Page 32 of Let the Game Begin (Kiss Me Like You Love Me #1)

Selene

The weekend came too soon.

I only had an hour before Jared arrived, and I was incapable of thinking of anything meaningful to say to him. All I did was think about what to say or how to act, but none of my mental preparations were making me feel at all ready for our meeting.

I was in my bedroom, surrounded by a silence that only increased my agitation. I examined myself in the mirror, and in the blue of my eyes, I saw all the disillusionment I was still feeling about my irrational actions.

My unforgivable actions.

I looked down at the black dress I was wearing, very elegant but simple. It was mid-length, exposing my now-healed knee. Naturally, I was reminded of that moment in the kitchen when Neil had tended to me and spoken so mysteriously.

I heaved a broken sigh. Neil had wormed his way into my body and my brain. He had become a full-blown obsession, and the more evasive and elusive he was, the more I yearned to pin him down and uncover exactly why he was so different from all the other guys his age.

He had a man’s experience—the sense of disillusionment that came from enduring too much in this life and the inner coldness of someone who was no longer capable of entrusting himself to anyone else.

I felt like I had all the pieces of the puzzle spread out before me, but I still just couldn’t see how they fit together.

I scraped my hair into a high ponytail, leaving a couple of rebellious strands to frame my face.

I went down to the garden to take some time to myself. After all, solitude was my only consistent friend. I sat down on the wooden bench and admired the garden around me.

A tree nearby cast a shadow that gave me shelter from the sun while a crisp breeze tickled my skin.

“Hey, sis,” Logan said, coming over to sit next to me.

“How many times do I have to tell you that I hate it when you call me that?” I mock-grumbled and he grinned. I turned to look at him, and his cheerful face fell when he saw my eyes.

“You’re sad. Why?” he asked with concern.

“When you’re very sensitive, you get sad a lot.” I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear and sighed.

“But aren’t you happy to see Jared again?”

It was a legitimate question, but the intense shame I felt over my feelings for Neil made me so generally irrational that it canceled everything else out.

“We were only together for three months. I do care about him, but I think I made a mistake attaching myself to him just because we’re so much alike.

I thought that would be enough for a relationship.

” I confessed it all with the familiar ease that I always felt with Logan.

“You’re young. It’s completely normal to make the wrong call in these situations at our age.” I looked at him, really examining his facial features. His face was more delicate than Neil’s but just as refined and free from imperfections. Beauty was definitely one of the Miller family’s strong suits.

“But our mistakes shouldn’t hurt other people…” I said, more to myself than to him. Logan smiled at me with understanding.

“Sure, but it’s also true that mistakes are how we learn,” he said, holding up his index finger in a mocking, smart-ass fashion.

Then he gave my shoulder a comforting pat.

I immediately felt better, and my lips curved slightly upward.

Often, people just need someone to really listen to them, someone to be present, someone they can count on.

“Wait, wait, wait… Is that a smile I see?” He booped me on the nose, and I grinned widely. I was feeling much lighter, despite my imminent encounter with Jared.

“You know what I think?” Logan added. I gave him a curious look and he continued, “I think Jared isn’t the right person for you.

We get tangled up with people for lots of reasons, and love isn’t always one of them.

Maybe you made some mistakes, but you can definitely take something away from them.

Sometimes the most incredible things are hiding in the chaos. ”

Just then, a gentle gust of wind moved through my hair, rustling the leaves of the trees. “Incredible things…” I echoed thoughtfully.

“Yeah…” He stood up and extended his hand to help me up.

We walked back into the house and spent the next hour talking about nothing in particular. We were still sitting on the sofa in the living room when we heard the doorbell ring.

“Anna, can you get the door please?” Mia shouted. She appeared a few moments later, leaning over the railing on the upstairs landing with a pen dangling from one hand.

Anna obeyed, and when she opened the door, Jared was standing there with a box of chocolates in his hands.

My heart stuttered, and my nerves increased tenfold.

He paused in the doorway in all his glory. His jade-green eyes seemed brighter than normal, and his blond hair had product in it. Seeing him, Mia came down the stairs, and Logan stood up to greet the new guest. Matt, however, wore a confused expression as he emerged from the kitchen.

