Page 40 of Never Date A Player
He doesn’t answer. His gaze wanders nervously away.
An uneasy feeling sweeps down my spine. “Lewis?” I’m almost afraid to ask. “When was the last time you had a girlfriend?” Maybe his last relationship ended badly and Mira is overprotective?
“A few years ago.”
I sip my beer to steady the shudder threatening to unhinge me. Not what I wanted to hear. “Sooo… Mira was okay with that one, but now she can’t handle you talking to other women?” I’m not going to beat around the bush. It’s obvious Mira has issues with Lewis paying attention to other women, specifically me.
Another smile, this one a bit mischievous. “She didn’t know about that relationship. I was away in college.”
My eyes bulge. It’s been going on since college? “Why are you keeping your girlfriends hidden?”
He shifts in his seat. “Girlfriend. There was one.”
“One?” I squeak. Lewis is polished mountain man candy. No way he’s only had one girlfriend. He’s gotta be a player, only that image doesn’t fit either. He hasn’t checked out a single girl tonight, unlike his counterparts. “Sisters don’t cockblock,” I point out. His mouth curves up. Did I say that out loud? “I mean… You know what mean.” I glance nervously at the guys.
Half are openly staring.
This conversation is one of the most awkward I’ve ever experienced, so of course it’s with Lewis and half a dozen eavesdroppers. “Why is she like that?” I ask in a low voice.
He checks his watch. “We should get going. It’s late.”
He’s dismissing me? Again?
I asked probing questions, but it’s not like he wasn’t answering. I guess I should be happy he answered as many as he did.
Lewis downs the rest of his beer and shoves the glass to the center of the table. He stands and raises his hand toward Jake beside him. Jake gives him a manly handgrip. “I’m gonna take off,” Lewis says. “I’ll catch you guys later.” He peers at me. “Next week, team training. Tomorrow—be ready. I’ll pick you up at eight.”
“Eight? Why so early?”
He grins as he turns toward the door. “Special obstacle work,” he calls.
Crap, he’s going to torture me. More than he already has.
Chapter Fourteen
Chances are good I washed my hair in the shower this morning. Considering I’m not fully awake, I can’t say for sure. It’s wet, that’s all I know. There’s always the possibility I rinsed and forgot to shampoo, but it smells floral, so I think I’m good.
My arms shake, muscles unused to functioning at what I consider an ungodly hour, as I pull damp strands into a ponytail. I left the pizza joint after Lewis threatened me with his butt-crack-of-dawn training, but it didn’t matter. I couldn’t fall asleep, too used to staying up late for work. I ended up watching bad reality television with Cali for a couple of hours.
Lewis pulls into the driveway in his red Jeep and I stumble out the front door. The only reason I don’t snap at him for scheduling our training this early is that he brought doughnuts—and a slice of wheat bread with peanut butter and bananas.
I snarl at the bread after I enter his car. “What’s that for?”
He pulls out of the driveway and heads for the main road. “You. Eat it and you can have a doughnut.”
I bite the corner of my lip, attempting to remain calm.
You know what? I’m not even going to argue with him about the bread, for two reasons. One, it’s not worth the mental energy, and I’m half-awake as it is. Two, I’m hungry and can eat the cardboard bread, plus three or four of the doughnuts, without a problem.
I eat the bland wheat-banana thing in a few bites, gulp my coffee, and go in for a glazed swirl.
He glances over. “Is that decaf? Because you shouldn’t—” His voice dies at the look I level at him.
Oh, yeah, don’t push it, buddy. Grumpy morning person here. Not. In. The. Mood. I take a massive gulp and cock my head to the side. Bring it.
A smile plays at the corner of his mouth, his focus returning to the road.
I wolf a couple more doughnuts down and we approach Camp Richardson, which is pretty far out. “Where are we going?”
