Page 53 of Don't Game Me
Tori pushed coffee her way. “The lease is up in two months. I’ve never had a place of my own, and even though my time here was short, I liked feeling as if I’m finally making it in the world enough to have my own place. I’ll be living with Noah as of next week.” Her brows drooped. “I’m worried as hell about you and whatever’s going on in California. It’ll kill your brothers and your parents if you end up like Kaleb.”
She released a long sigh and covered her face. “I know. I have nothing new to say. I need you to believe I have a plan.”
Tori stared at her long and hard. “I had a plan, too, an idea on how to get out. It didn’t work. They don’t care about getting repaid the amount you owe. They just want you and your skills doing their bidding. Don’t go back. Stay here. Tell Noah.”
“They’ve got their hooks in deep. If I tried to walk away by simply not returning, Symphis would hurt all of us. I know someone who did get out. Like, free and clear of it all. I’m following his same path. It might mean I have to disappear for a little while, as in off the grid, at least until someone else brings down the whole organization. Any progress on bringing it down and finding Symphis?”
Tori shook her head. “I’m not in that loop anymore. Sorry.” She gazed at Becca for a few long, silent moments. “All right. I trust you. You’re smart enough to know when you need to reach out for help. So, what’d Jake do?”
Becca sipped coffee. “Mmm. This is good. We had an argument, as usual. I’ll get over it. So will he.”
“I need details to gauge how much of an ass he was to you. That way, I can feel no guilt about choosing your side.”
She laughed. “We were watching a movie last night. I think he really meant for everything to stay friends only. One thing led to another, even though I don’t think either of us meant for it to lead to…that. Then this morning he said we had to pretend nothing happened and go back to normal.”
“He gave you a heartless morning-after speech? What an idiot.” Tori shook her head. “What exactly did he say to you?”
“Just that we had fun and now we have to go back to normal. Essentially, he doesn’t want Noah to know.”
“He freaked out, then. Big time.” Tori sipped her coffee, looking contemplative.
“He handles difficult situations all day at work. You’d think he’d be good at handling things that stress him out in his personal life.”
“Yes, he’s pretty darn smooth in the office, but Emma told me when he’s not at work, and there’s a woman involved, he has the social IQ of a middle schooler. He’s had a fair bit of experience with hookups, which you’d think would make him good at sticky situations. If he detects something is getting serious, if hefeelssomething, then he falls apart. He’s had Emma deal with quite a few clingy women for him. Drives her nuts. He becomes that guy who hides behind his desk or behind a file cabinet while sending Emma in to clean it up. You’re nothing like those girls though.”
“In what way? I’m the newest idiotic ditz who hooked up with Mr. One Time Only. The guy changes girls like he changes T-shirts.”
“You’re not a ditz, and you’re certainly not an idiot. You’re smart. You’ve known each other for years, which makes you different. Very different, at least from his typical date, who is air-headed and a complete stranger. Do youlikelike him?” Tori glanced over her mug as she sipped.
Becca’s cheeks scorched.
“You do.” Tori’s eyebrows shot upward. “I thought so.”
No hiding it now. “Momentary lapse of judgment on both our parts. Bad timing.”
“There’s nothing wrong with you. Let’s not forget Jake just broke his long dry spell to be with you. Based on his behavior around you, I think things are different for him where you’re concerned. He probably realized he felt something different and panicked. Or it might have to do with the fact you’re Noah’s sister.”
“I don’t want Noah to know about last night. He and Michael are always a bit weird when it comes to me dating. I can’t even mention sex to them. I did once. It didn’t go well.”
“My brother is the same.” She waved a hand in the air. “Deep breath. We’ve got a big morning at the spa. Let’s relax and forget about last night.”
Hours later, Becca giggled next to Tori as they perused a gossip magazine’s opinion of the worst dressed movie stars attending a movie premiere. Becca never read these magazines, but the stories were so ridiculous they were funny. She sipped her mimosa and pointed to a red feather dress.
“The dress makes the poor girl look like a red pigeon.” Tori laughed so hard she dabbed her eyes. She wiggled her electric blue painted toenails. “Wonder if they’re dry yet?”
“That color…” Becca laughed.
“Hey, you only live once. Why not?” Tori tested a finger on the paint and made a face.
Emma swatted at her hand. “Fingers off. Another few minutes.”
“Oh my Lordy Lord,” one of the other bridesmaids announced, waving a magazine in the air. “Did you guys see this?” She rotated to display the magazine featuring Jake half dressed in Milan.
“Yeah, I saw that one,” Emma said with an eye roll. “He tried to keep it out of the office last week. No luck on that.”
Tori chuckled. “It was plastered all over the NJ Legacy break room. Noah couldn’t stop laughing.”
Becca stared at the cover, which reminded her of playingZoneworld Warriorwith him.
