by Gina Drayer
“Get your fucking hands off her,” Cooper said from the door.
33
Cooper
The roses and box of chocolates I was holding hit the ground as I yanked Ben back by his collar.
“Wait. You don’t understand—”
He didn’t get a chance to finish whatever lie he was about to spin. I hit him square in the jaw, and then for good measure, hit him again. Ben stumbled back and fell over the small coffee table, crashing through the thin wood.
“Cooper! Stop!”
Emily rushed over to where Ben was sprawled on the floor. He was bleeding from a cut on his cheek. She put her hand on his shoulder, and I almost kicked the son of a bitch again.
“Is everything okay? Do you need help?” Tony said from the door.
“No. It’s fine. Can you get Ben some ice? And please, take the kids back to the rec room.”
A small crowd had gathered in the hall. Little hands clung to Tony’s pants, as the young kids stared wide-eyed at me. I turned my focus back to Emily and that asshole Ben.
“What is he doing here? I told you to stay away from him.”
“Cooper, you’ve got this all wrong,” Ben said.
“Shut the fuck up. I wasn’t talking to you.”
“I think you should leave until you’ve cooled down,” Tony said. “Please don’t force me to make you.”
“Maybe you should leave,” Emily said. She looked pale, and a little shell-shocked, but her hands were still on Ben.
I was done.
“I think you’re right,” I said and pushed past Tony.
I got in my car and drove off without a destination, but I needed to get out of the city. I couldn’t stop seeing his lips on her skin, her hand on his shoulder. That fucking asshole.
Despite our history, I’d always considered Ben a friend. But this time he went too far.
He couldn’t fucking have her.
When I reached the other side of the Lincoln Tunnel my phone buzzed with a new message.
Emily: I’m not going to dinner tonight. I need time to think. I’ll call you when I’m ready.
Think about what? I was the one who should be pissed. If she doesn’t want to do dinner that’s fine with me, but we’re going to talk. I needed answers. I needed to know what Ben was doing in her office with his hands on her.
I drove out to Sloatsburg and turned into the state park and sat, watching the sunset through the trees. There was something about being surrounded by the dense forest, away from the cold steel of the city, that always relaxed me. The hour-long drive also helped me clear my head. I was still angry, but at least I didn’t want to pound Ben’s face in anymore. I turned around and headed back to the shelter, but when I got there, Tony turned me away.
“She’s upset. You need to give her some time,” he said, blocking the front door.
“I have to talk to her. I know I overreacted, but she needs to explain what Ben was doing here.”
“No she doesn’t, and that’s exactly why I’m not going to let you in.” Tony sighed and shook his head. “I was actually glad when she started dating you. You made her smile and she was able to set aside her problems for a while. But you’re becoming another burden for her to carry. She deserves better.”
“You have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“You’re right, I don’t know anything about what’s going on between you two. But what I do know is that in the six years we’ve been open, there’s never been a fistfight. Until she brought you here.”
His words stung, but they didn’t deter me. We needed to talk to her and in person. I got back in my car and drove to her house to wait for her. It was another hour before she came home. The streets were dark, but I could still tell she’d been crying. Her eyes were puffy, and her nose and cheeks were red.
I never wanted to make her cry.
“I told you I needed time to think,” she said when she spotted me. “I can’t do this right now.”
“We need to talk.”
She straightened her back and crossed her arms, her posture completely closed off to me. “Then talk.”
“What was Ben doing there? You told me you didn’t know him.”
“I didn’t… I don’t know him. He showed up at my office to give us a donation.”
“And you took it?”
She scrunched her face in confusion. “Of course, I took it. He was donating money to the shelter.”
“He’s just using you to get at me. I don’t want you taking money from him. Give it back, and I’ll write another check if you want.”
“You can’t do this. I’m going to be around other men. You need to trust me. You need to trust that I won’t do anything to hurt you.”
“I trust you. It’s him I don’t trust. Don’t see him again.”
“You’re being unreasonable. Maybe you should leave before you say something you’ll regret.”
“I’m serious. I don’t want you seeing him, and I don’t want you taking his fucking money.”
She tossed her hands into the air, frustrated. “It was just a donation. That’s all.”
“And we both know exactly what you’ll do—or who you’ll do—for a donation.”
She gasped and took a step back, her hand flying up to her face as if I’d struck her. “I did not sleep with you because of the money.”
“I’m sure it didn’t hurt”
She turned and started up her steps, but I reached out and grabbed her arm. “Wait. We’re not done here.”
“Don’t.” She yanked her arm back. “This is all just a game to you isn’t it? I was trying to give you a chance. I know there’s a lot more going on between you and Ben that I don’t know about, but that doesn’t give you the right to treat me like shit. Go home, Cooper.”
“If you see him again, this is over.”
