Page 116 of The Game We Played

Okay, then. I guess I’m getting up on the stage.

Once I’m standing next to Tanner, he reaches for my hand but I shake my head. I’m fine where I am.

“Fair enough,” he mutters.

“This day should be all about Alaia and celebrating her accomplishments, but if I could have your time for a few moments, I need to apologize to her.”

“Why are you apologizing in front of the entire world?”

He raises an eyebrow. “Would you hear me out if you didn’t have your family and my teammates here to stop you from running away?”

I grunt because I’m not admitting he’s right out loud.

“Okay, here I go. Alaia Jackson, I’m sorry.”

I nearly roll my eyes. How many times have I heard a man apologize and not mean it? Too many. Spoiler alert: If you don’t change your actions, an apology is useless.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t trust you. I’m sorry I accused you of betraying me when you were trying to protect me. I’m sorry I reduced you to a journalist searching for a big scoop to make a big payday.”

“I was wrong about it all. You chose integrity when you could have chosen fame. You protected me when I didn’t deserve it.”

“Can you ever forgive me?”

I nibble on my bottom lip. “I don’t know. What happens the next time you misinterpret a situation?”

“Easy. I slow down and listen to the woman I love. I let her explain the situation to me. Even if she has to dumb it down for me.”

The crowd laughs at his joke but I can barely hear them above the pounding of my heart.

“The woman you love?”

“Hell yeah, the woman I love. I arrived on this island thinking I couldn’t trust anyone but my teammates. Thinking romantic love was a trap. Thinking everyone was out to betray me. And you showed me I was wrong.”

“Smuggler’s Hideaway is magical,” Dad shouts.

Tanner smiles at me. “It is magical. It’s the place where I met the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with.”

I study his face. I want to believe him. I want to jump into his arms and forget about the past week. But I can’t. I can’t go through the heartbreak he caused me again. I won’t survive.

“I don’t know, Tanner. You stumbled at the first obstacle we encountered as a couple.”

“I did. And, let’s be honest, I’m going to screw up and stumble again in the future.”

“A lot!” Gage shouts.

“You can count on it!” Nolan adds.

“He’s a screw up,” Corbin declares.

Brock grunts in agreement.

Tanner glares at his teammates. “You’re supposed to be backing me up.”

Nolan shrugs. “She should know what she’s getting herself into when she ties herself to you.”

Tanner meets my gaze. “I’ll tell her what she’s getting. She’s getting love and devotion. And if you decide you can’t forgive me or give me another chance, I’ll still support you and your career. I won’t give you any trouble. If you’re uncomfortable being around me, I’ll do my best to make you comfortable.”

My mouth drops open. “If I don’t give you a second chance, you’ll still support me?”