Page 79 of Deal Takers

Yeah, not happening. No matter how much I want this shitty feeling to go away, a small part of me is still hoping Rainey gets the courage to come running back. I know my odds are slim, but I’m no Ross Geller. I’m not going to risk losing the chance to be with Rainey by fucking someone else while we’re on a break.

CHAPTER 48

Rainey

“Why am I so emotionally stunted, Devyn?”

She gives me a sad smile and hands me a quart of Cherry Garcia. How cliché am I? I’m eating ice cream directly from the carton after a breakup, spilling my guts to my best friend. I don’t really care how pathetic I look though, because those Ben and Jerry dudes make some good shit.

“Honey, you’re not emotionally stunted. You’re just…scared.”

“Ugh, that’s exactly what he said.” I take a huge bite.

“Well…”

“Please don’t tell me you’re on his side,” I groan.

“I’m not onanyone’sside,” she assures me. “I told you in the very beginning I didn’t want to see either one of you get hurt, and now you’rebothhurt. I’m just trying to be the voice of reason, because you have the power to change this.”

I side-eye her. “And I’m being unreasonable?”

She purses her lips. “Lorraine, why don’t you call him?”

“Nice dodge,” I grumble.

Devyn sighs. “I don’t know why you’re torturing yourself like this.”

“Because it’s better to hurt a little now than hurt a helluva lot more later. After everything went down with Adam, I promised myself to never let another man hurt me again.”

“Why are you so convinced he’ll screw things up? After everything you’ve told me, and everything I’veseen, that manadoresyou, Lorraine. It’s been pretty obvious to Drew and me fora long time.”

“Sure…nowhe does. But what happens when my heart has gone past the point of no return, and he decides one woman isn’t good enough?”

“This isn’t some passing fancy for him,” she says. “Did you miss the part where he said he’s been in love with you foryears?”

“He’s confusing love withlust.” I give a dismissive wave. “And let’s not forget, he was sleeping with other women the entire time.”

“Because you never gave him any indication you were interested. You turned down his advancesrepeatedly.Aaaaaand, you were engaged to Adam for a big chunk of that time. What was he supposed to do? Become a monk?”

“The idiot would probably still be hot wearing one of those ugly brown robes.”

She chuckles. “It’s not too late, honey. Just call him.”

I shake my head. “I can’t, Devyn.”

“Why not?”

Damn it, I can’t hold back my tears anymore. “Because in my short time with him, I’ve beenhappier than I ever thought possible. I’ve never felt this strongly about anyone, not even Adam, and I was going to marry him. There’sso much moreto Brody than he lets people see. And I adoreevery part, Devyn, even when he’s being a complete jackass. If he decided he didn’t want me one day, I would bedevastated—pummeled beyond recognition. I can’t risk it.”

“I really hope you don’t regret this, Lorraine.” She pulls me into a side hug.

“Me, too, Dev.”

CHAPTER 49

Brody

It’s been two months since Rainey walked away. Two months that I’ve been an insufferable asshole because I can’t stop being angry. I’m angry with Rainey because she wouldn’t take the risk of being with me—hell, because she ever thought Iwasa risk in the first place, after everything I did to show her how much I worshipped the fucking ground she walked on. I’m angry with myself for not seeing the signs before we ever started fucking around. Maybe if I didn’t know what it was like to be buried deep inside of her, or how it feels to have her delicious curves wrapped around me at night as we slept, I wouldn’t have realized the true depth of my feelings for her. I could’ve gone on forever, wanting her from a distance and antagonizing her every chance I got, just to light that fire in her eyes.

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