Page 4 of The Right Player
I mumbled under my breath, and Gemma quirked a brow. “What did you just say?”
“I said stupid potato-headed motherfucker,” I repeated.
Zach barked out a laugh. “Do all your exes get adorable pet names like that?”
“He’s not my ex,” I defended, crossing my arms. “And I didn’t realize his head looked like a potato until he was breaking up with me.”
“Convenient timing,” Zach commented.
I flicked him off.
“Hey, I’m sorry,” Gemma said sincerely, leaving Zach’s arms to wrap hers around me, instead. She rested her chin on my head as I leaned into her. “Did you tell him you didn’t want to split up?”
“No. What would the point be? He wants something serious.”
“And you don’t?” she asked. “Even after more than a year of being with him?”
“You already know the answer to that.”
Gemma sighed softly, patting my arm. Not many people in my life knew the real reasons why I blew off any kind of relationship, but Gemma was one of them. The poor girl had known me and my college ex well. We’d always hung out with her and Carlo, a little foursome, double dating all the time and being all sorts of adorable.
Gemma and Carlo got engaged right after college, and I just knew that the ring from Nathan would come next.
Instead, he dumped me.
You’re a good time, Belle, but you’re not exactly the girl you take home to Mom, if you know what I mean…
And I did. I knew exactly what he meant.
I was good for sex, for fun, for spring break and frat parties and wearing his jersey number while I screamed like a little fan girl in the stands at every single game he played. And that’s where the road ended for me.
It was a moment in my life that could have destroyed me. And, though I’d deny this to anyone who ever asked, other than Gemma — it did break me. For months, I wallowed and felt sorry for myself and tortured myself replaying every minute of my and Nathan’s relationship. I was searching for clues, for the errors I made, for what I did that was so bad that he had filed me into a category where a ring and a wedding and a little house full of babies was off the table.
But then, I had an epiphany.
What if that wasn’t the life I was supposed to live?
What if, for me, my work was my husband? What if I could have all the fun that goes along with being in a relationship — the laughter, the butterflies, the excitement of kissing for the first time, the knock-your-socks-off sex — and then… because the shoe fits… I take myself out of the picture, and continue living my kick ass life while the guy goes off and gets hitched, or whatever he decides to do?
Suddenly, being the good time girl didn’t sound so bad.
At least, that’s what I told myself.
From that moment on, I wore that badge of disgrace like it was a badge of honor, instead.
I wouldn’t be just a good time, I would the best damn time any guy I hooked up with would ever have.
And I’d never have to make them breakfast in the morning.
“It’s his loss,” Zach chimed in. “On to the next, right?”
“Damn straight. And,” I added, holding up one finger. “I’m going to add doctors to my list of Never Ever Ever Again Will You Ever Even Consider This Type of Man. Right under football players.”
Zach smirked at that. He was the only football player I tolerated, and it was probably because he didn’t play anymore — except to toss the ball around with Gemma, which was actually quite adorable.
“Oh! What if…” Gemma framed my arms, and I knew before she said another word that I wouldn’t agree with whatever she was about to propose. “What if we got you on a dating app.”
“I’m already on them.”
“I mean to actually date someone,” she expanded. “I know you’re El Presidente of the Single Forever Club, but what if you just tried it?” Her expression softened. “A lot has changed since college, Belle. You don’t have to play this role forever.”
“I like this role,” I pointed out, tapping each finger. “Hot sex, no one telling me what to do or where to be, no one complaining that I work too much, no one to take care of when they’re sick or just being a baby.”
No one to take care of me, I thought, but I didn’t say that one out loud.
“Maybe it’s time for a change,” Zach offered, and the word crawled over me like a dozen cockroaches, eliciting a shiver and grimace.
Change.
Why does everything have to change?
“It’s fine,” I said finally, hopping out of my seat. I grabbed a mug from the cabinet and filled it to the top with black coffee. “By the end of the week, I’ll have a new, hotter, better player in rotation.” I pointed at the two of them. “Just you wait and see.”
