Page 4 of Playbook
I have absolutely no problem with my single status—most of the time. But faced with the ex-boyfriend from hell, I suddenly don’t want him to feel sorry for me or think it’s in any way related to him. So I lie.
“It’s new. I haven’t even told my family yet, but he is so wonderful and the sex…” I lift my shoulders and let my head fall to the side in what I hope is a dreamy, stupidly-in-love expression.
His posture relaxes almost as if he’s relived. Like he was worried that I was still hung up on him. As if. I don’t feel great about lying—even to him. But it’s not like we’re going to run into each other again any time soon. I just need to make it through this brunch.
“Really?” He seems surprised, which honestly stings a little. “I thought you were going to live alone in a house filled with cats because men were evil.”
He’s paraphrasing from the things I yelled at him when we broke up.
“I said you were evil. Not all men. How’s Chrissy?”
“Christina,” he says, mouth tightening.
“Right. My bad. It was hard to keep up with all the women you were sleeping with while we were together.”
“I’m dating someone new. Her name is Gretchen. It’s serious.”
“Serious,” I repeat the word. “So then you’re not allowed to sleep around or just likesomesleeping around?” I lean forward like I’m super interested and not at all wishing he’d move far away so I never have to worry about running into him again.
Once again, he ignores me. “I’m glad you’re dating again, Lo. New relationships look good on you.” His smarmy gaze trails over me and I feel sick. “Maybe try a different perfume though. You smell like your great-aunt Doreen.”
I slide off the barstool to head back to the table. I take a seat next to Sierra, and Chris drops into the seat next to Ben. I glare at him and he smiles back.
Sierra takes my hand and squeezes it. “Are you okay?” she asks quietly.
“Yeah, of course.”
She looks so happy at my answer that I feel a twinge of guilt at how much she was obviously stressing about me running into Chris. My earlier frustrations that she blindsided me today ease. When Ben asked her out a little more than a year ago, she called me to make sure it was okay. And I’m the one who told her to go for it. I always liked Chris’s family, especially Ben.
I force another smile and mutter where she can’t hear, “I’m having brunch with the devil, but I’m just peachy.”
“Now that everyone is here, we have an announcement.” Sierra looks to Ben as her boyfriend stands with a mimosa in hand. He looks so happy. So does Sierra.
Ben clears his throat and then looks lovingly down at my little sister. “I asked Sierra to marry me, and she said yes! We’re getting married!”
TWO
Idrop down to the ground, heart pounding and out of breath.
“What are you doing, rookie?” My teammate, Cody St. James, peers down at me with an amused expression on his face.
He’s sweating and panting a little, but otherwise he looks like he could run all day long. I have no idea how he’s standing.
“Just catching my breath,” I wheeze out. My throat burns from sucking in hot air.
Laughing, he holds out a hand. “Never let them see you down.”
He tips his head to the rest of our position group finishing up running cone drills. We’re all teammates, but each other’s competition too.
It takes all my might to get to my feet. I’ve been pushing harder than I even knew was possible since joining the Mavericks.
Once I’m upright, Cody grins. “Nice job, Six. You’re looking good outthere.”
His words spark a jolt of pride through me. “Thanks.”
“Now smile pretty, your favorite reporter is here.” He claps me on the shoulder, almost sending me back to the ground.
I glance to where the crowd of media is gathered. And sure enough, Billy Boone is glaring at me from the fifty-yard line.
