I got it right with Jaeger, but not before deep soul-searching and a painful learning curve. Look, Gen, I was wrong to get involved in your love life and to tell you who to date. Please don’t think I know what’s best. Talk to Lewis. Find out the truth before you ruin something that could be good.”
“Now he’s good for me?”
She shrugs. “Well, I didn’t understand his thing with Mira at first, but he seems committed to you.”
“No, he never settles down. This won’t work.”
