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“You’re not that tacky.”
I was silent as I played my last couple of cards, and when I dropped the last one, I sat back and met Drew’s gaze. “Speed.”
He gave a subtle nod and tossed his cards carelessly between us. “I guess you win.”
I didn’t reach for the pile right away, instead holding his stare until he decided to look away. But he didn’t.
“You always were too good at these games,” he said, going quiet. “It’s hard to compete.”
A faint stab of pain shot across my chest. Why did it feel like there was more behind his words? I couldn’t read any resentfulness in his features or even in his tone, but it felt like he wasn’t just talking about card games.
No. I wasn’t about to go there.
“You do just fine.” I went to reach for the cards again, but Drew flicked them out of my reach.
“Hudson.” His voice stayed low, something in it begging me to look at him.
No. Keep it light. Don’t let things get heavy and complicated.
When I didn’t answer, he sighed softly. “Aren’t you tired of this?”
“We don’t have to play—”
He swept his arm across the table, sending the cards flying. “Not this.”
Before I could process the fact that he’d lost his mind, Drew hooked his foot around my ankle, connecting us.
My eyes shot up to his, and my heart began to pound. I wanted to reach up and wipe the sweat that had formed on my brow, but I couldn’t seem to move. Drew’s blue eyes darkened, holding me captive.
“Say something,” he demanded.
I swallowed thickly. “I don’t know what you want from me.”
“Yes, you do. I want you to say it.”
“Say what?”
“That you don’t hate me.”
Cocking my head, I searched for any sign of humor or deception, anything to tell me why he was doing this now. “Have I given you any reason to think I don’t?”
“For starters, you haven’t moved your leg away.”
Fuck. I jerked my foot back, making sure no part of me was touching any part of him. He’d taken me by surprise, that was all. Both last night and today. It didn’t mean my feelings had changed. Drew was still the same person he’d always been, and feeling even the slightest bit of sexual attraction wasn’t going to change that.
I shook my head. “I don’t want to talk about this.”
“Well, I do. We’ve been playing this little game with each other for years, tiptoeing around and putting up a good fight—”
“You think I’ve been faking it?”
“No. I think you had every reason to cut me out of your life.”
“Yes, I did.”
“I know that. And I’ve apologized so many times before, but Hudson…” Drew stopped, dropping his head into his hands and running his fingers through his hair. He took a deep breath and let it out. “I’m sorry for the past. I know that doesn’t make up for it, but it’s all I know to do. I was young and stupid and I hurt you. Trust me when I say I’ve learned my lesson.”
“Really,” I said, lifting my chin. “And how’s that?”
