Page 30 of Inviting Trouble
“I know,” Mad said. “Pathetic, right? That’s why I need you all around me, kind of circle me so no one notices my dorky moves.”
“You will not be dorky,” Hailey proclaimed. “You’ll simply put your arms around his neck and let him take the lead.”
“What if he doesn’t?” Mad asked.
Hailey rolled her eyes. “Then you’ll just stand there in each other’s arms. That’s not so bad, is it?”
Mad smiled widely. “That sounds awesome.”
“That’s step one,” Hailey said. “Step two is the flirt and retreat.”
“The what?” Mad asked.
“You’re going to touch him as much as possible,” Hailey said. “His arm, his shoulder, his hand, and ask him questions.”
“Won’t that be obvious?” Mad asked.
Hailey put her hand on Mad’s arm. “What do you mean?” She looked pointedly at her hand on Mad’s arm.
“Okay, I get it,” Mad said. “Ask lots of dumb questions and touch his arm.”
“Not dumb questions,” Charlotte said. “Just say stuff.”
“Like what?” Mad asked.
Charlotte waved a hand airily. “Like nice wedding. Great music. Whatever comes to mind.”
Hailey nodded. “And then you come back to us and give him some time to miss you. That’s the retreat.”
Mad went to take the champagne bottle back from Hailey, but she passed it across to Charlotte. Mad blew out a breath. “I had no idea this seduction stuff was so complicated.”
“What do you normally do?” Charlotte asked, taking a slug of champagne.
“Honestly?” Mad smirked as the women all leaned in. “I just tell a guy, usually after a softball game or a sparring match, that I’d like to get sweaty between the sheets.”
Lauren gasped. Ally and Carrie stared incredulously.
“That’ll work,” Charlotte said with a shrug.
“What do you do after?” Hailey asked.
Mad lifted one shoulder up and down. “I say thanks, that won’t be happening again and leave.”
The women stared. Like maybe that was weird or something.
“Park’s different though,” Mad said. “Special, you know?”
The women nodded solemnly.
Hailey gave her hand a squeeze. “We know. You’ll do great.” She tapped a pink fingernail against her pink lips. “Now who should all of you dance with?” She took in their friends and Mad just knew she was thinking long-term strategy for all the future matches she wanted to make. Like it or not, here comes love! Or at least a hookup. Mad would take either one at this point. She just had to get Park out of her system so she could stop obsessing over him, and if that led to something more, great. If not, she’d survive, stronger for having the courage to try.
Feeling pleased with her new philosophical outlook, she actually looked forward to the reception.
Chapter Eight
Park stood with Ty at the open bar at the wedding reception, waiting for a drink, both of their gazes on the group of women talking and laughing across the room, clustered close together the way women did. They were beautiful one and all, but most especially Mad. He couldn’t take his eyes off her. Her hair was smooth and soft looking, more like he remembered it from when she was younger. Her face lit up, glowing, and that body. He’d seen her in workout clothes, knew her petite curves, but that dress was something else. Form-fitting, showing her off in all the right places. A lacy black cover-up kept slipping off one smooth shoulder and she kept hitching it back up. It was driving him crazy. He wanted to rip the thing off her. He wanted to span his hands around her tiny waist and slide them over the curve of her hip.
He turned away, gut churning. The Campbells were family. The only real family he’d ever had. He owed his life to Joe Campbell, who’d taken him in, literally, moving Park into his already crowded household. Mr. Campbell offered to foster him, but Park’s mom wouldn’t sign off on it. She hit rock bottom six months after Park was rescued from the hellhole he called home and finally went into rehab for heroin addiction. When she got out again, she never asked for him back. He didn’t want to go back. She’d show up at school or one of his baseball games sometimes just to make sure he was still alive. The visits only sent him into a rage all over again. The feelings of abandonment and shame made him so angry he’d pick a fight with someone, usually someone older and bigger so he could really let loose. Mr. Campbell had put an end to that finally on Park’s twelfth birthday.
