Page 14 of The Biggest Sacrifice

“Me, too.” Adam and Jackson both respond. Chelsea stands and follows.

Feeling Tom lean in closer to me, his next words make me livid. “Did you fuck him?”

Aggressively turning towards him, I whisper shout, “Are you really asking me that?”

He stares at me, his eyes narrowing at my silence.

“Tell me, Farrah.”

I return his glare, but I can’t ever keep anything from Tom. He could always read me no matter how I responded.

He settles back in his chair, a smug look dancing across his face. “Good. I’d hate to fly around the world only to come back home to the States and kill a man.”

My anger builds and I lash out. “You left! Maybe I needed to find a release.”

He stops with his glass to his lips. And smiles. “Your releases belong to me and you know it. Don’t play that game with me, Farrah.” He places his glass on the table and turns to face me head on. I won’t turn to give him my attention, but he knows he has it. “I owe you. I know I do. I owe you a lot more than just a release, but that’s all I can give tonight.”

“Who says I want that from you tonight?”

He laughs. He fucking laughs loud enough that the remaining people at the table stop what they’re doing and look at him.

“Casanova! Are you drunk already? Don’t tell me you couldn’t even get a beer over there.” Britt is her usually snarky self.

He just shakes his head. “No, I’m not drunk. I’m sober as fuck.” Our eyes meet, then he looks past me, presumably at the pool table, until his eyes land back on me. “Don’t even think about running from me tonight, mouse. Your lion has returned.”

CHAPTER 8

TOM

I knew comingout tonight would be bad. I knew I wouldn’t be able to control myself. Once I saw her in that tiny skirt, and smelled her perfume, which reignited every memory of every night we spent together, I knew I had to have her.

She hasn’t said a word to me in months, but I know she’s not over me. I know what she wants from me, and it’s not just physical. Because I want it, too. I just need to find the words and say them. I need to allow myself to know it’s okay to want more, too.

I’ve got a fuck ton of turmoil swirling inside me right now. The only thing that ever worked to bury the guilt that I get to come home while others don’t, is to bury myself in Farrah. Is it fair? Hell no, it’s not fair. But she’s always been my go-to. I need her. I know I was an asshole to her when I left. And I have no right stepping right up and questioning her now. But the fact she called me out at the table made me want her more. That defiance I loved so much is shining like a beacon, calling me home.

I don’t give a fuck who the new guy thinks he is. He ain’t shit to her. And I’m going to prove it.

He thought he was slick bringing Farrah her favorite drink. But it’s not the drink she craves. It’s me. It’s the game we’ve played for years. I knew she was missing it and I knew just talking about it would have her coming home with me tonight.

So when I called her mouse and her pupils dilated, I almost blew in my shorts.

But for the time being, we were going to have to play this game right here at the table. My family had come out tonight to celebrate my return. I was happy to be here with them, but I’ve been aching for Farrah since I’ve left.

I lean in and speak only to her. “I’ll chase you until the end of time, Farrah.”

She locks up in her seat but still responds with an attitude. “Yeah? What if I keep running?”

“I’ll catch you, eventually.”

“And then what? What happens when you catch me? I hope I get more than a three-minute fuck.”

I scoff at her flippant tone. “Shut your lying mouth.”

“Just saying, Tommy. I need more than sex.”

I fucking know she needs more. She wants more, and she was sacrificing her dreams for me. But I kept leaving. I’m selfish, and I know it. I can’t give it to her, but I won’t let her go and I definitely won’t let anyone else give it to her either. “And if that’s all I can offer?”

She turns to face me head on. “It’s not. I know it’s not. You just need to find what youcanoffer. There’s a lot there.” She points to my heart. “A lot inside. I told you when you left. When you find it, only then can you chase me again.”

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