Page 37 of Sticking Out

“I think you’ll like her. I’ll introduce you when she comes back. She’s a professional dancer. Well, not yet anyway, she’s still in college.” He holds his hands up. “Don’t go there, she’s not as young as you think. She had to take some time off for personal reasons.”

It sounds like he really likes her and he looks hopeful that we’ll be friends. Wait, were the other WAGs not friendly? I seriously doubt that. That’s not how things are done with this group.

“Dani, come on in!” Zoe yells.

“I am being summoned. I’ll catch up with you guys later.” He walks away, and I move to the end of the pool. I sit and take off my wrap, sliding right into the water. Melanie comes swimming over with Zoe.

“Did you meet Knox’s girlfriend?” I ask, my conversation with Knox leaving me curious.

“No, I was in the water. I only saw her for a second. Why?”

“I don’t know. He just really wanted me to like her.”

“I’m sure she’s lovely.”

I spot Noah tossing Camryn into the air. “Toss me, Dani. Toss me like that.”

“I don’t think I can,” I say, and that’s when Conner gets into the pool and swims up to me. “I’ll toss you.”

I take one look at his face, and instantly sense something is wrong. Surely to God he wasn’t jealous that I was talking to Knox. He gathers Zoe and lightly tosses her. She surfaces and he picks her up again. He slicks his hair off his face, and my heart does a little flutter. He is so damn handsome, and as far as I’m concerned, the best-looking guy here.

Brighton comes swimming over as Noah climbs from the pool. “Who wants a drink?” he asks, as the bartender starts pouring some kind of punch into the cup. I laugh as Noah starts handing out straws.

“Let’s go drink,” I suggest, and as I swim to the side of the pool, my gaze goes to the stairs, to the woman opening the gate. Knox walks over to the pretty blonde and puts his arm around her back. He says something to her, and she looks my way, her smile dissolving when she sees me, and the man standing close to me. Is this why the guys called him over? I spin around to see Conner.

“It’s fine,” he says quickly. “The guys gave me the heads up.”

“Are you sure you’re fine?” He actually looks a bit shocked to see Summer, his ex-girlfriend, with Knox.

He shrugs. “I just haven’t seen her in a couple of years. She just disappeared from my life after…Alec. I can’t blame her. I was in a bad place.” She must have been in a bad place, when Conner just sort of deserted her, so lost in taking care of me after Alec. That must be why she missed a year or so of college. Damn, I really hope she’s okay. “I’m happy she’s with Knox. He’s a good guy.”

It’s clear he’s over her. There’s nothing in his words or his expression to suggest anything else. Either that or he’s a great actor.

I help Zoe from the water. “We should say hi.”

“Who are we saying hi to?” Zoe asks.

“An old friend.” I quickly tug on my cover up and grab a towel for Zoe. I wipe her face, and dry her off. Conner doesn’t bother with a towel. Instead, he lets the sun warm his body. Knox comes our way. He opens his mouth, to no doubt introduce Summer, but she speaks first.

“Conner.” She glances at me. “Dani. Nice to see you both again.”

Knox’s gaze goes back and forth between the three of us. “You guys know each other?”

“Yes,” Conner answers. “Nice to see you too, Summer.”

“Hi,” Zoe chirps.

Summer frowns as she glances at Zoe. “Is she…wait…no…unless...”

Summer was still dating Conner when I lost my baby, and I can see she’s struggling to put it all together. “We’re babysitting for a friend. This is Zoe.”

“Hi Zoe.” After greeting sweet Zoe, Summer’s head lifts and her gaze moves over us, a careful assessment. I consider what she sees: the close way Conner is standing beside me, the warmth between us, and likely the little sparks my body gives off whenever his fingers brush against me. While we might be pretending, faking a real relationship, there is nothing fake in the way this man affects me. Can everyone see that? Is this why everyone thinks we’re good together?

Her eyes narrow and she doesn’t at all look surprised as she waves a finger between Conner and me. “So, you two…”

Conner puts his arm around me. “Yes.”

An unexpected, almost hurt laugh bubbles in her throat and she quickly gets control of it. Her eyes seem to hold a hint of pain as she averts her gaze. “Always wanting what the other has,” she murmurs under her breath. At least I think that’s what she said.

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