Page 82 of Double or Nothing

Then sentiment is more than reciprocated. For the past five years, I thought I was living, thought I was happy. Sutton being back showed me how wrong I was. Until last night, I didn’t realize just how dead I was inside. Life is not nearly as vibrant without him in it.

He says the exact words I need to hear, verbally putting my fears to rest. Like before, the choice is mine if he stays or if he goes. He’s not demanding anything of me or giving me ultimatums. There are no threats in his words, only promises.

This time, if he leaves, it’s of my doing, not his.

“I’m scared.”

Scared to let him in. Scared to give him a chance. All because I know this time, if it doesn’t work, it’s over—for good—and I’m afraid to lose him for good.

“I know, and you have every right to be, but I can’t fix anything if you won’t give me a chance. Let me show you I’m still the guy you fell in love with, not the asshole who left you.”

“And just how do you plan on doing that?” I ask, a small smile forming on my lips.

“One week, right?”

I nod.

One week.

One week to make me fall for him all over again.

One week for us to come together or fall apart.

“One week,” I tell him.

He smiles, and I melt. The decision I was unsure about moments ago solidifies.

Taking my hand, he tugs me into the suite.

At the least, we’ll have fun trying.

Chapter 37

Sutton

“Where are we?” Kat asks, waving her hands in front of her, her eyes covered with a blindfold, leaving her in the dark. The very way I’ve had her since we boarded the plane I chartered.

While I know things like that don’t matter to her, I want her to know what my life is like. What her life with me will be like. And if I’m honest, I want to spoil her.

The moment we stepped on the plane, the blindfold went on. No way in hell was I going to let her figure out where we were going. Not that the short flight wasn’t hint enough. Still, when we disembarked the plane, I led her straight to the limo.

She whined and pouted, but the surprise was definitely worth it.

I’ve spent the past five years in the fast lane. While I love every moment of what I’ve done, the idea of slowing down sounds more and more appealing. I want to live in the here and now, just me and Kat. Like we used to. Time spent at the baseball field just talking and laughing or slow strolls down the strip, taking in the lights, the atmosphere. Hand in hand. Just the two of us.

That’s what I want now, and Tahoe seemed like the perfect place to find it.

“Trust me.”

“Famous last words.”

“You know I would never put you in harm’s way, Kitty Kat.”

“So, you keep saying, but I remember a few instances where—”

“I also remember you enjoying them,” I say, cutting her off.

She laughs, knowing full well I’m right. We may have done some crazy shit, mostly me hoping to impress her, but she always enjoyed it, more of a thrill-seeker than she ever realized or would admit. Until her mom got sick. Guilt settles in, knowing that it’s one of the things we’ve yet to talk about. Her mother, her passing—the fact I wasn’t there.

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