Page 51 of Worth the Risk

Turning away, I freeze when she murmurs, “She’ll never be able to satisfy you like I can.”

Clearly, I need to be blunt with her.“She satisfies me more than anyone ever has. Trust me when I tell you I have no plans to search elsewhere for satisfaction.”

When I once again head toward the group, a furious Sierra meets me halfway. “Why were you talking to Beth?” she demands.

Huh?“Who is Beth?”

“The girl you were just talking to?”

“Her name is Beth?”I’ve been calling her Liz.

“Well, technically, her name is Elizabeth,” she clarifies.

Elizabeth. Liz. Beth.Shit.Is she the same Beth who was hooking up with Kylie’s ex, James?If so, this isn’t good. After what Kylie told me about James, I can’t be talking to Beth.Hell, what would Kylie do if she knew I’ve slept with her?That would be bad.Realbad.

I won’t lose Kylie. I’m in too deep with her now.

Fuck.Elizabeth. I would never have put the two together.I need to think fast.

“She tried to start a conversation with me,” I say the first thing that comes to mind as panic fills my chest.

“So, you don’t know her?” she questions.

I do, but I won’t tell Sierra that. Eventually, I’ll have to tell Kylie. She deserves to know before Sierra.

I’m not looking forward to that conversation.

“Nope. Never met Beth,” I sort of lie.

Technically, I met Liz.

“Good. Keep it that way and stay away from her. She seems to be making it her mission to hurt Ky, and I won’t stand for it.”

“I won’t let her hurt Kylie.” I may be the one who does, though, because with everything Kylie has told me, it will crush her.We weren’t together at the time I hooked up with Beth. She won’t have the right to be mad at me, I try to justify it to myself.

I should not feel guilty about this. But I do.

Fuck.

* * *

Two days later, I’m in a restaurant in New York, meeting with my cousin, Kason. My father and his mother are siblings, and even though he grew up in Jersey, where his father runs our Atlantic City casino, we grew up together, taking many family vacations. He will head off to spring training soon, so we meet up to have dinner before his schedule becomes too busy.

“How are things going in the Poconos?” he asks.

“Good. I don’t have much longer there, maybe a month. Then I’ll be back up here.”

I think of Kylie.What will happen to us once I move back? Will we make the distance between us work?If I had it my way, she would come with me.

I’ve missed her these past couple of days. It was hard to leave her Sunday, and now this Beth thing is weighing on me.Will Kylie leave when she finds out?That thought makes me sweat. I’ve come to care about her a great deal, even though I never thought I’d let anyone in. I told myself it will only bring heartache, and I’ve always avoided intimacy with any girl. But Kylie quickly crossed the line I drew where relationships were concerned. I might not call what I feel for her love yet, but it is headed that way. I had no idea I was capable of these emotions.

“Earth to Leo,” Kason interrupts my thoughts, waving his hand in front of me.

How long have I been staring into nothing, thinking about her?

“Sorry. My mind went elsewhere. What were you saying?”

“What’s going on?” he asks. “You seem distracted.”

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