Page 81 of Playing With Secrets
And now that she’s played the chip and shown me she’s aware of what Dorothy means to me, I’m about to witness some hideous outcome by my mother’s doing.
It’s the ultimate play and Dorothy’s life is in the direct path of the massacre that’s getting underway.
CHAPTER 20
DORI
“Nothing makes sense anymore.I’m telling you, Melanie. Neither of them are speaking to me. It’s just like you warned me.” I do the last lunge of this set.
“I get why Jami still isn’t speaking to you, but Hunter giving you the brush-off was something I wasn’t expecting.”
“Me either.”
“Tell me how your sit-down went with him again. It was over a week ago, so maybe we missed something.” She starts doing her set of reverse lunges.
“It began with us making dinner while we talked about me needing some time to get my feelings straight and not dragging him through any more pain while I did that.”
“Maybe that’s why he’s ignoring you.”
“I don’t think so. His first thought was that I was telling him Jami and I were going to be together. He chilled out when I reminded him that we aren’t speaking.”
“And you’re sure Hunter said he wouldn’t stop until the day you took him back?” She switches legs and does another set.
“Yes. We had a drink over dinner and a calm conversation about it. At least, I thought it was. He knows we’re broken up,but he told me he wants to remain close. He said he’s afraid I’ll never give him a chance if we quit talking.”
“Dori, you’re not thinking about getting back together with him, are you?”
I place my weights down. “No, but I don’t want to lose him as a friend.”
“That’s where your whole plan is flawed.”
“Why?”
“You have love for the guy. You think hanging out with him as a friend will help you get over him so you can move on free and clear with Jami?”
“Oh, I see your point. I didn’t think about that.”
She finishes her set. “Yeah, you never do. You have a tendency to try to get everything you want. In this case, it’ll never happen. You don’t get both men in the end. Has your therapist not mentioned this to you?”
“Of course she has.”
“Then what makes you believe it’s a smart move to try to be friends with him?”
“It’s not that.” I take a sip of water out of my tumbler. “I just don’t want to hurt anyone.”
“Oh, Dori. You’re going to break one of their hearts. Get used to it.”
My thoughts go to my parents. Even though they make me angry, I hate it when either of them is mad at me.
It’s one of the reasons I avoid them. If I don’t see or talk to them, they both think I’m on their side. They act like they love me and everything is perfect between us.
It’s easier that way. Plus, they can’t use me as a pawn in one of their wars if I stay far away from them.
My phone buzzes against the weight bench I placed it on. I grab it as Melanie puts her weights back in their place.
My heart shrinks when I see it’s just a text from Jonah asking if I can come in early tomorrow.
She meanders back to me and stands next to me. “Who was that?”
