Page 7 of The Sweetheart Dance
“Yes,” I mutter angrily at how childish this must seem to Luke. No one wants to be around a basket case who tosses brand new roses.
Walking over to the wine fridge in the kitchen, I lean over to grab a bottle of Pinot Grigio. I’m not a big drinker unless it is white wine as most other alcohols seem too strong for me.
I grab two wine glasses and lead him into the sitting area between the kitchen and living room. This would have been a perfect dining room but I don’t host many guests to turn it into a dining room. Instead, I turned it into a nice sitting room with a couple of high-back chairs, a footstool, a coffee table, and some other odds and ends.
“You have a nice place,” Luke murmurs with appreciation.
I agree with him on being fortunate to have a place like this at such a young age at the beginning of my career. Of course, my apartment isn’t as nearly as nice as Colton’s.
Stop! He dumped you! In public!
I’m still in shock over being dumped. I can’t believe I’m at home with a famous football player… The same football player to who I lost my virginity.
This is crazy. These kinds of things don’t happen to people like me.
“Thank you,” I reply politely. “I would ask you to tell me about yourself but I already know you went pro. Congrats!”
One of the things we talked about in that ski lodge was how much he wanted to go pro. Luke has always had a passion for football and was dying to make it his career. I’m glad he was able to follow his dreams.
“Some stuff is pretty public about me,” Luke retorts with a sly smile. “You can’t believe everything you hear.”
“Like the super model you were dating?” I blurt stupidly. Damn! Now I’m going to seem like a stalker. I really need to get my life straight.
Luke leans back on one of the chairs effortlessly. He tosses his left leg over his right one with his ankle resting on his knee. The man oozes confidence and power. What is he doing in here with me?
“You’ve been following me?”
Damn! Me and my big mouth. “I wouldn’t sayfollowyou like I’m a big fan or something. It is more along the lines of wanting to know how you are doing.”
He smirks. “I’m doing pretty good. Life is going pretty quick for me but these women are ruthless. They are so eager to bag a rich guy that they don’t care about anything other than the wealth.”
“Are you talking about the super model?” I ask quietly. I’m sitting right across from him so I can see all of the emotions as they flash across his face. I know he’s talking about her.
Chapter Six
Luke
She knows how to hit me where it hurts, that’s for sure.
If you look up a horrible, toxic relationship in the dictionary, you will see a picture of me and Natasha.
Natasha and I were set up by our agents to help guide our careers on both sides. There is something about a hot model on the arm of an up-and-comer football player. I knew this was a publicity stunt all along but I jumped in anyway.
Natasha was extremely jealous every time I left to go to an away game and begged I didn’t go. I think Natasha didn’t understand how things worked in this life I’m living. The relationship came to a screeching halt when I found her in bed with her agent.
“That relationship was a mess altogether,” I answer casually. One of the last things I want to do is admit I was cheated on. “What have you been up to?”
“I’m a neonatal nurse at the local hospital,” she answers brightly. I couldn’t imagine missing her smile as much as I did until I saw her smile about her accomplishments.
“That’s fantastic! I’m so happy for you! Do you like it?”
We spend the next thirty minutes talking about her job and the things she has accomplished. The conversation moves smoothly without any bumps which is something I’m not used to. I’m used to women trying to figure out how much money I make and what I could give to them if we got married.
And subsequently divorced.
I hate entering into a relationship or arrangement with the woman planning our downfall.
She yawns slightly and looks at her phone which is nestled next to her on her chair. She kicks off her shoes then flexes her feet to stretch them out. There is something sexy about her feet in the tights she is wearing.
