Page 23 of Run Game
“Why does it matter?” she shouts. “You think you can just unfuck my brain into thinking marriage is for me?” She scoffs, throwing her arms up. “It’s not, Dalton. This life is something that happens to people like you. People who know how to give their heart away without screwing it all up. But that’s not me. I was never meant to be someone’s wife.”
She bites the corner of her lip as it begins to wobble and I know if I keep pushing right now, she’ll shut down. This conversation isn’t over, but I’m pumping the brakes for now so we can talk more when our emotions aren’t running so high. I want her to know that I’ll be here no matter what, even when we don’t see eye to eye. And if in the end, I can manage to get her to stay, I want her to feel secure in our relationship. I was raised in a home with two parents who communicated in a healthy way with each other, as well as us kids. But all Dia knows is manipulation, lies, and being left to deal with the aftermath alone. So, for now, we’ll shelf this conversation and revisit it after we’ve had time to cool off.
“Come here,” I tell her, closing the distance between usand wrapping her in a hug. “You’re perfect the way you are. And I’m sorry for pushing you on this.” I kiss the top of her head and she exhales, sagging into my chest. This, right here, is how I know she’s feeling something. Every time she’s in my arms, whether she realizes it or not, Dia lets go of some of the tension and worry in her body. It’s almost like she feels safe with me. Andthatis exactly why I can’t give up on us just yet.
“So,” I say, trying to steer the conversation to something not so heavy. “How are you going to explain showing up with only a suitcase when they know you moved out of your apartment?”
She loosens her arms but keeps them resting on my hips as she looks at the small amount of her belongings sitting next to my mountain of PR and endorsement packages. “I told them I was getting a storage locker until I find a place.”
It seems she’s thought of everything.
I look down at her. “Will you sneak out and come see me sometimes?” I don’t want to sound clingy, but I know I’m going to miss her sassy attitude and having her warm body wrapped around me while we sleep.
“Maybe,” she says with a coy smile. “Depends on what kind of orgasms you’re offering up.”
I wink at her before pressing a chaste kiss to her lips. “Ohh, Wifey. You already know.”
DIA
I’m in my rental car on my way to Mads’ house with one measly suitcase in tow. I have this car for two weeks, but I’ll have to figure something out after that. Maybe Blaze will loan me his Audi R8 again. Probably not, since Ialmost drove it through his garage door the day after Mads’ birthday party. It’s not my fault the thing goes from zero to a hundred when you barely tap the gas.
Dalton tried to argue with me about the ‘stupidity’ of paying to rent a car. His solution? To buy me one. Yes, his answer to not spending a thousand dollars was to spend thirty thousand.
My husband, everyone.
I obviously told him no, because there’s no way in Hell I’m taking that much money from him when he’s already responsible for the one-hundred thousand dollars that’s sitting in my bank account. When I find a job and an apartment, I’ll see what I can afford with what I have left over after paying my debts and buy something used. It’ll be the first car I’ve owned in my whole life.
I pull down their long driveway and park behind Blaze’s truck. Mads’ Mercedes is right next to it, so I know they’re both home. Just as I start to hoist my suitcase from the backseat, I hear a loud scream from behind me. I barely get a chance to turn around before my best friend leaps into my arms, wrapping herself around me. Staying true to our rituals, I fall to the ground with her on top of me as we laugh and greet each other like a couple of crazy people.
“Jesus, you guys,” Blaze says, walking toward us in a black hoodie and gray sweatpants. “I thought we had a couple of pterodactyls fighting in our yard. But, nope. Just you two psychos.”
Mads stands up, brushing herself off before turning and holding out a hand to help me up. “Don’t mind him. He’s just jealous that Dalton doesn’t get this excited when they see each other.”
I flinch slightly at his name, but reel myself in before either of them notices.What’s that about?
Blaze scoffs. “That dude walks around bricked up twenty-four seven. Like I want his boner smashed up against my leg every time he greets me. No fucking thanks.” He reaches into the back of my rental and pulls out my suitcase, walking toward the door to the house and disappearing inside.
“So,” Mads begins. “You’re really here. I’m still trying to figure out why, all of a sudden, you decided to come.”
I shrug. “Other than your parents, who do I have in Chicago? My parents couldn’t give two shits about me. My job was wearing on me and didn’t pay nearly enough to be so stressful. And most importantly, you’re here. I wanted to be with my real family. So, here I am.”
Tears fill her eyes as she leans in, wrapping her arms tightly around me. I hug her, relief flooding me at the feeling of having my person back. Even with everything going on, I know I’m making the right move by staying in Boston. Because in five weeks, when I’m officially divorced and can tell Mads every detail of what happened, I’m going to need her shoulder to lean on while I pick up the pieces and put myself back together like I’ve done so many times before.
FIFTEEN
DIA
It’s beenfive days since I moved in with Blaze and Mads. Thankfully, they’ve either put their sexual adventures on hold…or these walls are soundproof. Because I haven’t heard any moaning or grunting coming from their room at night.
Don’t get me wrong. I hope they bang each other’s brains out every minute of the day. If I were as hot as they are, I know I would. I just don’t want to hear it and then have to look them in the eye while we drink our coffee every morning. Plus, I’d be pretty jealous listening to it when it’s just me and my vibrator all alone every night. It’sunfortunate,to say the least.
I can’t even pretend like I don’t miss the way Dalton played my body like it was an instrument he’d been mastering his whole life. How he held me like putty in his hands as I willingly gave him things I’d never been able to give anyone else. I wantmore.But I know what that means. He was very clear last week when he told me that if I wanted his dick again, I need to agree to let him take care of me. I don’t exactly know what that entails, but Ihave a feeling it’s more than just making me dinner or folding my laundry. My biggest fear is that he’ll want to care for me emotionally.
If that’s the case, I’m terrified to give in. It’s taken me a long time to build this wall around my heart. And it’s done a good job protecting me from being hurt. But if I allow Dalton to break it down completely, will I be able to rebuild it again?
I really don’t know.
I put on a good front of being strong and confident, but deep down, I’m still that broken little girl that longed for her parents’ affection when they were off blowing every dollar we had and ruining my future before I even had a say. They’re a big part of the reason I can’t let Dalton in. Because a long time ago, I trusted them, and they left me. Over and over again.
