Page 97 of Games We Play

“Maybe… I only want to know one thing.”

“Name it.”

Leah needed another deep breath to power her next few words. “Why are you willing to do that? I dumped you.”

“Because…”

“Don’t give me some crap about believing in me and my business skills, or whatever. Tell me the truth, Sloan. That’s all I ever wanted from you.”

The ensuing pause made Leah wonder if their connection had dropped. “Because I wanted an excuse to see you again. I’m good at surprising people, if you haven’t noticed.”

“I knew it. Itwasa ploy to get back with me.”

“No, no. It was a ploy to talk to you, and nothing more.”

“What’s the difference?”

“Leah,” Sloan’s tone took a turn once more. No more flirtations. Only that straight, no-nonsense voice Leah had heard many times over the past few weeks. “I’m not going to get down on my knees and beg you to come back. That’s not my style. I know how to nurse my wounds and get on with my life. I think, anyway.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means you threw me a few curve balls. You might take me longer to get over than anyone else I’ve been with. Not even learning what a terrible person my husband is got to me like you did.”

That was probably one of the most intimate things Sloan could have said about their relationship.She practically said that she loves me.This would’ve been a huge breakthrough if they were still dating. If… “Why don’t you want me back, then?”

“I never said that.”

“You said…”

“I said it wasn’t my style to get on my knees and grovel. I know lots of women who would’ve done that, but not me. I wouldn’t be me if I debased myself like that.” She chuckled. “I’m done debasing myself in front of others. I want to put all of that behind me.”

“Then you do want me back?”

“Didn’t I buy you a fucking bakery?”

“I’m so confused!”

Sloan laughed. She must have held the phone away from her mouth for her to sound so far away, although her laughter bit Leah right in the heart. “Didn’t you learn anything about me at all that whole time we were dating? I’d rather bite my arm off than grovel, but I have my ways of asking you to come back to me.”

“You said that it wasn’t a ploy…”

“I didn’t expect it to make you rip off your top and jump my bones, Leah.”

I wanted to.Seeing Sloan look so coolly confidant, even after everything they had been through, made Leah’s knees tremble. “You want me back, though?”

“Is that all you’re hung up on?”

No.Leah was hung up on that voice. The thought of Sloan sitting in her room, ready to undress and shower. Her fingers lighting up her last cigarette of the night before drumming on the vanity before her.Fingers that used to walk up my spine and dive into my body.“Maybe. I feel bad about how things ended. You told me something so intimate, and all I could think about was what it remindedmeof.”

“About your daughter.”

Leah wasn’t surprised that Sloan already knew. The only thing that surprised her was that it hadn’t been brought up before. “How long have you known about that?”

“A few days after you left. Security dug it up when I was looking for other information.”

“I’m sorry I never told you.”

“Why? It was your business, like how I had mine.”