Page 13 of Those Heartbreak Scars

“They might still be down by the pool.” I’ll probably be able to see them from the balcony if they are. But the condom I hoped we used seems like wishful thinking.

Shit. How could I be so careless?

“Oh. Right.” Her face falls. Standing, she finds her clutch. “I need to go. I’ll collect them on my way out.”

“America?”

“Can we please pretend like last night never happened?” A flash of emotion disappears behind bright eyes.

She’s embarrassed? Regretting how we behaved? “I don’t think we can. We didn’t use a condom, and I—"

“I’m on the pill, Gray. You have nothing to worry about.” She rolls her eyes. “So let’s put it behind us. It never happened.”

“I think that’s for the best.” What else is there to say? It’s all fucking awkward.

She takes out her phone, probably checking to see if her friend has reached out. “Great. We’re on the same page then. I have to go.”

“You should have my new number.”

“You changed it?” That gets her attention. She does something on her phone. “What is it?”

I rattle the number off and she enters it into her device before slipping it back into her clutch.

“I’ll text you,” I say. “You text me too. Tell me all about what you decide to do now that you’re not going to school. I want to hear about what you’re up to. I want to be able to call you and talk to you. I want to be your friend again. It doesn’t have to be complicated.”

Not because we fell into bed or because of her best friend. It can be simple. I enjoy her company. Our conversations. And I’m not going to be awkward about that.

Her lips part and then she rubs them together. She walks to the door. “I’ll text you then.”

I hold the door open for her. Last night was a mistake, but keeping in contact isn’t. “I look forward to it.”

Chapter Six

America

“Is she ready?” Everett’s voice reaches me inside my closet where I’m picking out an outfit for tonight. I’m debating between a gold dress with ruffles that looks lush against my dark complexion and a jewel toned purple jumpsuit that happens to be a personal favorite.

“Is she ever?” Dove responds with a voice full of cheekiness.

Everett chuckles. “All the best things are worth waiting for.”

“Boy, you know all the right things to say, don’t you?” Dove’s voice grows louder as they walk toward my room. Her tone implies a hint of the eyeroll she’s most likely aiming at his broad back. “America, your date is here.”

“Just in time.” I pop my head out of the closet, a big smile plastered to my already made-up face as they enter the room.

Everett stares at me in my blush-colored lingerie. His jaw slack, he places a hand over his heart as his eyes drink in the crisscrossed lace from bra to panties and the tiny garter belt, suspenders, and stockings. Dove bounces her white ass onto my bed, looking like she’s planning to stay awhile.

I turn my attention back to the closet. “Since you’re both here, you can help me choose what to wear.”

“Yes,” Everett says, his gaze glued to me. “I could die a happy man right here and now, Lucky Charm.”

“Please don’t,” Dove says dryly, fluffing my satin pillows. “I don’t know how to get dead man out of the carpet. We won’tget back our deposit. Plus what would we tell the Cardinals’ management if their favorite player kicked the bucket instead of a goal?”

I narrow my gaze at my friend as I cross the bedroom to hug the man I’ve been dating for a few weeks now. The star soccer player walked into Beans-A-Plenty, I made him an espresso, and he decided he wanted me enough to come in every day until I said yes to dinner.

That dinner led to dinner every night, except for game nights. All of which the Cardinals have won since we met. He calls me his Lucky Charm because he says with me by his side he can’t put a foot wrong.

That’s why he wants me at this dinner meeting, even though we’ve been keeping our relationship on the downlow. So far we’ve been successful at avoiding the media. I haven’t met his teammates or their WAGS yet.

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