Page 25 of Playing for Keeps

“No,” I told her, shaking my head furiously. “Absolutely not.”

“Then it’s just Vinny’s money you don’t like?”

With my brow furrowed, I looked away from my friend. I traced a scratch in the wood of the table with my fingernail and my ears started to burn.

“What’d you tell him when you broke up with him?” Kelly asked, still full of attitude.

“I told him I needed some space.” It was kind of true. When he’d texted me two days later with the single word, “Why?” it was the only thing I could think to say that wouldn’t completely break my heart.

I needed space. I needed to back away from the overwhelming feelings brought on by the man. My brother needed to be my focus, and I knew Vinny would wait.

Except he didn’t.

“Have you talked to him since?”

The line on the table got deeper as I pressed my fingernail in harder. “Barely. He hardly speaks to me when I see him.” Turning away from me every time I got close. Walking away anytime I got near. It hurt, the pain lacing deep through my heart and taking up residence in my soul. “And I haven’t seen him since Corey’s engagement party back in February.”

“He hasn’t tried to contact you?” I shook my head in answer. “And you haven’t tried to contact him?”

I rubbed my hand across my face and rested my chin in my palm, elbow on the table, as I scowled at Kelly. “What do you want me to do? I told him I needed space. He’s given me space. He acts like there was never anything between us.”

She narrowed her eyes and pursed her lips as she looked me over, head to toe. I was suddenly nervous in my skinny jeans and off-the-shoulder sweatshirt, like maybe there was something wrong with me. Something that had kept Vinny away from me, like maybe I was never enough for him.

And maybe I never would be.

“He gonna be there today?” Kelly finally asked.

I plopped back in my chair, then grabbed my mug and drained the last of my coffee. “I don’t know. Maybe? It’s at Vivian’s apartment. They’re close, so there’s always a chance he’ll be there.”

“You gonna talk to him?”

“Maybe?” I told her. “If he’ll talk to me.”

“And if he won't?” she asked, leaning closer to me. “Will you finally give up on him?” I squeezed my eyes shut and saw Vinny’s handsome face, his pale blue eyes sparkling with laughter, his light blond hair hanging in his eyes. Kelly’s hand covered mine on the table, and when she continued, her voice had lost all the attitude. “Aaron’s a good guy, Jen. Don’t go leading him on if you don’t intend to be more than friends.”

“I know,” I muttered. I glanced at the clock on the wall and pulled my hand away from hers. “I need to go. I have some errands to run before I go to Vivian’s.”

“You know when you’ll be back?”

Stopping at the edge of the kitchen, I turned back to her. “No, I’m not sure what all we’re doing today. I think it’s just getting measured for the dresses, but who knows with these rich girls.”

Kelly laughed and rolled her eyes. “I think I’m going out. I’ll text you if I’m not coming back tonight.”

“Okay, have fun.”

I grabbed my keys and purse from the table by the front door and headed out. I had no errands to run, but I didn’t want to sit around having Kelly grill me anymore. I was well aware of how much I had messed things up with Vinny. I thought what we had was special. I thought he’d fight for me, chase me until I was back in his arms, the way he chased me until I fell into them the first time.

He was intense. Everything about him, from the way he talked to the way he looked to the way he made love. It was overwhelming. It made me feel like the most important woman in the world, and in its absence, I felt like nothing.

I needed to talk to him. I needed to apologize and beg him to take me back. But I needed him to not act like I didn’t exist.

And it was that, I feared, that wouldn’t happen.

* * *

Vivian’s apartment was in this gigantic high-rise downtown. I found a parking spot in a nearby garage and pulled my dark green Countryman into the spot. I switched off the ignition, then just sat there staring at the concrete wall in front of me. I was early, but I’d exhausted my list of things to do without being able to go back home.

With my head leaned back against the headrest, I closed my eyes and pictured positive, happy thoughts. I found that imagining the outcome I desired did wonders for me, and often led me to get what I wanted.