Page 18 of The Toughest Play

I follow him to a black Jeep and he opens the passenger door for me. “Thanks,” I say, climbing up onto the leather seat. I pull the door closed as he makes his way around to the driver’s side.

“Where to?” he asks, starting the engine and I give him my address.

He drives from the parking lot, and I cast a final glance at my old but usually dependable sedan. I hope the repairs won’t be too expensive. I haven’t been at my new job long enough to receive the first paycheck. It would’ve been nice if I could’ve gotten ahead a bit before being hit with an unexpected bill. But I’m thankful I at least have room on my credit card, and that’ll have to do for now.

“Are you from this area?” Rogan asks.

“No, I’m originally from Rhode Island but I went to college in Delaware.”

“Isn’t that where Brett went too?”

“Yeah, we met there.”

“So you followed him here?”

“Don’t make me sound like a stalker. We were in a relationship and he asked me to come.”

“How long did you two date?”

“Five years.”

“Damn. That’s a long time. I bet it felt longer,” he says, laughing.

“Sometimes it did, but we had a lot of good times too.”

“Why’d you break up if things were so wonderful?”

I really don’t want to explain why. Will he use that information against me somehow?

“You don’t have to tell me. I didn’t mean to be intrusive.”

“He cheated on me,” I blurt out.

He shakes his head. “Wow. What a fuckhead.”

His reaction elicits a snort from me before I add, “With a model.”

“I guess it shouldn’t surprise me.”

“Oh? Why’s that? Because I don’t starve myself?” I jump to ask.

He turns his head, and his deep-blue eyes connect with mine before they return to the road. “No, because he’s an asshole in general, so why would he appreciate having a beautiful girlfriend?”

Beautiful?Now I feel bad for snapping at him.

“I’m sorry if I bit your head off.” I release a frustrated sigh. “I shouldn’t still be sensitive about what happened but being cheated on sucks. Especially when that person is a famous freaking model.”

“Yeah, I can see how it would.”

I roll my eyes. “I bet you’ve never been cheated on.”

“No, I haven’t, but I also have never had a serious relationship.”

“Oh boy,” I say.

“What?”

“You’re a walking red flag.”

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