Page 66 of High Stakes

“Did she talk to you?” asks JP.

Raff nudges him. “Don’t encourage this stalking bullshit.”

“Jakes right, they’re good together,” he argues.

“Jakes dead. If he saw the shit show that he caused, he’d feel bad.”

“I’ve got to try,” I mutter, “I need her in my life.”

When we arrive back at Tremos, an hour later, I’m feeling the alcohol buzzing through me. It’s the first time I’ve been drunk since I hit rock bottom, and as I scan the room, my eyes landing on a Bella look-a-like, I feel that familiar pull.

We take a seat at our usual table, and she makes a beeline for me, smiling wide as she leans in to speak. “You look like a guy that knows his way around.”

I smirk, “This bar?”

She sniggers. “At the risk of sounding cheesy, do you come here often?”

“You wouldn’t believe how many times I’ve come here.”

She arches a flirty brow. “I like you,” she states with confidence, “and I’m drunk, trying to get over a broken heart.”

“He can’t help you there,” says Raff, grinning, “He breaks hearts, not mends them.”

It doesn’t deter her. Instead, she slides in beside me. “I’m going to be upfront. I want no strings, wild sex. And I want it with you.”

I can feel my resolve melting. She looks too much like Bella.Bella. I shake my head. “As fun as that sounds, I’m out with the guys tonight. If I leave them, to fuck you, they’ll just give me shit.”

She arches a perfectly plucked brow. “Are you being serious?”

I nod. “I’m afraid so.” She huffs and gets up, leaving and moving on to another guy.

“Wow, you’re serious about getting Bella to forgive you,” says JP and I think I see a hint of pride in his eyes.

“Bullshit. There’s no way he can go without sex for the amount of time it will take Bella to forgive him,” says Raff. “We’re talking months, if not years.”

I grin, “You think she’ll forgive me?”

“I didn’t say that,” he replies.

“You do,” I say, nudging him playfully. “You think I’ll win her round.”

He narrows his eyes. “Only because I know you won’t give up. You’ll wear her down and she’s too nice to keep up the hatred.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Bella

I’m relieved when Cal suggests we spend Sunday at home chilling and watching movies. It’s hard to get him to sit still and relax most of the time, but it’s exactly what we need.

“How was your date?”

He groans dramatically, “God awful.” I laugh because I expected that exact reaction. He never has any luck. “She practically licked her soup bowl like she hadn’t eaten in forever, you don’t eat like that in posh restaurants. I could feel everyone judging me,” he complains, “and she snortswhen she laughs. I was trying my hardest not to say anything funny in case I set her off. I can’t ever show my face in that place again.”

“You’re too picky,” I say.

Cal rolls his eyes but chooses not to argue because we have had this discussion too many times before. “Shall I come to the doctors with you tomorrow?” he asks, changing the subject and I smile gratefully.

“I would really love that, Cal.”

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