Read Game of Love for Free Online

front of your friends. It’s been a long day, and I’m just a little frustrated.”
    Dex smiled and shrugged. “No worries. You kinda took me by surprise, El. I still can’t believe you’re here. I wasn’t sure I’d ever see you again.”
    “That makes two of us, and I have an interview tomorrow at ten.” She covered her face. “Please apologize to your friends. I never drink, so you can blame it on that.” She peeked out from between her fingers and saw Dex arch his brow. She sighed and threw her head back against the cushions. “Okay, fine. It’s me. It’s always me. I still haven’t learned how to gracefully extricate myself from uncomfortable situations. Whatever.”
    “They’re cool, Ellie. They won’t care. Listen, give me your number, and I want to give you mine, and my address, so you have it.”
    “Okay, but you don’t have to worry about me. I’m fine.” Liar, liar pants on fire .
    He handed her his phone. “It’s not you I’m worried about. Put your info in here.”
    She handed him her phone. “You too.” She watched him inputting his information. His kindness was being smothered by the elephant in the room—and making her feel like she was going to suffocate. She had to get it out in the open. “Dex, don’t you hate me for the way I left…after that weekend…?” It hurt so much to say it out loud. To acknowledge what she’d done, how she’d cast his love—their love—aside. Say it. You owe him that . “When I left four years ago.” She held her breath.
    He looked at her for a long time. Just when she was ready to apologize, he said, “I thought I never wanted to see you again. But I could never hate you, Ellie. You’re like the puzzle I could never solve. The game I could never win.”
    He shrugged, but she recognized the hurt that lingered in his eyes, and it pierced her heart. She wanted to apologize, but words would never be enough. Somewhere deep in her soul, she’d known back then that sneaking out was unforgivable, and yet she’d been too scared to stay.
    He reached for her hand, and this time, she took it willingly. He pulled her into a hug.
    This is dangerous .
    Her body remembered the curves of him, the feel of him against her the last night they’d been together four years earlier, when she’d come back needing the security of him and had found so much more. She’d lain in his arms. He was reading, planning in that crazy smart brain of his, and she’d been…memorizing him. Longing to make love to him. It was that longing that had sent her hightailing it out of New York while he slept that night. Now, remembering the ache of knowing that night might have been the last time they’d ever see each other, she drank him in, allowed her body to fall weightless into the safety of him, and Dex tightened his embrace.
    She felt it again, the desire to kiss him. The desire to have something more with him, and it scared the shit out of her.
    “Thank you, Dexy.” She drew back from him, and in his eyes she saw the same longing she felt in her heart. She pried herself away. “You have to meet your friends.”
    She watched his jaw clench, and at first she thought it might be hurt that she saw in his dark eyes. Then she recognized it for what it was. He stepped back and ran his hand through his hair, then tore his eyes from hers and walked to the door. He was steeling himself against her. She’d hurt him and he wasn’t going to be hurt again. She couldn’t blame him really. Even she didn’t know what she was doing these days. Or maybe ever .
    “El…”
    “Thanks for everything. I’m glad we ran into each other.” Christ, she was torn. She wanted him to stay and hold her and she wanted him to leave in equal measure. I’m a mess, and I’m not gonna drag you down with me .
    “Me too. I’ve got a huge release in three weeks and almost no time to breathe.” He looked down.
    Her heart broke just a little. I’ve ruined us.
    “But I’d like to see you and catch