I remained motionless on the sofa, fixed in place as though I’d just seen a ghost.

“Please, make yourself comfortable,” said Anna as she helped Jared remove his black coat and draped it over her arm.

My former boyfriend bit his lip, looking around sheepishly.

“You must be Jared. I’m so pleased to meet you. I’m Mia Lindhom.” Matt’s girlfriend approached him and held out her hand. Jared did the same, and in a display of his typical good manners, he presented her with the box of chocolates.

The gesture had Mia melting like snow in the full sun, and my father smiled.

“Please, don’t just stand in the doorway, come on in. I’m Matt Anderson,” he introduced himself jovially.

“Jared Brown. I’m honored to meet you, sir. I’ve heard so much about you.” He gazed at my father like he was an international superstar, and I realized all over again just how important and famous my father had become in recent years because of his work.

Finally, I was able to shake myself out of my daze.

I got off the couch and joined the others with trembling legs, trying to hide my anxiety.

Jared, who was saying hello to Logan, seemed to adapt immediately to this new situation.

When I got close enough, he turned his eyes on me and my chest felt like it was being crushed in a vise.

“Selene,” he said in a whisper full of emotion before looking to my father, as though silently asking for the other man’s permission to approach me. Matt stepped aside to let him pass.

“It’s been weeks. It’s so good to see you again.” He hugged the breath out of me and then pulled back to gaze at me admiringly. “You seem different somehow. You’re… You’re beautiful.” Jared was excited, and I gave him a painful smile that I hoped would look sincere.

“I’m happy to see you, too,” I managed, my voice shaking. Jared touched my cheek, and I could tell that he wanted to kiss me but didn’t think it was appropriate in the moment.

Once all the hellos were finished, we proceeded to the dining room.

During dinner, Jared spoke at length with Mia, my father, and Logan.

I was pretty surprised by the warm welcome that Matt gave him.

I thought he would take the opportunity to make me uncomfortable, but instead he was so friendly and gracious that Jared completely let down his guard.

I silently observed this tableau. And then, perhaps for the first time, I recognized what a lovely family we could potentially be, and I understood just how many mistakes I’d made in the few weeks I’d been with them.

“Selene, how long have you two been together?” Mia asked, pulling me from my reflections.

“Almost four months,” Jared answered for me, giving my thigh a squeeze. I tensed at the intimate contact, but fortunately, he didn’t seem to notice anything.

“You’re so precious together. I remember being your age, being happy-go-lucky and so in love…” She sighed, lost in the memory.

“With Dad?” Logan asked, raising an eyebrow.

I saw Mia’s face darken; a cloud of melancholy seemed to pass over her blue eyes.

Matt looked at her expectantly, but Logan just smiled, maybe taking it for granted that he’d guessed right.

It was the first time I’d heard anyone mention William Miller directly.

All I knew about him was that he was the CEO of a major company, that he had been married to Mia, and that he was the father of her three children.

“No…” Mia cleared her throat and fussed nervously with the cutlery next to her plate. “It was with another man, my first love. But that was years ago. It doesn’t matter anymore,” she added, sounding nostalgic and staring vaguely into the middle distance.

No one dared to ask her any follow-up questions and silence fell over the table, broken only by the click of the latch on the front door. Even though I was pretty sure she was staying over at a friend’s that night, I hoped against hope that it was Chloe coming home.

“Oh, Neil’s here.” Mia patted her lips with her napkin and turned toward the entrance to the dining room. Seconds later, Neil came into the room. He took off his leather jacket and handed it to a waiting Anna with a soft thanks.

“Good evening. What’d I miss?” he began before noticing Jared sitting next to me. He immediately took a seat across from me, next to his brother, and regarded me with a serious scowl.

“Oh darling, I’m so happy you’re joining us. Will you stay all evening?” Mia asked him delightedly.

“No, I’m going to a party with Jennifer later,” he answered, propping up his elbows on the table.

I immediately pictured Neil and Jennifer clinging to one another in some random bedroom and my stomach ached.

Was he with her after our night together?

I knew I didn’t really want to know, but the curiosity remained.

“The rest of the Krew are going too, aren’t they?” asked Logan under his breath. Neil gave him a sharp look, but his brother just stared back at him reproachfully.