Page 58 of Dream (Fighting Fate)

Her eyes turned soft as she exhaled. “You have my word, honey.”

As I made my way back to my room, I knew I’d made the right decision for me. As Aunt Jenny said, it was most likely going to end up hurting like a bitch, but it was something I was willing to take if it meant I got the next three weeks in Josh’s arms.

I just hoped the memories of it would be enough to get me through what would come after.

Chapter 34

Josh

Kicking back on the couch in the games room, I threw my hands in the air with victory. “Burn, fucker! Burn!” I yelled, laughing at Corey’s sour face.

“That’s bullshit, man!” he said, tossing his Wii controller on the table. “Three red shells! So not cool!”

I laughed louder. I was king of Mario Kart. “Don’t tell me you wouldn’t have done the same. I fucking know you!”

Flopping back against the couch, he smirked. “Maybe.”

Aiming the remote, I flicked the flat-screen off and shook my head. “Maybe my ass. I beat you fair and square.”

Not bothering to argue, he threw a cushion at me instead. “Where’s Liv anyway?” he asked in an obvious attempt at changing the subject.

We’d had a group discussion first thing this morning to talk about Liv and where things sat now. I knew it shouldn’t have, but their questions had pissed me off. In their eyes, it was clear-cut. Black and white. Right and wrong. I couldn’t make them understand that it wasn’t that simple. Yes, I understood the logistics of it. I was a public figure, and I had responsibilities to think of and sacrifices to make. At the end of the day, it was my task to make sure people like Liv didn’t get burned by the world I lived in. It was my burden, and mine alone. I got that. But ‘doing’ wasn’t as easy as ‘knowing.’ Not when ‘doing’ meant it would hurt me too.

Glancing at the clock, I pursed my lips. “She’ll be here in a minute.”

“Do you really trust that she won’t do a tell-all interview?”

I eyed him carefully. I knew he wasn’t pushing. He wasn’t like that. He just wanted to know what I thought. “I do. And I know that it doesn’t always work out like that. I know people can change—circumstances can take people to places they never thought they’d be—but if I never gave anyone a chance—never gave her a chance—how much would I miss out on, man? How much of my life would I let this career take from me?”

He nodded as he considered my words. “That’s fair, man. She’s a nice chick. I like her.” His shoulders tensed a little. “But you know Lance had a point. If she’s really never been involved with anyone before, this could crush her.”

Guilt gnawed at me. It always came back to the same thing. I’d told Liv just as much. I was a selfish asshole. I knew it, but it obviously didn’t change me enough to make me stay away from her. “Don’t think I haven’t thought about it. Every time I’m with her I give her the option to run, but if it’s going to happen, it has to be her, because I can’t do it. I’m weak as fuck when it comes to her.”

He raised his eyebrows with sympathy. “So it seems.”

A knock sounded on the door a second before it opened and Liv’s face appeared. “Am I interrupting anything?”

“Yes,” I said, grinning at her. “Corey losing at Mario Kart yet again.”

Another cushion flew my way. “Fuck off. You cheat.”

“If that helps you not feel like such a loser,” I said, sending the cushion back.

Liv stepped into the room and shook her head. “You’re both pathetic. I could beat both of you with ease.”

Corey and I blinked at her, momentarily stunned into silence, then Corey grinned. “Oh-ho! All right! Game on, sista!”

Snatching up another controller, I flicked the screen on again. “Bring it!”

I patted the couch beside me, but Liv just narrowed her eyes and shook her head. “No way, dude. You’ll only try to distract me. I’m sitting all the way over here on my own.”

Corey chuckled and wriggled his way to the edge of his seat. “This is going to be epic. Please beat him, Liv.”

Her gaze was fixed on the screen, intent. “Oh, I plan to,” she said. “I plan on beating the both of you.”

Scrolling through the set-up, I went about choosing my player, subtly watching Liv as I did. “Toadette? Really?”

A tiny grin appeared on the corner of her mouth, but she remained silent.

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