Page 14 of Playing For Keeps
“That was before I knew my Cee was here.”
“Let’s get one thing straight, I’m notyour Cee, and I’d appreciate it if you didn’t tell Emma or Miles anything.”
Chapter 3
“You’d appreciate it if I didn’t tell Emma and Miles anything about what? Last night, today, or I know, you’d rather I not tell them that you were supposed to marry me but ran me off instead of simply admitting you fell out of love with me?” Jake asked incredulously.
“Jake,” she sighed.
“What do you think your friends would say to that one?”
“They’d probably be happy that I found my voice and learned to stand up for myself,” she said pushing at his shoulders to get him to back off.
Jake stepped back not understanding the hatred he saw coming from her eyes.
“What’s really going on here?” he asked suddenly confusing her.
“Nothing, I’m just tired and I’ve got a lot to do tonight before work tomorrow. I honestly don’t have time to argue with you and I really don’t have time for even the smallest semblance of a relationship, whether it’s simply sex or anything more.”
“You don’t have time, or you don’twantto have the time?”
“Does it really matter?” she asked slipping into her jeans.
“Yes,” he said truthfully, “because you’re the only girl I’ve never been able to forget.”
Stacey stared at him in surprise, “Why?”
“Why? You were supposed to marry me, be my wife, and enjoy everything I’ve accomplished with me.”
Stacey groaned hating the fluttering that started in her stomach and worked its way up to her heart. She couldn’t indulge in it though, it was pure madness. “That’s exactly what I’m talking about. Everything was always aboutyou. I’m happy for you and everything that you’ve accomplished but don’t expect me to go around telling everyone I was engaged to you or that I personally know you.”
“Why not?” he asked amused.
“Because I want things in my life to happen because of whatIdo, not based on who I know.”
Jake couldn’t help but laugh this time. “Cee, Cee, Cee, haven’t you heard, you don’t always get what you want.”
“Like I don’t know that,” she mumbled to herself changing shirts.
“Did you say something?”
“Not a thing,” she stated.
“You’re lying,” he said closing the distance between them and pulling her into his arms, his heart pounding with hope he hadn’t felt until now.
“I’m what?”
“You’re lying,” he said again.
“About what?” she feigned shock trying to step away from him.
He held her firmly and stared at her.
“Everything,” he finally answered. “I can’t believe I didn’t see it last night. You didn’t fall out of love with me, did you?” Stacey didn’t answer not sure where he was going with it. She looked away until she heard him ask again, “Did you? You didn’t fall out of love with me; you were scared, weren’t you?”
“What was there to be scared of?” she scoffed.
“I don’t know,” he said stepping back. “But that’s it; you were scared back then, weren’t you?”