She sniffed and rubbed her arm where I’d grabbed her, a tear running down her cheek. “You don’t get it. This was over the second you called me a whore. Now leave, or I’ll call the cops.”
She stormed up the steps and shut the door behind her with a deafening thud. The sound reverberated in my bones, cracking open a dark place inside of me. I wanted to go up and bang on her door, demand that she talk to me, but there was something in the tone of her voice that made me hesitate.
This was our first real fight. But it didn’t feel like just a fight. It felt like the end.
New York Press
Real Estate Tycoon Sponsors Oliver Family Shelter
Ben Lobos, successful real estate tycoon, is backing Oliver Family Shelter’s bid to rezone the Trinity Lutheran school building. Lobos is seen here with Executive director Emily Oliver promoting the shelter’s annual Christmas market.
34
Cooper
My phone rang. It was probably the thirtieth call of the day. Or was it night. I had the blinds drawn, so I couldn’t really tell. Not that it mattered. It’s not like I had anywhere to be.
I ignored the ringing until it stopped, but it just started up again. And again. After the fourth try, whoever it was finally gave up. I picked my phone up to turn the fucking ringer off and saw that there were ten messages.
I shambled into the kitchen to grab another beer and hit play on the messages.
Naomi’s cool voice sounded from the speaker.
“Mr. Reynolds, you’ve missed two yoga classes. Need I remind you that these classes were part of your anger manag— ”
Skip.
“Hey, kid. The meeting with management went well. Call me.”
Manny had left the next three calls getting increasingly belligerent.
“We have to make a decision this week. Call me today. There are a few things they are asking for that I’m concerned about.”
“Why the fuck haven’t you called me back. Listen, if you don’t call, I’ll be forced to make the decisions myself. Crawl out of whatever hole you’ve—”
Skip.
“You better be fucking dead because if y
ou’re not—”
Skip.
Naomi again.
“Why weren’t you with Emily today? The whole point of this venture is for you to get some good press, not some other man. There’s an event tomorrow at MOMA that will have a lot of press. Be sure to—”
Skip.
“Mr. Reynolds. If you’re not going to follow my advice—”
Skip.
“Hey, it’s Kevin. I haven’t seen you at yoga recently. Is everything alright? If you want to hit the gym some morning, just give me a call.”
I was a few seconds into another rant from Manny when the phone rang again. My agent’s number flashed across the screen. I finished my beer and relented, but not before I opened another.
“What?”
“What? What! You’ve got to be fucking kidding me. You go MIA for two weeks, and that’s all you have to say for yourself? Do you have any idea how hard I’ve been hustling to get this contract deal? And you don’t have the time to pick up the Goddamn phone.”
“I was busy.”
“I’ve worked with some asshole clients before, but this is insane. If you didn’t want a new contract, you should have just let me know.”
When he finally took a breath, I asked, “Did they renew my contract or not?”
“Of course, I got you a new contract. But there are a few clauses you need to look at before you sign. Especially, the one on conduct—”
“I don’t care. Just send a courier, and I’ll sign it.”
“But Coop—”
“Just send it.”
“Fine. There’s still that thing with Emily. Naomi told me—”
“I know I still have to uphold my half. I’ll be at the Christmas market with fucking bells on.”
“That’s just it, Emily called Naomi and told her you didn’t have to come.”
“What? Why would she do that?”
“My guess is she doesn’t want you there. What happened between you two? Everything was going so well. I was kind of hoping that you two would—”
“Whatever. I need to go.”
I hung up and turned off the ringer.
Emily hadn’t returned my calls or texts since our fight, and now she doesn’t want me to come to her stupid Christmas market thing. She was acting like this was all my fault, but there was plenty of blame to lay at her feet.
Maybe this break was for the best. She wouldn’t listen to reason. I knew Ben. He’d pushed his way into her life because of me, and it was just a matter of time before he tried getting her into bed. That’s if he hadn’t already.
The thought made my stomach turn. I dumped the rest of my beer down the drain and tossed the empty bottle into the recycling bin. The glass clinked against the three dozen others.
The photos of the two of them on page six flashed in my mind. She was smiling next to Ben on the steps of the shelter. That fucking bastard. I thought he was my friend, but there he was moving in on my girl.
I grabbed a bottle of whiskey on my way back to my bedroom.
He was using his money to influence her, and she was falling for it. I thought she was above that, but it turns out I didn’t know her at all.
Star New York
Trouble in Paradise?
Is New York’s favorite couple on the rocks? It’s been weeks since anyone has spotted Cooper Reynolds with his philanthropist girlfriend. Many speculate that the couple is on the outs. Especially since Oliver has been seen recently with Real Estate mogul Ben Lobos.
35
Emily
Three weeks. I hadn’t talked to Cooper in three weeks. I thought about returning his calls, but every time I listened to his messages, my anger returned with a vengeance.
