Craving The Player (Amateurs In Love Book 1)(82)

“So you plan on living the rest of your life in a different pussy every night? Give me a break.”

“If that’s what happens then sure. I could think of worse ways to live.” Lifting my arms above my head, I stretch out the numbing ache in my shoulders. “Hand me a towel would you?”

Tyler tosses me one, tenser than a stretched elastic band. “You can’t fool me with this tough guy shit, Braden. You miss her and you’re too stubborn to tell her that. You’re going to regret letting her leave.”

My teeth scrape the inside of my cheek as I get out of the tub and step onto the cement floor. I wrap the towel around my wet underwear, water pooling at my feet.

I don’t just miss her. I’m way beyond that, and I’m sure the purple crescents of exhaustion beneath my eyes make that more than obvious. The bed doesn’t feel the same without her warm, smooth skin or clumps of brown hair that almost always wind up in my face as I sleep.

“It doesn’t matter what you think. I’m going to be fine, she’s going to be fine, we’re both going to be fine. We weren't even that serious.”

Tyler bursts into a fit of laughter, gripping onto the side of the bench and keeling over dramatically. My anger begins to bubble under my skin the longer I watch him put on a show.

“Right,” he chortles. “Let me ask you a question.”

I blink, not trusting myself to speak.

“If you weren’t serious, then I don’t suppose it would upset you to think of her being swept off of her feet by some big-time successful hotshot in Toronto? It doesn’t make you angry in the slightest to think of him bending her over their shiny kitchen countertops and having her scream his name, begging for more of his coc—”

His words stop short when I shove him against the lockers, my forearm pressed tight even against his throat that he feels the weight of it against his windpipe. With a tilt of his head, he grins, eyebrows dancing with amusement. “Exactly.”

With a grunt, I release the pressure on his throat and place my palms on his chest to shove myself back. My nostrils flare as I shove my hands through my hair. “You have a fucking death wish.”

“Call it whatever you want. But you know that I’m right. You can’t have it both ways. If you let her go because you refuse to stop letting the past live in the present, then you’ll lose her. You can’t live your life out of fear, Braden. You’ll end up living it alone.”

“Thanks for the advice.” There’s only a tiny note of appreciation in my tone. The reality of his words sit heavy on my chest, pressing down on top of me like a cement block.

I know that my parent’s marriage screwed me up, I’ve never denied that. But my feelings towards relationships and marriage aren’t going to change just because of one girl. It doesn’t matter how much I care about her. There’s no knowing if we would even be happy together somewhere that’s not here. I would be risking my entire life in Vancouver over a pipe dream and a beautiful woman.

We could spend years together, but once it came to marriage, I would never be able to give her what she wants. I would only be delaying the inevitable heartbreak that we would be facing years down the road.

Staying away from her is the smart thing to do. And for once, I’m going to do the right thing, for both of us.

“Just think about it, Braden. She doesn’t leave until tomorrow. You still have time.”

Deciding to just give him what he wants, I nod my head, clearing my throat. “Okay.”

Tyler grins and straightens his shoulders. “Okay? Like you’ll actually think about it? You're not just saying that to get me to drop it?”

“Yeah. I’ll think about it. Just for you.”

“I’ll take it.” He laughs and tosses his bag over his shoulder. “Now get dressed so we can leave.”

With a fake salute, I snicker, "Aye aye, captain.”





Chapter Thirty-Three





Sierra





The desk drawer slides shut slowly, almost as if I’m trying to delay the inevitable. I sort of have been delaying this, if I’m being honest, which I guess I should.

I wasn’t in this office for very long. Definitely not for as long as I had anticipated. But given that it was the very first office I’ve ever had all to myself, I’m going to miss it. Even if it was way too close to the mens washroom for my hearing pleasure.

I never even had time to hang my degree on the wall. But the Devil is in the details I suppose. From the pictures Cole sent me of my new office in Toronto, I think it’s safe to assume that I’ll have more than enough room to do so this time around.

“You really pushed it to the last minute, I see.”

Looking up from the sleek black desk, now completely bare of anything but the medium sized box packed with my few personal belongings, I see Cole leaning arms crossed in the doorway. There’s a typical teasing glimmer in his eyes, one that pairs almost too well with his sinister grin. He smells like trouble today, and that makes me nervous.

“I suppose I did,” I reply tightly. I was hoping to make it out of here without having to deal with him anymore than necessary. I’ll already have far too much Cole time once we arrive in Toronto.

“Is everything else ready? Did you end up deciding on an apartment?”