Page 25 of Anyone But Her

"I think he's 20."

"Where does he go to school?"

"He doesn't. He left college to try to play golf professionally." I glance out the window and see my family talking to Luke. How am I going to survive this golf game? It'll take at least four hours to play eighteen holes. Four whole hours with this guy? I can't even breathe around him! I need to get control of myself. I can't let him get to me. I just need to focus on my game and ignore him. "We better get out there."

We go outside and I introduce Lilly to my family.

"Taylor said you're a swimmer," my mom says to Lilly.

"Yes, but I haven't spent much time in the pool since I got here. School's been keeping me busy."

"Do you golf?" my dad asks. He asks everyone that. You get bonus points if you golf.

"I do," Lilly says, "but I'm not very good. But my dad and brother are. They go all the time. They own a sporting goods store so they have all the latest equipment."

"What store?" Luke asks. I like his voice. It's deep and manly.

"WaveField," Lilly says. "They have stores all over the country."

"I love WaveField," he says. "It's my favorite store. They have one in Phoenix."

Phoenix?Luke lives in San Diego. Why did he mention Phoenix? Is he planning to move there? He can't move there. If he lived there he'd be at my house all the time hanging out with Cal. He'd be there when I'm home on school breaks. I wouldn't be able to relax.

"If it's your favorite store you should be on the commercials," Lilly says in a kidding tone.

"I'd actually be interested in that," Luke says. "I'm trying to get my name out there."

"I can't promise you anything, but I could talk to my dad about it. He'll be here in like an hour."

"That'd be great. Thanks." Luke smiles and two dimples appear, one in each cheek. I love a guy with dimples. They're my weakness.

My heart's beating fast again. Too fast. I'm getting breathless.

"We should get going," my mom says.

Or I think she said that. I'm not sure. I can't focus on anything other than Luke, who is NOT supposed to look like that. He's supposed to be dorky, like my brother, not hot with a deep voice and dimples.

I feel Lilly nudge my side and quickly take my eyes off Luke, realizing I'd been staring.

"Are you guys going golfing?" Lilly asks me.

"Yeah. After breakfast."

Breakfast?We're not going to breakfast. Why did I say that? I can't even think right now. Words are spilling out of my mouth but I don't know what I'm saying.

"I want to see Taylor's putting skills." Luke smiles at me. "I hear she's better than her brother."

"Maybe," Cal says, "but I'm better on the fairway."

"You need to improve your short game," Luke says. "That's what'll win you the tournament." Luke looks at me. "Maybe you could give me some pointers?"

Is it just me or did that sound flirty? What am I thinking? He's Cal's friend. He wouldn't flirt with his friend's little sister. And yet I swear that sounded flirty.

Lilly nudges me and I realize I didn't answer Luke's question. What was the question? I forgot. Oh! Golf tips! Short game.

"Yeah," I say. "Of course."

Cal looks offended. "The guy's playing against me. You're not supposed to help him."