Page 114 of Home Game

“It’s okay.” I didn’t know what else to say.

“Zoey, do you think I have a shot here?”

My eyes widened. “What?”

“With you?”

“You want a shot with me?” I sounded like an idiot, but I couldn’t keep up with the events of the night.

“Yeah. I do.”

I dropped my gaze to my hands that clenched tight in my lap. “There are things you don’t know about me.”

“Like what?”

“When I met Ryan, I was living in a homeless shelter.”

“I know.”

My head snapped up. “You do?”

“Mica isn’t advertising that fact, but after I begged him to tell me anything he knew about you, he told me after swearing me to secrecy.”

“When I met Ryan, I was just barely hanging on. He was super nice and he let me crash on his couch for a night when I had no place else to stay.”

Jensen’s eyes held mine. He was listening, so I continued. “He gave me his card, and I got beat up in the street. I was hurt pretty bad,and he took me home with him. Bought me clothes, meds. Fed me. I couldn’t understand his kindness and generosity. He gave freely without asking for anything in return.”

Jensen’s jaw tightened.

I sighed. “Ryan is the first person in a long time who stuck his neck out to help me.”

“Your loyalty is with him.”

“Yes.”

“Is he treating you okay?”

I knew tomorrow this fairytale would end. “I will tell you something I have not told anyone else. Promise me you won’t tell anyone?”

“I promise.”

“I’m not sure how long I will be around.”

“Why not?” his gaze darkened. “Is it Ryan?”

I reached across and put my hand on Jensen’s arm. “You need to understand that Ryan has treated me better than anyone in my life. Someone from my old life has come back.”

“What do you mean? Another boyfriend?”

I shook my head. “No, someone bad. And I think I need to go before this situation gets ugly.”

His eyes widened. “Don’t.”

“I need to.”

“Whatever the situation is, I can help you.”

“It’s not that simple.”

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