Page 14 of The Trouble with Players

He hitched his head toward the coolers. I followed him, passing by Crew and a girl I didn’t recognize on his lap. I’d like to say I didn’t initiate…but I couldn’t help myself.

“Just curious,” I said, slowing to look the girl in the eyes. “Can you still smell my perfume?”

“What?” she asked, looking me up and down.

I looked to Crew. I expected rage but instead found amusement.

I shrugged. “The guy gets around. And snores.” I looked to Sam standing confused beside me. “I’ll have that drink now.”

“You’re not hooking up with Burke, are you?” Sam asked.

“God, no. I just like pissing him off.”

We grabbed another beer and spent the rest of the night hanging with Gina and Cody away from the others.

Cody checked his phone and panicked. “Shit!”

I looked at my phone and saw it was nearing midnight. “Looks like Cinderella needs to get home.” As soon as the words left my lips, my eyes shot to where Crew had been sitting. Dammit.

I jumped to my feet. “I gotta go, too.”

“Cody’s gonna bring me home,” Gina explained.

“I can drive you,” Sam offered.

“Would you mind?” I asked, knowing he’d get me home faster than if I walked.

“Not at all.”

“I’ll see you tomorrow,” I said to Gina before rushing toward the parking lot.

Sam opened the passenger door of an expensive sports car. “Is this yours?” I asked as I slipped into the front seat.

“Nah. My host family’s loaded, and they let me use their car,” he explained as he shut my door. “Where to?” he asked once he settled into the driver’s seat.

“I’m just on the other end of the beach.”

He pulled out of the parking lot and we were on our way. “It’s beautiful here.”

“This is your first time on the Cape League?”

His eyes moved between me and the road. “Yeah. I sucked last year and didn’t get invited.”

“Ah, so you admit you’re not always awesome.”

He chuckled. “When are we hanging out again?”

My head swiveled to meet his gaze. “Did I say we were hanging out again?”

“No. But I know we will.”

“You know?”

He nodded. “You hate baseball players and I’m not looking for anything with anyone. We’re the perfect bromance.”

“I’m not a bro.”

He laughed. “You know what I mean.”

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