Page 159 of Home Game

“Doesn’t matter.”

“So he gets away with his dirty shots.”

“We’re dealing with him in our own way over that. The GM hates that side of him.”

“So why do I have to get involved?”

She smiled a smile that was so sweet it was hard to remember what a shark she was. “Optics.”

And then, she turned on her killer heels and sauntered away.

I wokeup from a six-hour nap and downed half a container of orange juice. I had a feeling this hangover might last two days.

I checked my phone and my heart skipped a beat.

Zoey: Are you okay?

I studied her words. That could be read so many ways.

Me: Not really

Zoey: He hurt you!?

Me: What are we talking about?

Zoey: Krista said you and Jensen were in a fight

Fucking Jensen.

Me: Oh that. It was just a scuffle

I sat and refreshed my screen for 17 minutes before her next text came thru.

Zoey: So why aren’t you okay?

Me: I miss you. Can I call you?

Please say yes. Please. I need to hear your voice.

Zoey: Not yet.

Me: One day?

Zoey: Maybe

I sat in the bar,not looking around.This was a mistake.

Why I had let Mica talk me into going on a blind date was beyond me. A moment of weakness. Maybe it was because I was so damn sick of my own company I couldn’t stand it. But now that I was here, I realized I wasn’t ready.

“Ryan Parker?” A soft voice spoke from beside me.

I forced a smile on my face and turned to the owner of that voice. She was cute, in that perfect, blonde, manicured sort of way. She wore a smoking hot red dress that normally would have my blood thrumming faster, but for all I cared, she could be wearing a potato sack.

“Michelle, I presume?” I stood up and offered her my hand.

She ignored it and came in for a scented hug, pressing her chest against my body.

My cock didn’t even wake from its coma.

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