Page 15 of Play Maker

A flash of unease crossed her features, but then she studied my face and smiled. “You can’t avoid them all summer.”

“Who said anything about avoiding them? I just don’t plan to introduce the topic of my doomed relationship with Eva. Or the aftermath. Or what happened to my favorite running shorts. You know what, avoiding them might be the way to go. Can I move in with you?”

Blue laughed quietly, and I smiled to myself. Her laughs weren’t easy to come by, but I was proud as hell when I could bring her a little happiness.

“Careful, Sunshine, I’m not hearing a no.”

“Adam, I live in a tiny efficiency. You’re bigger than every piece of furniture I own.”

“Ah, well I guess you’ll have to stay at my place to save me.”

She twisted her lips. “Save you from what? Your strong, supportive relationships with your friends?”

I pouted and grabbed another taco. “Your logic is ruining my avoidance tactics.”

“Good, because I’m not moving in with you.”

I gave her my best hurt look. “Harsh.”

She rolled her eyes. “But you can come over when you need a break. You could always sit on the floor.”

“Okay, now that my issues are settled—”

“Avoidance isn’t a recommended method of settling your issues,” she interrupted.

I ignored her. “Let’s talk about whatyouwant.”

“I already told you.”

“What about after the wedding? What’s your bigger picture?”

She sighed. “All I want is to make it through my last year of college without firebombing the relationship with my mom or being betrothed to one of Rob’s underlings.”

I cocked my head. “I wasn’t aware a betrothal might be part of the deal.”

She crunched into her taco, and it crumbled in her hands. The furrow between her brows deepened as she stared at the mess on her plate. I waited for her to put her thoughts together, and when her tongue swiped across her bottom lip to catch a dollop of sour cream, my thoughts plummeted to my dick.

“Did you know I’ve never had a boyfriend?”

My eyes shot to hers. “How is that possible?”

Blue chewed carefully and swallowed before answering. “Because while most guys like the way I look, they don’t like anything else about me. I seem to be missing the filter that everyone else puts to great use, and the way my mind works doesn’t always make sense to them. Add in that I very rarely feel attracted to the people interested and…” She shrugged. “Dating just doesn’t seem worth it.”

Shitballs. I’d known this path would be tricky, but dating lessons for someone who doesn’t really want to date but doesn’t want to be alone—and taking myself out of the running while I’m at it? Hell. Pure hell.

I already knew I’d be spending a lot of time with her this summer, but now I was making it my mission to give her the companionship she’d clearly been missing. I was going to be the best damn friend she ever had. Maybe she’d realize she doesn’t need to do this to herself. Or maybe she’d get sick of me, and I’d be back where I started.

My chest tightened with a hint of pain, but I ignored the warning. Blue wasn’t Eva. I wasn’t trying to force a misguided relationship out of affection and a shared history. Still, I should figure out how screwed I was.

“Do you think dating would ever be worth it?” I didn’t hold my breath while she considered her answer, but it was close.

“For the right person, yes.” She pushed the last taco toward me. “What happens if this whole thing is a disaster too? What if I’m destined to be alone?”

I let out the lungful of air I’d been hoarding. “First, that’s a little dark, even for you. Second, you’ll just have to marry me. We can be crotchety old people together collecting spoons and yelling at kids to get off our lawn. Boom, problem solved.”

“Do you always propose to girls you’ve known for a day?”

“Aw come on now, we’re old friends. And I’ve only made that offer to one other person. She wasn’t interested.”

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