Read Online The Deal with Love (One on One) by Jamie Wesley - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Jamie Wesley
Tags: Romance, Contemporary Romance, sport, one night stand, Category, Sports Romance, fling, office romance, Lovestruck, diverse, Basketball, NBA, coworkers, own voices, POC
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living in that denial if my sister hadn’t found out the truth,” Christian bit out.
Mack nodded. “You’re right, but she did find out, she did seek me out, and I’m happy that she did. You probably won’t believe me, but I regretted my actions for years, and I didn’t handle my guilt in the right way. Instead of looking for your mother to see how she’d fared, I pushed it to the back of my brain and tried never to think about it.”
The anger, the disgust Christian had held back for months refused to be silenced any longer. “You thought my mother had an abortion. You wanted her to have an abortion. You gave her a check for five thousand dollars and told her to never contact you again. Why in the world would I ever forgive you for that?”
Mack’s face fell, the bravado holding up his shoulders seemingly deserting him. “I don’t know. Maybe it’s because I’ve always been so determined and gone after what I wanted in my life, but I’m asking for your forgiveness anyway. There’s nothing I want more in my life right now than for you to give me a second chance. I’m not saying I deserve it. I don’t deserve it, but I’d like it anyway. I’ve gotten to know Caitlin, and it’s been amazing. She’s amazing.”
Christian hated hearing the pride in Mack’s voice. He didn’t deserve to feel pride. “You don’t know shit about my sister. I wish you would leave her alone.”
Mack shook his head. “I know you want to believe I don’t know anything about her, but that’s not true. She and I have spent a lot of time getting to know each other these past nine months. I’m not going to say it was all a hunky-dory fairytale, but we’ve both tried, and it’s gradually gotten better. I just want that same chance with you.”
Christian didn’t respond. He couldn’t. He wouldn’t. The anger, the hurt, the confusion—it all raged in a tight boil inside him, crowding out the numbness. Growing up, he’d never let himself hope for a father. He’d understood at a young age that if his father wanted to be a part of his life, he would have been. His mother had never lied, never pretended his father was dead. He hadn’t wanted to be a part of their lives, so Christian hadn’t wanted him to be.
Mack waited a few seconds, clearly waiting for Christian to reply. When it didn’t come, he sighed and said, “Just think about it.”
“Don’t hold your breath.” Christian turned on his heel and strode out of the office, barely resisting the urge to slam the door behind him. Outside Elise’s office, he paused with his hand on the knob, struggling to get his breathing under control. She’d notice in a heartbeat if he went storming into her office. He was here to do a job, not cause trouble or bring undue attention to himself. Still, it took a few more deep breaths to bring his heart rate under control.
When he stepped inside, he found her pacing. She rushed up to him when she spotted him. “Where have you been?”
He gave a moment’s thought to lying, but she was looking like she already knew the answer. “With Mack.”
Her brow wrinkled. “That’s what I thought.” She paused. “I know you’re in a tough spot, and I shouldn’t butt in.”
“But you’re going to anyway, aren’t you?” he asked with a brief smile.
“Yes.”
He held out a palm. One thing he’d learned about Elise—when she wanted to, she had no problem speaking her mind. “Then go for it. I’m not going to stop you.”
Elise bit her lip. “I’ve gotten the chance to know Mack over the past few years, and I respect him. I like him.” He couldn’t stop the small growl that spilled from his lips. Still, she straightened her shoulders and soldiered on. “I know this situation with you and your sister hasn’t been easy for him.”
The anger he’d tried to put a lid on threatened to boil over again. “Yes, because it’s hard to maintain a good-guy image when everyone knows your deep, dark secret.”
“I won’t
Mack nodded. “You’re right, but she did find out, she did seek me out, and I’m happy that she did. You probably won’t believe me, but I regretted my actions for years, and I didn’t handle my guilt in the right way. Instead of looking for your mother to see how she’d fared, I pushed it to the back of my brain and tried never to think about it.”
The anger, the disgust Christian had held back for months refused to be silenced any longer. “You thought my mother had an abortion. You wanted her to have an abortion. You gave her a check for five thousand dollars and told her to never contact you again. Why in the world would I ever forgive you for that?”
Mack’s face fell, the bravado holding up his shoulders seemingly deserting him. “I don’t know. Maybe it’s because I’ve always been so determined and gone after what I wanted in my life, but I’m asking for your forgiveness anyway. There’s nothing I want more in my life right now than for you to give me a second chance. I’m not saying I deserve it. I don’t deserve it, but I’d like it anyway. I’ve gotten to know Caitlin, and it’s been amazing. She’s amazing.”
Christian hated hearing the pride in Mack’s voice. He didn’t deserve to feel pride. “You don’t know shit about my sister. I wish you would leave her alone.”
Mack shook his head. “I know you want to believe I don’t know anything about her, but that’s not true. She and I have spent a lot of time getting to know each other these past nine months. I’m not going to say it was all a hunky-dory fairytale, but we’ve both tried, and it’s gradually gotten better. I just want that same chance with you.”
Christian didn’t respond. He couldn’t. He wouldn’t. The anger, the hurt, the confusion—it all raged in a tight boil inside him, crowding out the numbness. Growing up, he’d never let himself hope for a father. He’d understood at a young age that if his father wanted to be a part of his life, he would have been. His mother had never lied, never pretended his father was dead. He hadn’t wanted to be a part of their lives, so Christian hadn’t wanted him to be.
Mack waited a few seconds, clearly waiting for Christian to reply. When it didn’t come, he sighed and said, “Just think about it.”
“Don’t hold your breath.” Christian turned on his heel and strode out of the office, barely resisting the urge to slam the door behind him. Outside Elise’s office, he paused with his hand on the knob, struggling to get his breathing under control. She’d notice in a heartbeat if he went storming into her office. He was here to do a job, not cause trouble or bring undue attention to himself. Still, it took a few more deep breaths to bring his heart rate under control.
When he stepped inside, he found her pacing. She rushed up to him when she spotted him. “Where have you been?”
He gave a moment’s thought to lying, but she was looking like she already knew the answer. “With Mack.”
Her brow wrinkled. “That’s what I thought.” She paused. “I know you’re in a tough spot, and I shouldn’t butt in.”
“But you’re going to anyway, aren’t you?” he asked with a brief smile.
“Yes.”
He held out a palm. One thing he’d learned about Elise—when she wanted to, she had no problem speaking her mind. “Then go for it. I’m not going to stop you.”
Elise bit her lip. “I’ve gotten the chance to know Mack over the past few years, and I respect him. I like him.” He couldn’t stop the small growl that spilled from his lips. Still, she straightened her shoulders and soldiered on. “I know this situation with you and your sister hasn’t been easy for him.”
The anger he’d tried to put a lid on threatened to boil over again. “Yes, because it’s hard to maintain a good-guy image when everyone knows your deep, dark secret.”
“I won’t
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