Page 38 of Very Unlikely
“That’s it? That’s all you heard?”
I tighten my grip on his shirt when he grimaces.
He has the worst poker face in the world.
“What else did you hear?”
It feels like the earth circles the sun a hundred times before Holden eventually confesses, “Summer had a visitor not long after you left today.” Since my father has rarely left my side for almost the past four hours, his confession doesn’t bother me until he tacks on, “Neish was more than happy to learn you and Summer areonlyfriends while returningyourclothes to the room you share with your ‘friend.’” He air quotes his last word.
“Fuck.”
“Yeah…” Holden murmurs on a groan. “You royally fucked up.”
I push him away from me before dragging my fingers through my hair, leaving it standing on its ends. “It isn’t as bad as it sounds. For one, Summer knows all about my playboy ways, so she wouldn’t care about Neish’s visit—”
“Perhaps not before this morning’s…” he takes a moment to consider his next set of words, “…brunch? But after…” Ayou’re-a-dead-manchuckle finalizes his reply.
I continue talking as if his interruption didn’t fill me with dread. “And two, I didn’t touch Neish. I loaned her my jacket when she spilled a cocktail down the front of her dress. The belt was for modesty since she didn’t want to get around in a stained dress all night.” When he scoffs like he doesn’t believe me, I continue defending myself, “Then I wenthometo Summer, where I—”
“Acted out your fantasies on her since Neish’s vagina was decommissioned because it wasthattime of the month.” When I shoot Holden a riled look, he holds his hands in the air. “Don’t shoot the messenger. I’m just sharing the goss that’s been spilled about you today.” My heart launches into my throat when he murmurs under his breath, “Fingers fucking crossed they didn’t reach Summer in the merch store, or you’ll be footing the bill for two rooms instead of a two-bedroom suite.”
With swear words ringing on repeat through my head, I snatch up my bag from the bench then sprint out of the locker room like Coach didn’t request for me to stay back today since I missed half the session.
I race out of the stadium like my muscles aren’t screaming from the mad dash I did earlier this morning, my speed only slowing when I spot Summer balancing her hip on the front square panel of Cubie. She’s waiting for me as suggested this morning, incapable of being snarky even when she should be.
It dawns on me that I have the situation wrong when her lips mouth three words I’ve never heard her express to any man but her father. ‘I love you.’
After a smile that makes my cock twitch, she pulls her hand down from her ear, then raises her head. “My dad agrees with me. It appears as if you have a cracked radiator hose.”
My teeth grit when I follow the direction of her gaze. Out of all the people in the world she could help, she picks a man undeserving of her time—Cody Larson.
“So I’m stuck waiting for the tow truck?” While breathing out half the air in his puffed chest, Cody glances down at his watch. “At this time of day, it could take hours.”
“Do you have far to travel?” Summer asks while bridging the gap between them.
She reaches Cody’s side at the same time I reach hers. I sprinted. She sauntered in a seductive manner I didn’t know she had in her. “I’m sure he can find another way home.”
I seize Summer’s elbow before twirling her away from Cody. I realize it isn’t just my pitching skills lacking today when she maneuvers herself out of my grasp in two extremely quick seconds.
“He…” She stops speaking then peers at up Cody, soundlessly giving him an in to introduce himself.
He jumps on the opportunity like it came with a hand-delivered invitation into her bed. “Cody. Cody Larson.”
As suspected, his name doesn’t make even one of Summer’s eyelashes bat. He could have commenced his introduction with ‘Prince,’ and she still wouldn’t have cared. Gimmicks aren’t Summer’s thing. Kindness and morals are.
“Cody…” Summer’s husky pronunciation of his name has my back molars smashing together, “… won’t need to find another way home if he’s happy for me to tinker with his engine.” My eyes jackknife to her so fast, I give myself whiplash. If there wasn’t flirty innuendo in her offer, I’m not the best pitcher this side of the country, and we both know that’s the straight-up truth. “It will only be a temporary fix, but surely it’s got to be better than being stuck here for hours on end.”
“One hundred percent,” Cody answers, smiling like a lovesick fool. “And I’m more than happy for you to tinker with my motor.”
Fucking wink at her one more time, you prick, and I’ll smash your teeth in.
“Great!” Summer claps her hands together two times. “Now, we just need supplies.” While acting like I’m not standing at her side, she glances past my shoulder. “A length of hose, two hair ties, and some material so I don’t scald myself while removing the radiator cap to replace thefluidsyou lost should be plenty.”
“Summer Ramsay,” I grumble under my breath, mortified by her horrific attempt to flirt. I also don’t want her testing out the one-linersItaught her on Cody Fucking Larson. He isn’t worthy enough to lick her boots, let alone her…
I can’t say it.
Fuck that.
