Page 60 of The Trouble with Players

“You can tell me anything. But I’m talking about someone qualified to help you and give you more ways to cope,” he explained.

“I’ll make you a promise. If it gets too much for me to handle, I’ll look into it.”

“Okay.”

And, though I agreed to it, I knew I’d be okay if I had Crew by my side.

* * *

“How much for this blue Cape Cod sweatshirt?”

I glanced up from my spot at the counter of the gift shop. Crew held up a sweatshirt that complemented his blue eyes. It had only been a couple of hours since he’d left me, but I knew he was there to check on me. “Twenty-five dollars.”

He dug into his pocket and tossed the cash down onto the counter.

I reached for it, but he placed his hand on mine. I glanced up. “How are you?” he asked.

“I’m good.”

He stared at me, looking for the truth.

“I’m fine,” I assured him.

“Your father left for Boston.”

“Left? Or you kicked him out?”

He smiled. “He said he had to work, but he planned to stay longer. He said it was better for everyone that way.”

“He wanted me to leave,” I explained. “That’s what started the argument.”

“I wouldn’t have let you.”

“Oh no?”

He shook his head. “Who am I gonna drive back to Alabama with?”

“That’s like a twenty-hour drive.”

“So?” he asked.

“So, that’s over twenty hours in a car together. I’m not sure I can handle that much of you.”

He laughed. “I’m pretty sure you can.”

I considered us driving that far together. A road trip definitely taught you a lot about someone. Would we argue the whole time or end up closer at the end?

“I have a surprise for you,” he said.

“You don’t have to do this.”

“Do what?” he asked.

“Do something because of what happened,” I said.

“I’m not doing anything because of what happened. I’m doing it because you’re my girlfriend, and I want to make you smile.”

The word girlfriend made my stomach flip over. Crew didn’t have girlfriends. “I don’t recall ever agreeing to be anyone’s girlfriend.”

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