Page 17 of Playing A Risk
“Tell me about it. When we created the app diversion, I figured we were keeping them away from the bedroom. I had no idea Dorothy would find his son’s room and his ex would be there. But I’m taking the win. I need all the help I can get.”
“Why do you say that?” He misses his shot, so I take my turn.
“Ten ball in the side pocket.” I point to the space on the table. “She’s been crying over him since she got to myapartment. It’s more than just her being hurt that he lied. She’s torn up. So much so that she can’t get her thoughts together.”
I miss the shot and Jonah jumps in. “Let’s play slop because your mind isn’t here with us.”
“Agreed. It’s more fun that way, anyway.” I lean my pool cue against the wall and roll up my shirt sleeves. “I’m glad you’re working from home today. I told her I was going to the office, but I was dreading it for fear I’d see Jamison.”
“Yeah, the office is dead today.” He scans the table and hits the white ball. “Why do you say Dori can’t think?”
Picturing how lost she is, my heart compresses. “She was rambling about what happened and slipped, telling me something she didn’t want me to know.”
He studies me. “And what was that?”
“Fuck, Jonah. If I tell you, you’re going to have a bunch of thoughts about her and me. None of which will be good.”
He stops playing. “You know me better than that. I may give you shit, but I always have your back.”
A spike of concern reverberates through me. “I know, but this information might not land well.”
“Let me be the judge.”
“Very well.” I grab my cue and hold it up straight like a walking staff. “She let it slip out that she got pregnant not long ago. And it was his.”
Jonah’s jaw falls slack. I knew the information wasn’t going to go over well.
After a minute, he closes his mouth and blinks a few times. “What happened to… Did she… Tell me what happened.”
“She had an ectopic pregnancy. At the time, she told me she had a UTI and something else. I think it was endometriosis. I’m not sure if that part is true, and I didn’t ask. I was so pissed when I found out I left her alone and took a cold shower.”
“That explains her missing all those deadlines.” He shakeshis head and stares out the window. “Hunter, are you sure this relationship is what you want?”
I swallow the heavy lump that’s shoved itself into my throat. “Yes. I love her, Jonah, and nothing she does will change that.”
He shrugs and draws in a deep breath. “Well, if that’s the case, we better devise a good plan for you to win her back.”
“I have some ideas, but they’re all very risky.”
“It sounds like risk is the crux of your relationship, so lay it out for me and let me help you decide.”
He goes back to hitting random balls into the pockets. He’s not even giving me a turn. Not that I care. My brain swims with overwhelming thoughts about how to care for Dorothy.
I lean against the table. “The Christmas ball is Thursday. I’d like to take her as my date.”
His pool cue falls out of his hand and smacks against the floor. “You think getting her fired will win you her love?”
“Well, that’s where you come in.”
“Do I tell you to fuck off now or after you tell me what you have in mind?”
My guts clench. “Hear me out. You might even get on board.”
He backs up and folds his arms. “Oh, this should be good.”
“Well, I’ve heard you say you think Melanie’s hot. They’re best friends, so you could take Melanie and I could take Dorothy. We can tell everyone it’s a staff thing.
“Kind of like how girls go stag to prom with all their girlfriends. We can pass it off like none of us had dates, so we decided to go as a group.”
