Page 84 of Play Dirty

Chapter27

Marty

The pictureon my phone mocks me.

Stevie with her arms wrapped around L’il Barracuda.

A table of people who look like they’re having a good time, with a bottle of Dom Perignon and Stevie and Barracuda clinking glasses. Staring into each other’s eyes. Smiling. Laughing. Happy.

Without me.

I know it doesn’t necessarily mean anything.

But she didn’t say anything about seeing him last night—she specifically said she was having dinner with a photographer friend—and she didn’t call me when she got back to her hotel room either.

I shouldn’t be jealous. She’s given me no reason not to trust her, but after what Brenna did…

Stevie’s name pops up on my phone as I’m staring at the picture of her and Barracuda.

“Hey.” I answer cautiously, almost like I’m bracing for something.

“Good morning!” She sounds breathless. “I’m so sorry I didn’t call last night but Marcie and I were out later than anticipated and honestly, I passed out when I got back to the hotel.”

“It’s fine.” I hope I don’t sound as surly as I feel. “Did you have a good time?”

“It was nice. We ran—” I hear someone calling her name in the background.

“Stevie—we need you back in makeup!”

“I’m sorry,” she says hurriedly. “I have to go. I thought I’d have a break but apparently not.”

“Go,” I say quietly. “We can talk later.”

“Talk tonight! Miss you.”

The line goes dead before I can respond.

I’ve never been the jealous type. Not with Brenna, certainly not with any girlfriends before her. I’m usually the kind of guy who believes in love. In trust. In someone’s word.

Usually.

But the painful way my gut is twisted up, and the tightness in my chest, tells another story.

“Thanks, Brenna,” I mutter to myself.

I can’t fall down this rabbit hole. Allow myself to start being suspicious every time I see Stevie with another man. She’s one of the top models in the world. She knows a lot of people, and half of them are probably men. She’s allowed to have male friends. I can’t lose my shit every time she sees one of them or is photographed with one.

I need to get out of the house.

Time to see if any of the guys want to work out.

If I sit here another minute, I’m going to lose my mind.

My first call is to Gabe, and he agrees to meet me at the team’s practice facility. They’ve opened it up for those of us who are in town so we can start using the gym, and he’s there when I arrive.

“Hey.” He narrows his eyes the minute he sees me. “You look grumpier than usual.”

“Yeah.” I don’t say anything, merely get on the treadmill and start walking, unsure how to get past what I’m feeling.

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