Page 41 of The Trouble with Players

“Why?”

“Because, like I told you last night, I wanted to see you here tonight.”

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

I pulled in a breath, trying not to be so contrary, and followed Crew off the dance floor and out the back door. A few people lingered on the patio as he led me out onto the beach. I stopped, slipping off my heels and kicking them to the side where no one would step on them. Crew did the same before we walked down toward the water. “Wanna sit or keep walking?”

“It’s up to you,” I said. “You’re the one who wanted to leave.”

“Didn’t you?” he challenged.

“Obviously. I hate this stuff.”

“Then why’d you come?”

I walked on the wet sand along the shoreline trying to avoid the water. “Gina asked me to.”

“So, let me get this straight. If Gina asks you for something, you do it?”

“Pretty much.”

“Why?”

“Because I trust her wholeheartedly.”

“Must be nice to have someone like that,” he said. “Is she the only one?”

I considered his question as the waves crashed at our feet. “Besides my mom, yes.”

“I’m here too,” he offered.

I balked. “Not for long.”

“We go to the same school.”

I stopped and looked at him. “You said it yourself. We don’t run in the same circles.”

“We could,” he said.

“Right.”

“Oh, I’m sorry. Are you more of a football groupie?”

I groaned and continued walking.

“What?” he asked, keeping pace with me.

“Don’t ever call me a groupie. I’m a football fan,” I said with the emphasis on fan.

“Football players suck.”

“Seren Grayson’s one of my friends.”

“Oh, so you’re crushing on the quarterback,” he said.

“We’re just friends,” I assured him.

“You said it yourself. Guys and girls can’t just be friends.”

---