Page 106 of Betting on the Bad Boy

My fingers twisted together, and I studied a scuff on the worn kitchen floor. “I kind of used our names in my rough draft.”

“You’re fucking kidding me.”

I met her gaze. “I wish.”

“So, everyone is going to know about the late-night booty calls?”

I nodded.

“His favorite sexual positions?”

Coming from Jess’s point of view, things sounded worse than I’d imagined.

She shook her head. “You’d better hurry. I just ran into one of the editors as I left the library and she said it’s already at the press.”

I fisted my hands and dug them into my stomach in an attempt to break up the massive knot growing inside my gut. “I can’t believe it. I knew this would blow up in my face, but I thought I’d have more time.”

I’d meant to get to Dante earlier that day, even walked through the library looking for him. As nine o’clock drew closer, I’d grabbed my keys a few times with the intention of heading to the bar to confess everything. After several failed attempts, I still hadn’t found the courage to try to talk to him again.

When I finally made it all the way there, I’d arrived to see him hugging that girl in the parking lot and leaving with her... it felt like he’d driven a spike through my heart. What did I expect? That sex would hold his attention? Well, maybe. How many times had he tried to get me to admit there was more betweenus? Every time, I’d shot him down. Too concerned about my freakin’ six-year plan. Look at how that was turning out.

If only I’d had a chance to get to him before he’d moved on. I’d been too scared to call or text, and he was obviously already over me since I hadn’t heard a word from him in the past week.

Jess’s voice turned my attention back to the conversation at hand. “You need to tell him, Faith. If he sees it in the paper...” her voice trailed off.

“Yeah, I know. I’m going to head over there now.”

She stood and tossed her empty bottle in the recycle bin. “Come here.”

I shuffled over to her open arms and allowed my friend to give me a hug.

“Good luck. Call me and let me know how it goes, okay?”

We broke apart.

“Sure.” I couldn’t imagine it going well. I followed Jess to the door and closed it behind her, then retreated to the bedroom to grab a sweatshirt.Doesn’t matter what I look like. After tonight, he won’t ever want to lay eyes on me again anyway.

With what felt like the weight of the world on my shoulders, I braved the cold March night and headed toward the bar.

Dante

I scrambled to a seated position.I’d fallen asleep on the couch again. A loud banging noise on the front door jarred me out of a dreamless sleep. I squinted my eyes against the glare of the TV and staggered to my feet. Drawing one of Meemaw’s knit blankets over my naked shoulders, I peered through the peephole.

Faith? What was she doing in Hinkley?

I opened the door, and without a word, she wrapped her arms around my waist. It was good to see her. I didn’t even mind the way her cold jacket felt on my bare skin. I pulled her into the room and held her close.

She spoke into my chest. “Why didn’t you call me?”

“I didn’t know if you’d come,” I mumbled into her hair.

She drew back and looked up at me, tears spilling over the edges of her beautiful green eyes. “How could you think I wouldn’t come?”

Overcome by the look in her eyes, I scooped her up and carried her back to the bedroom, depositing her in the center of my bed.

“Dante, I?—”

I put a finger to her lips. We could talk later. Right now, I didn’t need the comfort of her words. I wanted to lose myself in her. Make the stress and tension of the past few days melt away.