Page 308 of Well Played

When was he heading back to San Diego? He still had to either extend the lease on his apartment or find a new, more permanent place to live. Thanks to his talent, his luck, and his agent, he had plenty of money to splurge on a house, one his family could stay in when they visited. He’d probably have to hire someone to decorate it, since his idea of home décor was a workable kitchen and a comfortable bed.

Maybe Lila would help him decorate. After all, women liked shopping and shit; he could ask her to help him. But then she might think there was something more between them. And there wasn’t.

Was there?

Grabbing his phone, he started scrolling through his messages. Some were from Terry, some from the team management, some from his friends and teammates. The one he was looking for was farther down the page.

Lila the Vampire.

Nando: Hey Angel, Happy New Year

Lila:Thanks

Nando: How is your day going?

Lila:Fine

Confused by her short remarks, he checked his watch, wondering if she was still at work. It was after 5; maybe she was driving home. That had to be it. He’d wait until after six and call her.

Dinner was at six sharp every night, so the call waited until just before seven. His brother was antsy, wanting to hit the clubsearly, before all the beautiful ladies were taken. Nando called from the car and got her voicemail:

“Hey angel, it’s me. I wanted to apologize… I know I’ve been kinda scarce, but uh… I just wanted to say hi and see if you wanted to get together when I got back into town…” he paused another moment, at a bit of a loss. “Anyway, give me a call or shoot me a text when you can. See you soon.”

He slid his phone into his pocket as he got out of the car. They were on the VIP list, of course, and headed into the club. Between the heavy bass of the music, and the lovely ladies that competed for his attention, his phone was the last thing on his mind.

11

He ghosted her. Mostly.

Lila couldn’t believe she fell for his bullshit. He texted her when he landed, but after that, barely anything; just a thumbs up here and there or ‘ok’. When she texted “Merry Christmas” and “Happy New Year,” all she got was a “Same” and another thumbs up. No pictures, no nothing. She shouldn’t have been surprised, but he seemed different.

He played her.

After the fourth message he left on read, she started losing hope. After the texts on Christmas and another on New Year’s Day, she realized he wasn’t into her that way. She amused him like one of the guys, but once he finally got her into bed, they were done. He was just waiting to end it. Getting out of town seemed to be the end.

She felt like such a fool.

It was near the end of the month when she finally got a call from him while driving home from work. Not willing to talk to him yet, she let it go to voicemail as she gathered her thoughts. She knew they didn’t actually have ‘that talk’ and she shouldn’t have expected anything from him, but over the last few monthsof going out, hanging out and spending time together, she hoped he’d started liking her as much as she liked him.

Who was she kidding? She fell for him. Hard.

He was funny, sweet, and thought he was a nice guy, but after he went home and the texts and calls dwindled, she thought maybe the feelings was all on her part.

Then again, this was his family time. Maybe his mom wanted him to focus on them instead of some girl he messed around with away from home. Maybe she was expecting too much from a guy she’d only been dating for a few months.

Pulling up to her place, she walked inside before putting her phone on speaker to listen to his voicemail.

“Hey angel, it’s me. I wanted to apologize… I know I’ve been kinda scarce, butuh… I just wanted to say hi and see if you wanted to get together when I got back into town… Anyway, give me a call or shoot me a text when you can. See you soon.”

Part of her heart went giddy as his voice came over the speaker, calling her ‘Angel.’ Then her mind took over with anger. How dare he act like he hadn’t been blowing her off for almost two months! She should give him a piece of her mind.

Her cousin would probably try to talk her down. Tell her to let him stew for a bit before calling him back. After all, ghosting could go both ways. Maybe she should have some dinner first, then call him back. Jo always teased her about how vicious she got when she was hangry.

A beer and a cheese sandwich first, then she’d call him back. It would give her time to figure out what she wanted to say to him. Or if she even wanted to say anything to him.

It was about an hour before she made the call.

The club was loud,too loud to hear a phone ring. Luckily Nando’s phone was on vibrate and he could see it chitter across the bar. One of the ladies around them picked up his phone.

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