The Name of the Game by Jennifer Dawson Read Free Book Online

dinner.
    Gracie blinked, realizing Maddie was still talking.
    â€œWe asked what happened, but all he would say was that they were no longer together. He refused to say why the relationship ended.” She turned her extremely cute but worried face toward Shane. “Has he even seen her since then? Or is this the first time?”
    Shane shrugged. “I have no idea. You know how he is.”
    Questions burned in Gracie’s brain, but, afraid they’d tumble out and reveal her unnatural curiosity, she pressed her lips together and prayed Maddie would fill in the silence. When she didn’t, Gracie coolly turned her attention to the menu. “Interesting.”
    â€œWhat’s interesting?” James asked from behind her, making her jump, thus explaining why Maddie hadn’t elaborated. He slid into the empty seat next to Gracie.
    Silence filled the table as they all looked at him.
    He raised a brow.
    Gracie waited for Shane or Maddie to say something, but they didn’t.
    The silence grew.
    â€œWhat’s going on?” James asked, his tone filled with suspicion.
    â€œNothing,” Maddie said, straightening in her chair.
    More awkward silence.
    Something broke inside Gracie and, per usual, her mouth ran away with her. “We were talking about you and your ex-girlfriend. They’re worried you’re going to freak out over seeing her.”
    The whole table gaped at her, and heat crawled up her neck. She tilted her chin and said before she put any thought into it, “And what kind of name is Lindsey Lord? Is she a stripper?”
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    James blinked at Gracie, a smile threatening at the corners of his mouth. He raised a brow. “Stripper?” The idea of the refined Lindsey circling a stripper pole was laughable. Lindsey was so far from anything resembling a porn star, the notion was preposterous. She was refined, highly intelligent, and very well respected in her field. “She’s a physicist at the University of Chicago.”
    Gracie frowned and waved her hand through the air. “Same difference.”
    James laughed, and her eyes widened in surprise. “Hardly. But I can assure you I’m not about to freak out.”
    Shane drained half a glass of water before he said, “Yeah, you never do.”
    Maddie leaned forward, her expression concerned. “Do you want to talk about it?”
    â€œThere’s nothing to talk about.” James turned to his menu, hoping to close the subject. They’d assumed Lindsey had ended their relationship and left him heartbroken, and he’d never bothered to disabuse them of the notion. The truth was, he’d broken up with her and let people fill in the blanks as they chose. His rationale had been twofold: he’d wanted to protect her privacy, and it freed him from explaining his unexplainable actions.
    After five years together, Lindsey had wanted to get engaged. It made sense. On paper, she’d been perfect for him. She was smart, beautiful, and accomplished. They had the same interests, same educational background, were both in academia, and had the same values and life goals. Lindsey was about as perfect for him as a woman could get, but something had been missing. Every time he’d planned on buying an engagement ring, he hadn’t been able to walk into the store.
    He’d searched his mind for what it was and couldn’t come up with a sound justification for his apathy. The only thing he’d been able to pinpoint was that he’d never looked at her the way his dad had looked at his mom. An abstract reason, but true, nonetheless. His world had been pleasant when she’d been around. He’d enjoyed her company. But the sun didn’t rise and fall because of her, and in the end, it wasn’t enough.
    No one had ever guessed he’d been the one to break her heart. She’d been devastated, he’d felt horrible, and letting people think she’d dumped him