Page 66 of The Player's Club

I sighed, irritated with myself. I’d always prided myself on being rational. Logical. I didn’t let emotions get in the way.

But it felt like they were constantly clouding my judgment lately. I needed to get control of myself before things got worse.

I drank one glass of whiskey and then another. I was considering having a third when my doorbell rang.

It was Elodie. I glanced at my watch. I hadn’t realized it’d already been three hours since I’d been at her place.

“I thought you were going to call,” I said, stepping aside to let her in.

“I thought it’d be better to talk in person.”

I grunted and led her to the living room. I offered her a drink, but she declined. I decided to put the whiskey bottle away. I didn’t need to get drunk with Elodie here.

She sat down and wiped her palms against her jeans. “About Todd,” she began.

I raised an eyebrow. “You don’t owe me an explanation, you know.”

“I know. But I want to give you one. Like I said, we’re friends. We talked for a bit, and then he left.”

“He didn’t try to make a pass at you?” I tried to sound like I was joking, but the joke fell flat based on Elodie’s expression.

“No, not at all. He did ask me questions about you, though.”

I grimaced. “And what did you tell him?”

“That my relationship with you was between you and me. And after that, he didn’t ask me again.”

I snorted. Todd was a better man than me. Then again, it didn’t sound like he wanted to fight for Elodie, which pissed me off for some strange reason. What man in his right mind wouldn’t fight for a woman like her? How fucking stupid was this Todd guy?

“I first met Todd in high school,” Elodie said, forcing me to pay attention again. “We dated for a bit in tenth grade, then got back together after college. We’ve known each other for a long time.” She sighed. “He was there for me after my mom died. I was just eighteen, you know. Barely an adult. Todd and his family were kind to me. I didn’t have any other family around to help me.”

“Didn’t you say that your mom’s family lives in the city?”

“Yeah, but I don’t know them. Never did growing up. So I guess what I’m trying to say is that Todd represented a big part of my life. Our romantic relationship has ended, but it’s not so easy for either of us to completely let go. We grew up together, in a way. Does that make sense?”

I suddenly felt guilty because my reaction earlier had clearly made Elodie feel like she needed to explain herself. I also realized I was being a huge hypocrite. I’d run back to Caroline’s side after I’d found out she was dying, and we hadn’t been together in a decade.

“I’m sorry,” I said finally. “I was an asshole.”

“A little bit.” Elodie’s lips quirked.

I took her hand, needing to feel her touch. “We both have baggage, don’t we? Here I’m snarling about your ex-boyfriend when I went to see my ex in the hospital without telling you.”

Elodie tensed. “Like you said, we never agreed to be monogamous.”

I wanted to tell her she was wrong, which was insane. I didn’t understand my own feelings. Me. I’d prided myself on always being in control, but I couldn’t control my own emotions.

“I guess we just have to be patient with each other,” Elodie mused.

I snorted. “That’s too simple of a solution, clearly.”

“Well, it’s better than you breaking Todd’s kneecaps.”

“I wasn’t going to break his kneecaps.”

“Oh really? You were pissed, Cole Mackenzie. Don’t even act like you weren’t.”

“I wasn’t going to break his kneecaps, but I might’ve punched him,” I joked.