His fingers pushed a strand of hair away from her face. “I’m sorry if I made you suppose that I couldn’t stand you. The reality is, I’m mad at myself.”

“Why?”

“As a result of I let myself need you. As a result of it doesn’t matter what I do, I can’t get you out of my thoughts.”

He needed me this entire time?

“I assumed being impolite to you’ll push you away. I used to be proper, however I might see I used to be hurting you unnecessarily. I instructed myself it didn’t matter so long as you have been secure.”

The sincerity in his inexperienced eyes was unmistakable. He actually seemed remorseful.

“Cliff …”

“I can’t be right here, Stella.”

“You possibly can’t?”

“I imply, right here. In Vegas.”

“Since you dwell in New York,” she acknowledged.

“Sure. But it surely’s not simply that.” Gently, he lifted her up and positioned her again within the passenger seat. “Bear in mind after I instructed you about how I used to be a professional MMA fighter?”

“Sure.” It was what that they had been chatting about proper earlier than he shut down once more. “What about it?”

“Effectively … I wasn’t only a fighter. I used to be the champ. Fought in arenas across the nation to defend my title. My final one was proper right here in Vegas, six years in the past. However one thing occurred. A scandal broke out.”

She wasn’t a sports activities or preventing fan, so she wouldn’t have stored up with the information, even when it was native. “I’m sorry, I don’t recall listening to or studying something about you.”

“You most likely don’t frequent The Strip,” he mentioned. “However that they had these large posters of me and my opponent.”

“I don’t perceive. What occurred? Did you retire?”

“Not fairly.” He took a deep breath. “This struggle was big, odds-wise, and in my favor. So, if my opponent gained, it could be an enormous payout for anybody who wager towards me.”

She was scared to ask him the following query on her thoughts, however she needed to know.

“And did he win?”

“Sure.” The disgrace that crossed his face was unmistakable. “And I misplaced on function.”

“No.” She lined her mouth along with her hand. “For the cash?”

“I want,” he guffawed. “It was for a girl. Somebody I assumed I used to be going to spend the remainder of my life with, however who ended up betraying me anyway ….”

As Cliff continued the story, Stella listened intently. Her fingers curled into her palms, nails biting into her pores and skin when he acquired to the half the place his ex-fiancée revealed her treachery.

Stella not often cursed in her life; she tried to keep away from it as it could deeply disappoint her dad and mom. However she supposed there have been instances when it was warranted, so she allowed herself the indulgence, simply this as soon as.

That bitch.

“… and since then, I haven’t stepped foot again right here. I couldn’t actually, not whereas the gaming board had their eyes on me.” He swallowed audibly, his Adams apple coming up and down his throat. “I do know it’s foolish. It’s not your fault you reside right here however?—”

“Shh … it’s okay.” She laid a land on his arm. “I’m not going to guage you. What you went via was extremely traumatic.” It stung that he disliked the place she lived, however she understood.

“It’s not nearly this place, however …” He sighed. “I can’t dwell right here, and also you mentioned you may by no means dwell wherever else. It doesn’t really feel proper if I let issues go too far between us, realizing this could simply be intercourse. I couldn’t do this to you. I couldn’t use you want that, deal with you such as you have been some woman I picked up at a bar or a membership and toss away as soon as we couldn’t make issues work. Sure, Charley and Devon would kill me, however you deserve higher than that, Stella.”

It took her just a few seconds to digest his phrases.

Supply: www.seynovel.com