Playing For Love Read Online Free

married until tomorrow evening.”
    “I'll try to get it pushed back another day.” Her voice was tired. She was exasperated with me and the situation I had created. “Does she know about any of this yet? The pictures from the club? This media push you've arranged?”
    “No, not yet. I'm gonna tell her in the morning,” I muttered.
    Eventually, she said, “David, don't. You're twisted up over this girl, and some part of you is terrified she'll leave. Probably the same part that hasn't mentioned you arranged all this two days ago. Listen to that part of yourself.” She paused, then asked, “If things got bad between you two, would you still want to be with her?”
    “Yes. Absolutely,” I answered without hesitation. 
    “Then don't tell her until after you're married. It's better to ask forgiveness than permission.”
    “I can't lie to her. I won't.”
    “You already did about the car.”
    “I didn't lie… outright. I omitted.”
    “How mad was she?”
    “She got over it after a few minutes.”
    “Wow.” She fell silent for a moment. “Maybe you can find the one just like that. I guess I need to start going to the grocery store,” she muttered then abruptly shifted back to business mode. “Am I handling her P.R. on this or does she have someone? Is she handling her social media accounts?”
    “No, you are. I don't want anyone else involved.”
    “Her social media accounts? She handles those herself, right?”
    “She doesn't have any—that I could find.”
    “You're going to ask her, right?” Her question was more of an accusation.
    I really didn't want to. I didn't want to risk the questions that it would bring up. “Umm... yeah. I will. Go ahead and make her accounts and handle them.”
    “David—”
    “I forwarded my calls to Aaron, so call me on Austin's phone. I'll text you her number,” I cut her off.
    “What if it's something that needs your immediate attention?”
    “I have her phone.”
    “Does she know that?”
    “It's fine, Elaine. She won't be surprised.”
    “I've known you eight years and I've never had to work so hard for you. And I've never seen you behave like this.”
    “Never wanted anything, not like I want her. Do what you can to get it pushed back another day.” 
    She sighed. “Talk soon.”
    “Yep.” I ended the call and put my phone away, hoping Austin fell back to sleep. When I pulled her phone out of my pocket to program Elaine's number and text her Austin's, it showed four missed calls and three texts. All from her mom.
    Fuck .
    I texted her back.
     
    Austin: I have her phone. Austin
    doesn't know you're coming.
    I'd like it to be a surprise.
    You got the flight info?
    12:15 AM
     
    What the fuck was I thinking? Of course her mother was going to check. Of course she wasn’t going to take some stranger’s word for it.
    I impulsively sent her mother a pic of us, one I took when Austin was sleeping. After I sent it, I looked at it again and realized it could be kinda creepy. Me awake, Austin asleep. I needed to win her mother over, not freak her the fuck out.
     
    Austin: Sorry, it’s David. And that's
    a little creepy I guess.
    12:20 AM
     
    Mom: I received the flight
    info. And if she is sleeping in the
    same bed with you, then it's serious.
    12:21 AM
     
    I was glad I listened to my instinct to hide her clothes that first night. And I couldn't help but wonder if she had gotten up, looking for them, trying to leave. I thought if she had, I would've woken, but now I wasn't so sure. But she hadn't tried to leave since, and she had access to everything if she wanted to.
    Fuck, my abandonment issues are in full effect.
    I set the ice aside and turned my phone off. Then I silenced hers and took off my T-shirt, wrapping both phones in it. I didn't want her finding them if she got up during the night. Domineering? Maybe, but I wasn't risking anything giving her second thoughts.
    I curled around her, settling in. 
    “What are you hiding, David?” Her voice was