The Game (Wagered Hearts Series, #3)(51)

As if reading my thoughts, my dad spoke. "That boy you brought home for my birthday. You love him?" he asked.

"What? Did Ma tell you something?" I asked.

"No," he chuckled. "Anyone with two eyes could see it."

I looked at him horrified. "That's impossible. The engagement wasn't even real to begin with."

"That doesn't mean there weren't real feelings involved," he said.

He left the room shortly after dropping that bombshell on me. I sat in bed and contemplated what he and my mother had told me. When I'd first come home, I was only looking for a place to lick my wounds and get out of the glare of scrutiny. Truthfully, I didn't know if I'd even stay longer than a few days, but here I was two weeks later. I'd never been home this long before. It was ironic in a way. I'd always used my career as a way to escape my past and family, and yet here I was trying to escape my career with my family.





Chapter 22: Rob



The phone went straight to disconnect. She must have had her phone number changed. I ran my fingers through my hair and tugged hard. At this rate, I'd pull all my hair out before I ever spoke to her. She'd left England weeks ago. I'd followed her back to LA, except she wasn't here. Her housekeeper had no idea where she was.

I stopped by Charlotte's office to try to get some information, but she was tight lipped, refusing to even acknowledge if Emilia was in LA. Obviously, she wasn't picking up her phone. I called her constantly until one day the number was just disconnected. I was feeling desperate. I hadn't slept well or eaten well since coming to America.

I decided to head back to New York and get myself together and try to come up with another way to see her. She couldn't disappear forever. And when she did finally emerge, I'd know just what to say to her.

I needed to apologize for my behavior. After the news broke about the fake engagement, I felt like my heart would drop out of my chest. I'd never felt such guilt before. And such anger. Cordelia had run to the press and blabbed to them everything I told her.

I honestly couldn't even remember much of our conversation that night, but I must have said something to her about our secret arrangement. The press ran with that story like a pack of rabid dogs and Emilia had been practically run out of town.

Judging from the cold reception I got from Charlotte, I could only imagine how Emilia felt. Not only had I humiliated her at my parent's party, but I had to go and add salt to the wound and blow our cover. She must hate me, I thought miserably.

I sat in my apartment drinking myself into oblivion for yet another night. My hope was slowly being drained out of me with each day that passed. The incessant buzzing of my door bell started to penetrate my consciousness but I ignored it. I wasn't in the mood to talk, or see anyone at the moment. The door flew open moments later with Ryan standing on the threshold looking like he was a goddamn superhero, with his hands on his hips, surveying the room until his eyes landed on me.

"Jesus Christ, Rob! Didn't you hear me ringing?" he asked, walking into my apartment and shutting the door behind him.

"I did hear it and I was ignoring you. How did you get in? Did you break my door?" I asked, sounding annoyed.

"Hardly. I've got a key," he said, holding up the key to my apartment. I'd forgotten I'd given it to him years ago when he needed a place to stay while he was apartment hunting.

"Well, aren't you going to welcome me back?" he asked.

He looked too happy and his voice was much too upbeat. I felt a sudden irritation at his existence. No one should be that happy. I ignored him, hoping my lack of response would make him leave. No such luck. He was an oblivious bastard when he wanted to be.

Ryan stepped closer and silently inspected me as I slouched down on my couch. I could imagine the picture I presented. My beard had grown scruffy over the past week without shaving. My hair was a mess with me running my hands through it in silent frustration. My clothes looked crumpled from not having changed in a few days. My eyes were probably red from lack of sleep and drinking. In short, I looked like a bum.

I heard Ryan click his tongue before he sank down on the seat opposite me.

"Don't you have other things to be doing besides standing here looking down your nose at me?" I snapped.




"Yes, I do, but yet here I am. I must be crazy," he said, nonplussed.

"What are you doing here then?"

"Well, Roman told me the craziest story and I just had to come and see for myself if it was true. Oh yeah, and your family is worried about you and they wanted me to check up on you," he added.

I could just imagine what Roman had told him. I clenched my drink in my hand, imagining their laughter over my foolish mistake. But I couldn't really be angry. After all the shit I'd given them when they'd fallen in love, it seemed like karma had finally gotten me. I'd laugh at me too if I were in their position.

"Is it true?" Ryan asked.

"Is what true?"

"Did you really fall in love?"

I didn't say anything for a while, but then slowly nodded my head. I heard Ryan let out a low whistle and looked up to see him smiling at me. My face twisted into a scowl.

"Don't look so happy now," I said.

"But this is a miracle! Robert J. Benedict has finally gotten pierced by Cupid's arrow. I never thought I'd see the day. It's wonderful. I can't believe I've missed so much while I was away," he said, still grinning from ear to ear.