Page 85 of The Player + The Pact = I Do

“Jules,” she repeats. “She seems lovely.”

“She is lovely,” I say. None of Jules is a veneer. All her loveliness goes right through to the core of her.

Standing here in front of Caroline, all I can think about is Jules. The only reason she’s been living with me, pretending to be engaged to me, is because of the woman opposite me. Nothing makes sense.

Seeing Caroline Thursday night was meant to give me closure, but I’m not sure I got anything at all from it. Today, seeing her one-on-one with all pretenses gone, doesn’t make things any clearer.

Maybe I got my closure with Caroline a long time ago.

“Yeah, maybe we’ll figure out a time for dinner,” I say noncommittally, although I have no intention of actually following through. I check my watch, even though Worth isn’t expecting me. “I better go. Don’t want to be late.”

She smiles her hundred-million-dollar smile. “Send Jules my love.”

I can’t think of a response, so I just nod and head up the street. I have no reason to be here.

I’m still pantingwhen Worth opens the door.

“Are you running from the scene of a crime?”

I push past him and head straight to the downstairs restroom, where I throw water on my face.

“Jack’s here and we’re in the kitchen,” Worth calls on his way past.

I brace my hands on the sink and look in the mirror. Why didn’t I stop her from leaving? I’m not sure I’m going to be able to go back to my apartment now. Not after having Jules there, in my bed, in the kitchen, watching movies together. It’s going to feel so empty.

I push my hands through my hair and head to the back of the house, where there’s a kitchen-dining room. It’s so moody and sultry in here, like a shady forest floor, it reminds me of Worth himself.

“Hey,” Worth says. “Grab a drink and come sit.”

Worth has some sodas out on the counter, but I open his fridge and pull out a beer. I need to take the edgeoff.

“It’s five o’clock somewhere, I guess,” Jack says.

“Shoot me.” I take a seat on the bench opposite Jack and lean my arms on the table.

The energy is off and I know it’s my fault.

“Did you have a good time on Thursday?” Jack asks.

I nod. “It was good. I’m glad I went.”

“And seeing Caroline,” Worth says. “How was that?”

My phone buzzes in my pocket. I pull it out and squint at the email preview, trying to focus on who it is, because I must be reading it wrong. “I just ran into her on the street, and now,” I say, tapping the phone before setting it on the table. “She emailed me.”

“What?” Worth asks. “Why?”

I let out a half laugh. “I guess because she wants to smooth things over so her father and husband can make money from me.” I scan the message. “She wants to go to dinner.”

“Just the two of you?” Jack asks. “Does she want something… romantic to happen between you?”

“No, me and Jules, her and Grant.”

“A double date!” Jack says. “Not awkward at all.”

“Hang on,” Worth says. “You haven’t answered my question about how it was seeing her. Are you hoping to rekindle something?”

I snap my head up. He can’t be serious. I’ve spent more than a decade hating this woman. “Absolutely not. She’s married. And I think she’s a terrible human.”

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