Page 82 of Surviving Love

“She’d been struggling with depression for years, and one day… I guess she’d just had enough.”

I rubbed my face, feeling horrible for all the awful things I’d thought about Jack the last few days. He’d been trying to hide a horrific, personal tragedy, and I’d thought he was a lowlife who cheated on his wife. I felt sick because by pressing him about his nonexistent wife, I’d just forced him to tell the world something he’d wanted to keep private.

“I’m sorry. Jesus, Jack, I’m so sorry.” I glanced at James. “You can’t air that. You need to erase that, James.”

James recoiled. “I can’t do that. I’d lose my job.”

“That story is Jack’s personal business.” I felt sick as James shook his head.

“No way. You all signed contracts about this shit. I’m not erasing anything, Mason, and you have no business telling me I should.”

“It’s fine,” Jack said softly. “Leave him alone, Mason. He’s just doing his job.”

“But… I made you tell the whole world something you didn’t want to tell.” Shame attacked me.

Jack made a helpless gesture. “It’s too late now.”

“I shouldn’t have pushed you to talk.”

“You didn’t know that.” He met my gaze.

I was so confused by all the things he’d said before he’d dropped that bombshell, my mind was a swirling mess. One thing was clear: I’d completely misjudged him. He hadn’t done anything wrong. He wasn’t a man who cheated on his wife. He wasn’t all the horrible things I’d thought he was. He was just a guy trying to protect his family secrets from getting out into the world.

“I’m so sorry,” I whimpered. “I feel like a complete asshole now.”

He laughed gruffly. “That’s supposed to be my role.”

I winced. “No. I completely misjudged you.”

“Oh, well. Since I’m going home tonight, what does it matter?”

My chest ached at the disappointment I felt at the thought of him leaving. “I’m only still here because of you. You can’t leave.”

“It’s fine. It’s just a game.”

“A game you desperately wanted to win.”

“Everyone wants to win.”

I frowned. “You said you didn’t have any sad life story.” I studied him. “You lied to me about that.”

His lashes hid his expression. “I wanted to win on my own merit. I didn’t want people to vote for me because they felt sorry for me.”

“I know the feeling,” I said softly.

“Yeah, you do.” His eyes warmed.

“I’m not ready for you to go,” I whispered.

He sighed. “I’m not ready to go.”

I reached out, trailing my finger down the back of his hand. “I want you to stay. Maybe we can find a way to make that happen.”

He grimaced. “Harold won’t change his mind. Believe me, I tried working on him today. He was rock solid.”

“He thinks you’ll win if he goes up against you.”

He smirked. “I probably would.”