Page 42 of Playing With Love

It’s all good or it will be when she’s gone.

The banging on my hotel door stole my attention but the “Open the door, Liza” had my back snapping straight.

Shit.

“Liza, open the fucking door!” Tucker demanded.

I didn’t open the door. I didn’t move from my position by the bed, suitcase open, clothes and shoes haphazardly thrown in, no mind to how everything would fit. I traveled a lot, I knew how to pack a bag to maximize space. Rolled, folded, tucked just right, I could fit a week’s worth of clothes into a carry-on. Thrown in, the case wasn’t going to zip.

I should’ve left the clothes and shoes behind. I should’ve gone straight to the airport. A few pairs of jeans, slacks, and face wash wasn’t worth seeing Tucker again. Not even my new thunder-gray suede wedges were worth the confrontation.

I didn’t open the door but that didn’t mean it didn’t swing open and bang against the wall as Tucker prowled in.

His gaze went to the bed, his face went hard, and his rumbly, jagged voice hit me like a smack.

“I see you’re doing what you do best.” Tucker’s eyes snapped to mine. “Or second best seeing as you lie like a pro.”

That hurt but I didn’t tell him that.

“Why are you here?”

“Why am I here?” he parroted. “Are you insane?”

Yes.

Evidence was suggesting I was indeed crazy.

When I didn’t answer he went on.

“So this is it.” He slashed an arm wide, indicating the bed. “History repeating itself.”

I held his eyes and my tongue, too afraid if I spoke I wouldn’t be able to keep the tears at bay.

For his part, the anger sparked and flared to life in a way that shocked me. I’d seen him angry; as it turned out, I’d never seen him furious. And seeing it, feeling it crowd the room, take on a life of its own until that fury made it hard to breathe, I stepped back.

“Say something,” he bit out.

I stayed quiet.

“Say. Something!” he exploded.

The ferocity of it devoured me. The unwelcomed side effect of being clobbered by rage and emotion was that it loosened my tongue.

“I’m giving you what you want!” I shouted back.

It was his turn to stay mute.

It’s all good or it will be when she’s gone.

“You want me gone,” I reminded him. “So I’m leaving.”

“You’re leaving.”

Not a question, a scary statement, and it was that because his voice rumbling those words made it so.

“The seminar’s a bust. I have no reason to be here anymore, so yes, Tucker, I’m leaving.”

“Ghosting me again. Lied to me, my team, and slunk out of TC on some bullshit errand.”