The Perfect Game(80)

My jaw unclenched as it fell open.







I drove the short distance to my hotel, tears blurring my vision the entire way. It’s amazing I didn’t have a freaking wreck. When I pulled into the hotel parking lot, I turned off the engine and dialed Melissa’s number.

“Tell me everything,” she screamed into the phone.

“Well, I didn’t stop the wedding,” I admitted, my voice cracking.

“Oh God, what happened? Did you see him? Did he see you? Did you talk to him?”

“I saw him. We talked. I told him not to marry her. He said he loved me, and then he left with her. He said he couldn’t call off the wedding, that this was something he had to do.” I choked back a sob as I stared out the windshield into the night, seeing nothing.

“I’m so sorry, Cassie. I honestly thought that if he saw you, it would change things.”

“Me too.”

“Hey, I’m proud of you. I’m really fucking proud of you. The old Cassie would have never done this. She would have never put aside being wronged to try to win him back.”

“Well, the old Cassie never had Jack Carter to lose.”

“No regrets, right?”

“No regrets,” I repeated.





EIGHTEEN



JACK



It killed me to leave Cassie standing alone in that empty parking lot. I watched her as I drove away, tears streaming down her beautiful face. It took every ounce of my self-control to keep my foot on the gas pedal, when all I wanted to do was turn around and be with her.

Seeing her tonight almost broke me. I’d do anything for her, be anything she wants me to be. Because she deserves nothing less than everything.

But I always find a way to fuck things up. And Cassie Andrews was no exception. I had the best damn girl in the world, and I threw it all away. Just like that jerk Jared said I would, the night of my first date with Cassie.

I pulled my car into the garage next to Chrystle’s and hopped out to look for Dean. “Hey, little brother! Where are you?” I shouted from the entryway.

“What’s up?” Dean yawned as he walked out of the guest bedroom, his dark hair sticking up in every direction.

“Can I talk to you out back?” I glanced at Chrystle, who pretended to yawn.

“You won’t be long, will you, Jack?” she asked, her voice nauseatingly light and airy.

“Go to bed without me, Chrystle. I’ll be there soon.” I forced a smile, dreading each moment I had to spend with her.

Dean and I walked out into the warm Alabama air and sat in two lawn chairs side by side.

“You nervous for tomorrow?” Dean asked with a slight grin.

I turned to look at him. “A little.” Then I cut to the chase. “Did you know Cassie’s here?”

I watched Dean’s eyes widen. “Excuse me? What do you mean, she’s here?”

“She was waiting for me in the parking lot after my game tonight.”

“Shit.” Dean looked at me with worry.

“You didn’t know? I was certain you knew.”

“I had no idea, Jack. I swear. I would have given you a heads-up or something if I knew.” His eyes widened. “Which is why, of course, they didn’t tell me.”

“They who?”

“Melissa and Cassie. They were acting weird all week, but they didn’t say why.”

“Does she ever talk about me,” I asked, putting my brother on the spot.

“Not when I’m around,” he answered and I nodded with understanding. “So what did she say?”

I shrugged my shoulders and leaned toward him. “She asked me not to get married tomorrow.”

“She flew all the way out here to ask you that? She could’ve just called.” I watched as Dean eyed the second-story window where my bedroom was. His eyes searched for something before landing back on mine.

I laughed. “I told her the same thing.”

“That sucks.” Dean shook his head. “I know this is killing her.”

I felt my face tighten with his words. “I’m pretty sure it’s killing both of us.”

“Then why are you doing it? I mean, don’t do it. Don’t marry Chrystle.” I knew it was hard for Dean to be supportive of my marriage to Chrystle, but sometimes his irritation with me bubbled over, like now.

“It’s a little late for that, don’t you think?”

“Look, I get why you’re doing it. I just wish you wouldn’t. I know you still love Cassie.”

My eyes narrowed and I clenched my jaw. “Of course I fucking love Cassie. But I cheated on her and got someone else pregnant. I’ll spend the rest of my life loving the one person I can’t have. That’s my punishment for hurting her.”