Game On (Game On 1)

I threw myself into my spot on the bed. “Yes! I have to email to let him know where I am and when, and he’ll figure out the rest.”

I honestly couldn’t think of anything better than having them visit me. I’d been sure the next time I saw them would be in England. It didn’t occur to me that they might come to me, to see the world I lived in.

“Look at you,” Miguel laughed, his fingers gently stroking my cheek. “This is the most relaxed I’ve ever seen you.”

“Really? I’m always relaxed with you.”

He shook his head. “This is different. You look …”

“What?”

“Even more beautiful than usual,” he answered, gazing into my eyes.

He made me feel every word he spoke. I loved how everything that came out of his mouth was honest, uncensored. He just said whatever he was thinking in the moment, not because he wanted anything from me, but because he meant it.

I wriggled closer to him, kissing his soft lips, and thanking whatever guardian angels were looking over me for making my life so good.

I should have known it wouldn’t last.

The high from talking to Josh, and being so happy with Miguel carried me through the next day. It’s funny how having something to look forward to makes everything seem brighter. Not that life was particularly murky before, but it was good to have an event on the horizon other than work.

At around four-fifteen that afternoon, everything changed.

Technically, I had forty-five minutes left of my working day but somehow I’d managed to get through everything with a little time to spare. It seemed a shame not to reward myself for being so efficient, so I headed up to the restaurant for a sneaky coffee, and to watch everyone else slaving away.

On my way up the steps, Radleigh passed me, his eyes shooting out vibes of anger. He didn’t even stop to make a dig at me. If he hadn’t bashed into my arm as he sped by, I’d have thought I’d imagined seeing him.

“No, really, it’s fine,” I muttered, continuing towards the welcoming aroma of coffee and food.

Right away, something seemed off. There were usually waiters milling around, or at the very least, someone standing behind the bar just in case anyone came in early. It was not okay to keep a Westberg Warrior waiting.

I guess I should take the silence as a sign to find something else to do.

But the room wasn’t silent. I could hear someone taking deep, shuddering breaths and sniffling.

At the sound of my footsteps, a blonde head snapped upwards, looking in my direction in panic.

“Taylor?”

She wiped her eyes and tried to fake a smile, but it was too late for that.

So. McCoy had thundered past me, and Taylor was curled up on a chair sobbing her heart out. It didn’t take a genius to put it together.

“Are you okay?” I asked as I approached, not sure I wanted to know but too far in to creep away.

She shook her head, tears still streaming from her eyes. I’d never seen her face so pale, and her whole body was trembling. I pulled up a chair beside her, my distaste quickly replaced with concern.

“What happened?”`

“I … I don’t … I can’t say. I can’t.”

“You’ve been seeing McCoy, haven’t you?”

Surprise flashed across her face. “No,” she said. “No … I know everyone thought there was something going on that night in the club but I’d never cheat on Jesse. Never.”

Well, that was a relief. I couldn’t deal with being dragged into the middle of another relationship drama. Freya and Will were bad enough, without stumbling into a Radleigh/Taylor/Jesse love triangle.

“So why are you crying?”