Only One Night (Only One 3)

“What do you miss?” I ask, wondering if maybe he’s going to say something to make me remember why I fell for him.

“I miss us,” he says. “I miss going home and having you there.”

“Do you miss me before or after you fuck Ally and Joshua?” I ask, my voice going low.

“I can explain,” he says, and I roll my eyes.

“There is really not anything that you can say that will explain that, Dex,” I tell him. “It’s not like you wake up one day and decide to become a vegetarian. You’re bisexual, but instead of having a conversation with me—”

“You were never supposed to find out,” he says. “We should have been more careful.”

“Well, I think you guys were as careful as thieves in the night since I only found out now.” I wait to see if the hurt is going to come, and I’m shocked when it doesn’t. I feel nothing for him. I don’t even feel hurt because he did it. My mind flies to Manning. When I walked away from him, it hurt me harder and deeper than it did with Dex.

At this moment, I know that Dex was never the one. “Dex,” I say, “I’m going to be honest with you. I think we were together because it was the right thing to do. We were just there for each other, and it just made sense, but if we are honest, we didn’t fall head over heels in love with each other. Fuck, I think the only reason you miss me right now is that you hate change. You hate going home by yourself.”

“But I love you,” he says, and I shake my head.

“You think you love me. But if you loved me, you would never think about touching another person. I have to go, Dex. I hope you find that person.”

I hang up, and my eyes stare at the phone in my hand.

Tim comes in. “Hey, I’m out.” I turn now, seeing his head peeking in the room.

“What are you wearing?” I ask, and I see the Dallas jersey.

“I’m wearing the Dallas jersey,” he says, pointing at his chest. He turns, and I see that it has Manning’s last name on it. “It’s Jaxon’s dad’s jersey.” I try not to smile when I think of him.

He left my bed this morning before the sun came up. Ever since he showed up at my house two days ago, I’ve fallen asleep in his arms. It still bothers me that he’s technically married, but I try not to harp too much on it. It’s always there in the back of my head, though, like the devil sitting on your shoulder, letting you know how fucked up it is. “Nico, the owner of the team, is my client, and he gave me tickets to his box tonight.”

“That is a good thing?” I ask, not sure, and he just looks at me with his mouth open.

“Nico, the owner of the team. He’s huge. I mean, not huge, but he’s getting there. He is the youngest owner of a team there has ever been. He’s even younger than you.” He points at me and winks when I flip him the bird. “Anyway, watch the game. You might see me on television.”

“Or,” I say, putting my elbows on my desk and leaning forward on them. “You can let me know if I missed you.” He laughs and walks out of my office at the exact time my phone rings. I look down, seeing the man who has me in knots. Also, the man who has made me look like I went hardcore at the gym. When I came to work yesterday, I swear I felt like he was still in me. It took me time to set to a standing position and even a sitting one. I blamed it on leg day, but if only they knew. “Well, hello there, you,” I say, smiling.

“Hey, baby,” he says, his voice soft and all the doubts I’ve had before are out the window. Just the sound of his voice and my chest fills with so many emotions. “Are you free to talk?”

“I am,” I say, leaning back in my chair, and I hear a horn honk. “Are you in the car?”

“Yeah, I’m on the way to the arena,” he says. “We play Carolina tonight.”

“I know,” I tell him. “My brother just left here wearing your jersey. He is going to be in a box somewhere.”

“You should have come with him,” he tells me, laughing.

“I’m going to just say it right now. I don’t really get hockey. I know of it. I lived in Chicago where they won the cup a couple of times,” I tell him.

“A couple of times.” He laughs. “They won three cups in ten years.”

“I’m assuming that’s good?” I joke with him. “How was your day?”