Page 111 of Playing A Risk
Me: I’d rather talk to you about this in person.
Hunter: Answer the question.
Me: Why can’t we discuss this in person?
Hunter: If something happened, I’d like to know so I can have some time to think about it and calm down. I’m not in a good space and don’t want it to come out on you. Respect that.
As guilt sets in, my stomach clenches with unease.
Me: Okay, but I told him I’m committed to you. That hasn’t changed.
Hunter: You’re avoiding the question. You can tell me or I can make my own assumptions.
Me: He kissed me. I’m sorry. Please don’t be mad. I told him I’m with you and that’s what I want.
With that, Hunter goes radio silent. Anxiety rushes through my blood because, deep down, Hunter has to know I allowed Jamison to kiss me. Trying to deny that will only seem more deceptive. I need Melanie, and from what Jonah said, I think she needs me just as much.
Melanie steps off her elliptical as I wipe down my machine.
“We’ve fallen a few notches in a couple of weeks—from flying in a mansion in the sky to this.” She points to the weights. “Are you still up for lifting, or should we call it good and go out somewhere fun?”
“Let’s finish a great workout and decide what to do tonight. I still have a ton of nervous energy.” I make my way over to the dumbbells. “What happened with you and Jonah?”
“Nothing. Why?” She picks up some weights and starts doing lunges.
I don’t want to do legs tonight, but I might as well get the workout over with. Hunter canceled our plans for later tonight, so I have the time.
I grab a pair of fifteen-pound weights and join Melanie. “The last time I saw you together, he was about to let you have a piece of his mind. Something was going on. Tell me about it.”
“He told me I was inconsiderate, so I left. What’s more to talk about?”
“Why did he say you’re inconsiderate?”
“Because I’m not going to drop everything to be at his beck and call.”
“I get that, but Mel, you loved your time with him. Since we got back from Paris, you haven’t spent any time with him. At least not that I know of.”
“It’s better this way.” She puts down her dumbbells.
“Why?” I finish my last rep and rest.
She takes a drink of water and then goes back to doing lunges. She’s unusually avoidant, so something must be bothering her.
“Spill it, Mel. What’s going on?”
She glances my way and counts her reps out loud. I raise my eyebrows and wait for her to answer.
With a roll of her eyes, she puts down her weights. “Okay, but I don’t want you to freak out on me.”
“I won’t. You’ve been a great friend to me, so let me be here for you.”
She studies me for a second and then nods. “I really like Jonah. He’s everything I want in a man, but it’s best to end things before I get too involved and let my feelings for him take over.”
“Why? If you like him and he wants to keep dating, what’s the problem?”
She bites the corner of her lip. “Don’t be mad, but I got a job offer. It’s a good offer and I think I’m going to take it.”
“What? Where?”
