Page 97 of Plus Size Player

“Oop!” I chirped, making a face even though she couldn’t see me. “Not you bringing this conversation back again.”

She let out a light laugh. “I’m sorry. I just… It’s obvious you still want him, Nina.”

I didn’t immediately respond because Ididstill want him. There was no denying that. I distracted myself with pointless dates and endless swiping, but it was going to take more than a week to get used to the fact that Russ was out of the picture. The void he left was too big, too significant. Everything felt like it was at risk, and I wasn’t busy enough to distract myself from the pain.

And this is exactly why I like to have multiple men and multiple jobs!

Aaliyah’s voice became softer, as if she were handling me with kid gloves. “I don’t think any amount of swiping or dating or denial is going to change that.”

The truth of her words made the pit in my stomach grow larger.

“For the next eight and a half months, I’m denying any affiliation with him,” I stated.

“Have you talked to him at all?”

I swallowed hard. “Nope.”

Outside of him texting me his negative test results, I hadn’t heard from him.

“That’s too bad,” she said sadly. “You liked him a lot.”

My heart sank, as it had done all week. “It was fun while it lasted,” I acknowledged.

“Are you going to see him this week?”

“I doubt it. We have a photoshoot every day this week and he’s always traveling.”

“A photoshoot every day? You’re going to be busy.”

I cracked a slight smile into my pillow. “Yeah, I’m excited. We get a couple days off next week and then September comes and it’s go time. We have a trip, then Fashion Week, and then a few other trips.”

I needed to be busier. I needed the distractions. I needed the work.

“What are you going to do if you see him?” she asked unexpectedly.

“I’ll keep it professional. Say hello. Do my job. It’ll be fine.” I rolled onto my side, checking the clock on the nightstand. “But honestly, I can’t imagine he’d be in town just for the photoshoots.”

She was quiet for a moment. “I hope he comes into town, and he has a new contract written up that makes it cool for you two to continue dating.”

The burning feeling coated my throat again. “That’s not going to happen.”

“It could,” she argued.

Sighing, I rolled my eyes. “You are such a romantic.”

“True. But I honestly thought you and Russ were going to get together. I thought he was endgame for you. You have never gotten excited about a man like you did with him. And I loved that for you! I want you to have more of that. You deserve it!”

I blinked back tears and then just decided to keep my eyesclosed. She wasn’t wrong. I wouldn’t call him “endgame,” but he was special.

I cleared my throat. “Yeah, Russ left large shoes to fill.”

And large everything else, too…

“But…” I continued, shaking off the thought, “the point of having a roster is that anyone can get replaced. And since quality far outweighs quantity, it will take time to replace him.”

“What about The Romantic One?”

I frowned. “What about him?”

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