Page 88 of The Player + The Pact = I Do

“Have you told her that?” Worth asks.

“Sushi was canceled, I told you.”

“And now it’s too late because she’s taking a cruise around Antarctica for the next three years.”

“No. But she’s made her decision.”

“Sounds like she was scared. And she hasn’t heard what you have to say,” Worth says. “She should.”

Jack clears his throat. “What I’m about to say is meant with love. It might not seem that way, but… if she’s important to you, why’d you let her leave?”

I half snort. “You think I should have handcuffed her to the radiator?”

“No,” Jack says. “I think you should have told her how you feel. You know where she lives. You have her number. If you haven’t shown up on her doorstep yet, there’s a reason.”

“It’s okay to be scared,” Worth says. “Caroline stuck the knife in deep the last time you were vulnerable with a woman. I’m not even going to mention Nadia because she was only around for a nanosecond. But unless you take a risk for Jules, you’re going to lose her. You gotta figure out whether she’s worth it.”

I know she is. As much as I hate to admit it, they’re right—I didn’t fight for Jules. And maybe that’s because I’m scared. Seeing her moving out today hit hard and deep. Itfelt like she was rejecting me rather than running to protect herself. She needs me to be stronger than my insecurities.

“You’re right. I need to tell her. I need to show her that even when she pushes me away, I’ll still be right where she left me. I need to fight for her.”

“You’re a romantic,” Worth says.

“Apparently,” I reply. “At least when it comes to Jules.”

“It suits you,” Jack says. “She’s lucky to have you.”

And I’m lucky to have shrinks who masquerade as the best friends a man could have.

TWENTY-NINE

Jules

This is my chance. I know it, and I’m determined not to fuck it up. I just wish that a pivotal moment in my career didn’t depend on my not losing it in front of Leo Hart.

I miss him so much. In the ten days since I moved out of his apartment, I’ve thought of him constantly. My fingers hover over his name on my phone, desperate to call, to message, to make some kind of contact with him. I thought I’d run back to Jersey and lick my wounds over my dad being an asshole. And I’ve done my share of that. But I wake up in the morning yearning for Leo. I can’t sleep at night for thinking of him. I can barely breathe during the day because I know this whole situation is all my fault. I fucked things up between us so badly.

But there’s no going back. Time only moves us on to the next chapter. I at least need to salvage my career out of the ruins of whatever we had. I know he won’t deny me that if I can prove to him I’m the right person to be managing The Mayfair long-term.

I’m pacing the roof terrace, looking up at the sky, waiting for Leo. I have the next sixty minutes in his calendar. In an hour, I’ll know whether my tenure at the helm of The Mayfair will ever be made permanent.

It’s threatening to rain, and if it does, everything is ruined.

The fire door to the rooftop creaks and I spin to see Leo emerge. My heart crawls up my throat, my breath catching there.

His brown floppy curls have grown longer since I last saw him and he looks tired. He’s probably working too hard. Or worried about New River. Is it selling? Is construction on schedule? I can’t ask him. I’ve got to keep things on track today or I’m not going to be able to hold it together.

“Thanks for coming,” I call as he strides over. Was he always so tall? Was his smile always so dazzling? Thank god I didn’t get in any deeper than I already was. My dad leaving knocked me flat. But if Leo left?

I’d never be able to get back up.

“An outdoor meeting,” he says. “My first of the day.” Our eyes lock and my stomach swirls, full of confusion and need.

Should we kiss? Shake hands? To avoid either, I clasp my hands in front of me and launch into my presentation. “I wanted to show you the space before you make a decision,” I say. “I’ve discovered it’s actually bigger than I first thought, which means we have options.”

His gaze hits the floor, and I wonder if I’ve already lost him. I need to plow on. Impress him with my proposal.

“This is a super-special place with fantastic views and would obviously make a great bar. But I think we’re underselling ourselves. New York has plenty of rooftop bars. We’d be competing up and downtown for clientele. I want to usethe space for something a little different. I want The Mayfair to offer rooftop weddings and events.”

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