Page 55 of Anyone But Her

"I doubt it. I'm not smart when it comes to book stuff. I've never been good at school. But I kick ass at golf so at least I have that."

"You think you'll go pro this year?"

"Probably not. I don't have the money. The tournament fees alone are more than I can afford. I can barely pay my coach. And now I have to save up money for a place to live. I'm going to have to get a job and put off going pro until I can afford to compete again."

I feel bad for him. Losing Albert was hard enough but now he might lose his chance to play professionally. It's really expensive to play in tournaments, even smaller tournaments, and then you have travel expenses. Someone like Luke can't afford all that. Most people can't, which is why it's so hard to make golf a career.

"But don't you have a deal with WaveField?" I ask. "My friend, Lilly, said her brother's putting you in some commercials."

"Just one, and it may not even happen. When I signed the contract it was assuming I'd be golfing professionally by now. I can't work for them as an amateur."

"You could still do a commercial for them. Do it for something other than golf, like maybe fitness equipment. Have you asked Garret about that?"

"No, but I will. Cal had the same suggestion."

"I bet Garret would agree to it. He really wants to work with you. He might even sponsor you once you go pro."

"He mentioned that when we first talked but now that I might have to take some time off from golf I'm not sure what that'll mean for the sponsorship."

"Just start with the commercial and see how it goes. I have a feeling it'll lead to more."

He smiles. "You going to sit down?"

Realizing I've been standing this whole time I sit down in the chair next to the couch. It's a wicker chair and I've never liked it. It's really uncomfortable but I can't sit by Luke on the couch. It's a small couch and being that close to him would be trouble.

"So how was the rest of the school year?" he asks.

"Good." I look at him. He's not the Luke I'm used to. That Luke was always smiling and joking around. The Luke I'm seeing now seems really sad, even though he's doing his best to hide it. It hurts me to see him this way.

"How'd you do in your classes?" he asks, taking another slice of pizza.

"Luke."

"Yeah?"

"You can talk to me."

He lets out a laugh. "Isn't that what we're doing? Talking?"

"I mean, you can talk to me about what's going on with you. How you feel after losing Albert. I know we're not that close and maybe you'd rather talk to my brother, but if you want to talk to me, you can."

He sets the pizza down. "I'd rather talk to you. Strange as it sounds I feel closer to you than to him. Maybe because Cal and I don't talk about stuff like this. But you and I did. Those weeks we were talking on the phone I told you stuff I haven't told many people."

I remember those conversations. He told me about his parents and how they treated him growing up and how Albert and golf were the only good things in his life.

"Why'd you tell me that stuff?" I ask. "Why me and not someone else?"

He shrugs. "I guess I find you easy to talk to."

Or is it because there's something between us we're not willing to admit? Something that goes beyond just attraction?

"So talk to me." I adjust myself in the chair.

"You should move. That chair sucks."

I laugh. "You're right. It does suck. My mom was going for a tropical look out here in the guest house but it didn't come out very well, especially with these wicker chairs."

"Is that why she has pineapples everywhere?" he asks, referring to the ceramic pineapple on the coffee table, the pineapple lamps, and the pineapple painting behind his head. "To go with the theme?"

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