Page 270 of Forbidden Billionaires: Vol. 9
“Yeah, Mila didn’t tell you?”
“She mentioned that you played football with her. And that you were really bad, but that’s about it.”
He laughed.
“I did not say that.” If Reggie wasn’t standing between us, I would have hit her. “I just told her we lost.”
Kristen shrugged. “Logical conclusion then.”
He turned back to me and smiled.
I noticed how he seemed more intent on looking at me than Kristen. I never knew with my lifeguard, but it was very clear with Reggie that this was supposed to be a date. It was refreshing. I thought I no longer knew the difference. But at the same time, it also made me feel horrible. He seemed really nice and he was definitely cute. But I had a thing for tall, dark, and handsome idiots.
“I don’t know if Kristen plays any football, but she plays volleyball and she’s a seriously amazing runner,” I said. “She runs like five miles every morning.”
“Oh really?” He turned back to her. “I run every morning too.”
“On the beach or the boardwalk?” she asked.
“The beach of course. Running in the sand is an even better workout.”
“I know! I can’t believe how many people I see running on the boardwalk. Amateurs.”
They were definitely hitting it off. I was starting to like running, but they were on a whole different level. I mean…what was wrong with running on the boardwalk? At least you wouldn’t get sand in your shoes.
“Well that was easy to find, I probably didn’t really need an escort,” I said as we stepped onto the boardwalk. The music could be heard as soon as I had exited my apartment. It would have been impossible to miss it. A huge stage had been erected on the beach and there was a live band playing music. At 8 a.m. none of this had been here. It was impressive how fast they’d put it together.
"Yeah, well, I wanted to make sure I got to see you again." Reggie smiled at me.
Stop it."Psh. But I sucked at football. Like…hard."
"You don't suck at football. It was ridiculously unfair that they put J.J. on you. He's one of the best players."
I sighed at the mention of J.J.’s name. And over the fact that Reggie was staring at me instead of Kristen again. “So where do you two want to sit?” I asked.
“Oh.” Reggie glanced at Kristen and then back at me. “The three of us? Well…” He looked around the crowd as we walked toward the stage.
I had technically told him Kristen would just be walking down to the party with us. I could tell he was confused, but couldn’t he see that he had more in common with Kristen?
There were at least a couple hundred people already there, sitting on blankets and beach chairs, and dancing near the stage. One extra person on our kind of date seemed perfectly normal in the chaos. Plus, I was going to flip it so that I was the third wheel.
"Sorry, I should have thought to bring a blanket,” Reggie said.
"That's okay. We don't mind sitting in the sand." I immediately sat down.See, I’m a weirdo who sits in the sand. Like my friend instead of me!
"Do you want something to drink?" he asked. “I mean…either of you?” He glanced at Kristen.
I knew he was searching for clarity in this awkwardness, but I didn’t know what to do. "I'll just have one of whatever you're having,” I said.
“Same,” Kristen said. “Here I have some cash…” she started rummaging around in her purse.
“I got it. I’ll be right back.” He disappeared into the crowd.
Kristen sat down next to me. “Yeah…this is a date. And I’m totally in the way.”
“It’s not and you’re not. Actually…I think the two of you could make a cute couple.”
“First you make me awkwardly crash your date and now you want me to steal your date? Have you lost your mind? I’m leaving.” She started to stand up.