He still didn’t understand why I was so angry, and I was starting to think he never would. He was so wrapped up in himself, he didn’t see how much his words had hurt. And Tony was right about one thing, I deserved to be with someone who made me happy.
“The booths are all set up,” Tony said from the door of my office. “They’re just waiting for you to sign off.”
The Christmas market was tomorrow, and there was still a million things I needed to do. I didn’t have time to sit here and feel sorry for myself. I gave myself a mental shake and forced a smile.
“I was just finishing up a few emails. I’ve been overwhelmed with all the press this week.”
“Ben did wonders with marketing. He’s a good resource. Between his media contacts and the buzz around Cooper making an appearance, this is by far our biggest year.”
My smile slipped at the mention of Cooper. I hadn’t told anyone that he wouldn’t be attending. I figured I’d just make up some lame excuse when he didn’t show. It might lead to some bad press, but I just couldn’t deal with his anger and all the stress of the fair. My emotions were stretched to their breaking point. And knowing him, he’d want to talk. Even thinking about it made me tear up.
“Are you okay?” Tony asked.
“I’m fine,” I said with a shake of my head. “Let’s go down and sign off on the booths.”
I stood up from my chair, and the office started to spin. My vision tunneled, and I heard Tony’s voice from far away. The next thing I knew, Tony had me stretched out on the sofa with some pillows under my feet.
“You are not okay. You look like hell. Emily, you can’t go on like this. You’re not eating. From the dark circles under your eyes, I’d bet you’re not sleeping. You cry at the drop of a hat. And don’t think I haven’t heard you throwing up in the bathroom.”
“I’m just stressed.”
“If I didn’t know you, I’d think you were pregnant.”
My eyes went wide, and I sucked in a breath. Pregnant. There’s no way. I’m on the pill, and we used condoms. Except for that one time, but still…I’m on the pill. I’d know if I was pregnant. Wouldn’t I? This is heartbreak. Stress.
“Don’t worry. I’m not pregnant,” I said, squeezing his hand. “I had the stomach flu. I caught it from one of the kids in the daycare. But you’re right, I’m not sleeping. After tomorrow, I promise to take better care of myself.”
Tony narrowed his eyes and frowned. “You’re like a daughter to me. If you need help—”
“I swear I’m fine. Between that fight with Cooper and the event, I’ve overextended myself.”
“Why don’t you go home and get some rest tonight. I’ll finish up with the vendors. Do you need a ride?”
“I’ll call an Uber.”
Normally, I wouldn’t take off like this, but the word pregnant kept repeating in my mind. I was just tired. I had the flu. I was emotional over my breakup. I wasn’t pregnant. But I had to be sure.
I stopped at the mini-mart on the corner and picked up a one-step pregnancy test and a Sprite. My nausea had returned, and I sipped the bubbly soda as I waited for the car to come pick me up.
What if I was pregnant? What would Cooper say?
This was the worst possible outcome of our ill-fated relationship. But even the thought of a chubby, blonde baby boy with his father’s blue-green eyes made my heart swell. It didn’t matter if we were still together or not, if I was pregnant, I’d love that child with all my heart, and deep down I knew Cooper would too.
I thanked the driver and rushed upstairs to my bathroom, read the directions. But my nerves got the better of me. I shoved the test into my medicinal cabinet and slid the mirror shut.
I was exhausted and emotionally wrung out. I decided it would be better if I waited until after a nap.
I changed into something more comfortable and crawled into bed. And for almost an hour, I tossed and turned, thinking about the possibility of becoming a mom.
Just as I’d finally dozed off, my phone buzzed with a message. Thinking it was probably Tony with some update on the booths, I swiped the screen.
Cooper: We still have to talk. See you tomorrow.
The Story continues
Playing For Keeps
When I agreed to date Cooper Reynolds, I thought
it would be easy.
Two months of my life and we’d never see each other again.
But he was charming, funny, and when he touched me nothing else mattered.
We aren’t just playing a game anymore and I’m way out of my league.
It was all supposed to be a fake - a made-up romance for the press.
But everything got real, fast.
She thinks it's over? Not a chance. I’m not giving up without a fight.
I’m going to win her back.
And this time, I’m playing for keeps...
Before You Go
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Also by Gina Drayer
I hope you enjoyed Playing the Game. Please check out my other titles
Modern Girl’s Guid Series:
Vacation Flings (Beth and Matt’s story)
One-Night Stands (Julia and Simon’s Story)
Friends with Benefits (Megan and Peter’s story)
Kink (Kim and Cash’s Story)
Office Romance (Kira and Jason’s story)
Modern Girl Quickies
Hostile Takeover (Holly’s story)
Networking (Jesse’s story)
Spin-off Series
Martinis After Dark: A Bernadette’s Bar Book (Dylon and Lee’s Story)