Page 43 of Still Love You

I finish the day, not hearing a word from Willow. I'm late meeting Trent because of traffic. He's already on the court, shooting baskets. He gets off work at four. He has a summer job maintaining the golf course at a country club. He basically rides around on a lawn mower all day and flirts with the rich girls who are members. It's the perfect job for him. Easy, low stress, and daytime hours, leaving his nights free to party.

To some people, Trent and I seem like unlikely friends. He was a popular football player at a large high school and I went to a very small private school. He's loud and likes being the center of attention whereas I'm more of a laid-back observer.

I could go on and on about our differences, but the thing we have in common is that we don't bullshit. That's why we're friends. He doesn't pretend to be someone else or say what he knows you want to hear. He's honest to the point it turns some people off, but it's what I like best about him. Even with girls, he doesn't put on a phony act. He tells them up front that he's not looking for a relationship and yet he finds plenty of girls who still want to date him.

"You're late," he says, tossing me the ball.

"Yeah? So?" I shoot and miss. I'm not great at basketball. Surfing is my sport, but I haven't been able to get in the water since being back in town. All my time has been spent working or hanging out with Willow.

"It's freaking hot today." Trent rips his shirt off. He's got the start of a beer gut forming after spending two years at college. He goes to UC-Santa Barbara, studying communications. I have no idea why he picked that for a major. He doesn't know either. He just had to pick something. He wants to go into sales, so he really didn't need a college degree but his parents are making him go.

It does feel hot. I take my shirt off.

"What the hell?" he says, pointing at me. "You been working out twenty-four hours a day?"

"It's called physical labor. Gets you more in shape than any gym workout will."

"I would've worked construction this summer if I'd known I'd look like that."

"It's not too late."

"Nah. I like the country club. Surrounded by money. Hot girls. Fancy cars. And I get all the free golf I want." He shoots and the ball hits the backboard but doesn't go in. "You should golf with me sometime. I can get you a free round."

"Sounds good. Just let me know when." I don't golf, but it's free so why not? It's something to do.

That's a perk of being friends with Trent. He always gets stuff for free. He knows a lot of people and makes friends wherever he goes and they're always hooking him up with free stuff.

He throws me the ball as two girls walk by. He's staring at them, not caring if they notice. They're tall and thin, wearing bikini tops and cutoff shorts. And they're blond, which is Trent's preferred hair color on women.

"Hey, ladies," he says, smiling at them. "Care to join us?"

They saunter over to us.

"I'm Tess," the one girl says. She has bigger breasts than the other girl and they're spilling out of her top. "And this is Tana."

"Nice to meet you, Tess and Tana," Trent says, eyeing them like he wants them both. "I'm Trent and this is my friend, Silas."

"Hi, Silas," Tess says with a flirtatious smile, her gaze slowly moving down my body. 

I say hi back but I'm not sure she heard me. Tana is also checking me out. I almost laugh when I see the irritated look on Trent's face.

"So what are you ladies up to tonight?" he asks.

"We're going dancing at a club," Tana says.

"Need some company?" he asks.

"It's girls' night. No boys allowed," Tess says, her eyes moving back up to my face. "Can I see your phone?"

"It's in my truck."

She lays her palm on my chest and smiles. "You have a truck? I love a guy with a truck."

"I have an SUV," Trent says.

She ignores him and takes out her phone. "Give me your number and I'll call you so you have mine."

"I have a girlfriend," I lie. Trent shoots me an irritated look. "But Trent's single."

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