Page 119 of A Fool's Game

There were lots of good times.

That’s not why I left.

With a sigh of impatience at my own doomsday thoughts, I switch the phone out of airplane mode, where it’s been since I boarded my flight at SeaTac yesterday. I knew there would be messages and calls, and I wasn’t ready to deal with them.

Hell, I’m still not ready, but I need to be able to take the call from Magnus when—if—they call to offer me the position.

I flop onto the bed and watch the notificationsappear one by one.Lots of texts from the guys. One from Marisol. Missed calls from the guys. I’m just biting my lip and trying to get the nerve to text them back when the phone lights up with Ainsley’s silly, grinning face on the screen.

I answer before I can talk myself out of it.

“She lives!” he calls out as soon as the line goes live.

I laugh in spite of myself. “Hey, Ains.”

“You know,” he starts, and I brace myself for the lecture. “We ordered way too much dim sum at my favorite place in Queens, and I was just telling Taylor that Gemma should be here?—”

“Wait, you’re in New York?” My mind is struggling to process this turn of events.

“Of course, babe. You’re here. Anywhere you are, we’re going to be too.”

I squeeze my eyes closed to keep tears from forming, but it doesn’t work. I let them roll as I try to breathe through the consequences of my actions biting me in the ass much sooner than anticipated.

“Where are you?” Taylor must have taken the phone because his voice comes through the speaker. Not upset, but definitely worried.

“Hey,” is all I can manage.

“Hey,” he says back, tone softening. “You okay?”

“I don’t know.” I answer honestly.

I thought I was going to get to hide until I had everything figured out, but it seems like that’s no longer an option.

“I’m sorry for everything,” he says before I can think of anything to say.

“What? No, I’m sorry. I’m the one who left. I should have said something.”

“I should have made you feel like it was safe to tell me. That’s on me, witch.”

I open my mouth to argue, but a sob escapes.

“Can we come see you?” He offers the question so lightly, I actually feel like it would be okay to say no. Not that I want to. I didn’t run away because I didn’t want the guys here with me. I ran away because of…important reasons I can’t seem to remember right now.

“Yeah, of course. I’m staying at The Lafayette Lodge on Delancey. Lower East Side.”

“Seriously?” I hear Ainsley’s voice cut back in.

“Yes, seriously, Ains. It’s fine.”

“Yeah, no, I just…always wanted to see the inside of that place. Okay.” I hear him repeat the hotel name to someone.

“Are you in a cab already? What about Dim Sum?”

Taylor comes back on the line. “The food was a trap. We’ve been driving around in this cab for five hours.”

I laugh out loud despite my overwhelming feelings. “Really? Why?”

“Looking for you,” Taylor says, and I believe him.

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