Page 84 of Once Upon A Player
“Nah. This is on me.” It hurts, deep in my chest, that she’s trying to make me feel better about the way I behaved. “My ego took a hit it was never expecting.”
“Your ego isn’t that big.”
I should’ve got us out of here. I don’t want my confession immortalized on TV, but the alternative—that Violet might walk away—isn’t an option. The words rip from me. “The thing is—it wasn’t my ego.”
“Wasn’t it?” Her whisper is so soft, I’ve taken a step toward her before I know it.
“It was only afterward it hit me that I never asked you. Did I? I just took it for granted. I’m such an arrogant arsehole.”
“No, you’re not.”
That’s a good sign, right?I push my luck and take her hand. She doesn’t pull away. “I don’t want to lose you. Are we still good?”
Her smile is everything. “Yes.”
Relief floods through me, and I’m weirdly lightheaded, as though I’ve just taken a helium hit. “We’ll make this work, Violet.”
“I know we will.”
There’s something else I need to ask her, but not here. It’s too public. And now she’s given me a second chance, we can escape. I release her hand and wrap my arm around her shoulders. The press makes the most of the moment as I lead Violet out of the room.
“Sorry about that.” I glance along the corridor, which is empty, but it won’t be that way for long. “Look, Violet—”
Before I can push out the words, she squeezes my hand. “I’m sorry I called you stupid. I didn’t mean it.”
I give a jagged sigh. “It’s okay. I deserved it.”And so much more.
She doesn’t look convinced. “I was just upset, that’s all.”
“I know.” I didn’t knowthen. Not that it’s any excuse. “I didn’t realize. About your mum.”Just spit the fucking words out, Carter. “How sick is she?”
I break into a sweat. Christ, I hope it’s nothing awful.
Terminal.
Stop it.
I shove back memories of my own mum.
“It’s pretty bad.” Her voice is barely above a whisper, and her lip trembles. I grip her hand tighter, to let her know I’m here, but my brain’s frozen and I don’t know what to say.
“Is…” I clear my throat. “Is she going to be all right?”
Stupid question. I can’t even backtrack, as there’s a loud rushing noise filling my head, destroying any chance of coming up with a half decent platitude. Who wants a fucking banal platitude, anyway?
“Yes.” Her voice is firmer than before, and she nods, as though that emphasis helps. “She’s going in for surgery on Tuesday, and everyone’s very positive.”
Shit.Tuesday. And all I could bang on about when we were on the cruise was us flying to Madrid.
The conference room doors open, and everyone swarms out.Fuck. There’s still so much I want—need—to say to Violet, but not here. Notnow.
She goes onto her toes and brushes a sweet kiss across my lips. “I have to go,” she whispers.
I inhale a long breath. Things are sorted, we’re back together.
Something doesn’t feel right, though. Like there’s a missing piece, just out of reach, something clawing at the back of my mind.
“I’ll call you.” My voice is gruff, and she sniffs and nods.
