Page 68 of Enemy Games

I looked between the two of them with doubt. As if they were the experts on relationships. Just because they both had girlfriends didn’t mean they necessarily understood the mind of a woman.

“Oh, really? What kind of grand gesture?”

“I don't think anything in front of her team would be appropriate,” Benjamin cautioned.

“Yeah, yeah.” I didn't expect him to change his tune about dating one of the girls from the women's team, but he wasn't lecturing me on that.

He met my eyes through the mirror in front of the weights. He wanted me to be happy, even if he didn’t agree with my choices.

“Do you guys have anything in mind?”

“You know her better than any of us, so I don't think that we should answer that.” Reid tilted his chin up and looked to the ceiling. Ethan and I stared up, trying to figure out what he was looking at, but I couldn’t see anything out of place.

“And if you don't know, then maybe that's your answer.” Since when did Reid speak in riddles?

By the time I finished my workout, I knew what I needed to do. I would regret not talking to Presley and explaining myself. I wanted to get a feel for where her head was at, because this relationship wasn't just about me and what I wanted.

I wasn't even sure if she was interested in me after last night and seeing a glimpse of who I used to be. The iconic grand gestures from movies ran through my mind, but bringing a boom box to the front of her house and blasting a song while waiting for her to come downstairs didn’t feel like the right step.

No. When I pictured us having this conversation, of being open and vulnerable with each other, I saw us somewhere quiet, somewhere private where we could talk things out. I didn’t want the pretense of a bouquet of flowers or a sappy apology. I wanted us to be real, so I texted her and asked her if we could meet.

When she said yes, the only thing I had to do was make sure that Benjamin stayed away from our room for a little while. It might not be the most romantic setting, but it was the only place I knew for sure we could talk without interruption or any ears listening in.

I didn't have a speech planned. I didn't have notes of things I wanted to say. I just wanted to be in front of her. Hold her hands and tell her that the man I've been wasn't who I wanted to be. I wanted to be better, not only for her but for myself.

The moment I opened the door and saw her standing in front of me, all my doubts and questions disappeared.

I wanted there to be a chance for us.

“I came up with a list of reasons why I shouldn’t even entertain the thought of talking to you again.”

I lifted my brows and waved her inside.

“Oh, yeah?”

She slipped off her coat and hung it on a hook on the wall. “Yeah, it was actually pretty easy.”

Well, great. She was ending this before I even had a chance to convince her.

“Then Chris made me make another list of the reasons why I should.” She stared at the ground before lifting her eyes to mine. “That one was harder.”

I wanted to take her hand. To pull her close. To take away the pain in her eyes.

“I had to admit to myself that there are several things about you I like.” She pursed her lips, and I realized she was fighting a smile. I sucked in a breath and wrapped my arms around her shoulders.

She rested her head against my chest and ran her hands over my back.

“I know I screwed up, but it was my past. I wish I could go back and erase some of the things I’ve done, but I can’t. I can only try to do better.”

“I wish we just met. That nothing before me moving here mattered.”

I pulled away just enough to meet her gaze. “Why can’t we do that?”

“Because it’s not real. It’s not the truth.”

I rested my chin on the top of her head, still holding her close. “I’ve spent all day thinking about you, about us. If there should even be an us. I wanted to get my head clear before I spoke to you, but it didn’t happen. So many of my hesitations are about me. All of them, actually. I don’t want my life to have a negative impact on yours. I don’t want to make things harder for you. I don’t want to start something knowing there’s a countdown to the end. How can I even think of wanting to be with you, without thinking about having to leave you? Soon. In just a few months, everything in my life will be completely different. You deserve so much better.”

She lifted her head and placed her hand against my cheek. “Don’t I get a say in any of this?”