Page 6 of Play Maker

He laughed, setting the water on the ground between us. “Good thing you have that pepper spray ready.”

I snorted. “I’m not spraying someone just because you can’t help flirting.”

Adam spread his arms. “Do you see me paying attention to anyone but you?”

No. I’d sat with my back facing the party, and he’d joined me without hesitation. Without sparing a glance toward the gathering of half-naked women on the lawn. The only one seemingly affected by his magnetic presence at the moment was me—and I was struggling under the weight of my own desires.

“What are we supposed to do together this summer?” I asked, surprised by the husky undertone in my voice.

He leaned toward me. “Whatever you want, Sunshine.”

Immediately, my traitorous mind conjured up a vision of us twisted together on my pale purple sheets, his body covering mine, his mouth on my neck. I shoved the image away, locking it up with the other fantasies that had no business being in my head.

Friendswithoutbenefits. Without. Maybe if I repeated the mantra enough times I’d convince myself to follow the path I’d insisted on. Adam winked as if he could read my thoughts. And maybe he could. I’d never spent much time trying to hide what I was thinking.

This relationship was doomed from the beginning if the amusement in his eyes was anything to go by. He wanted a friend, and I couldn’t keep my mind out of his pants. Fantastic.

Not complicated at all.

3

Running late. Meet you at the restaurant.Mom’s text came through as I was trying to put in my contacts, so I squinted to read it with the one eye that could see.

I snorted, careful not to blind myself with my response. Contacts and I had a contentious relationship in that I hated putting them in despite them being easier to deal with than my glasses. My phone buzzed with another message, but I didn’t bother checking. Mom always sent a follow up apology.

Hope Caldwell never arrived on time if she could help it, even if she was supposed to be my ride to the dinner she’d guilted me into attending. I blinked the contact into place and added a final swipe of mascara to my dark lashes before shoving my phone in a tiny black clutch. She didn’t expect a text back, just like I hadn’t expected her to make it home before we had to leave.

I glanced at my outfit in the full-length mirror on the back of the door and grimaced. Mom had laid out the slinky black dress, knowing I’d show up in jeans and a snarky T-shirt if I had my way. The last time I’d worn this dress, I’d managed to make a fool of myself at a karaoke brunch with Eva and her friends.

So, the usual.

I didn’t have much higher hopes for tonight. The light in my little bathroom flickered, and I made a mental note to remind Mom to buy bulbs the next time she went to the store. It would probably be faster if I went myself, but she insisted on taking care of the upkeep.

No complaints here since I didn’t have a lot of cash on hand to cover when something broke.

We technically didn’t live together, but Mom owned the building that housed her dress shop, including the two tiny apartments upstairs. She barely made enough from the shop to cover the taxes and utilities, but when I graduated next year, she was going to sell the whole place so we could move to Dallas full time.

I glanced at her door as I locked up. She spent more time in Dallas than here these days. Not great for the dress shop since I had to run it when she was gone. I was not meant for retail. Maybe if I got paid more, I’d care, but I basically worked there in exchange for free lodging. My paycheck barely covered food and textbooks. I loved my mother and wanted to do what I could to help her, but the job blew.

I’d been living the same life since we moved to Addison when I was fifteen. Go to school, work in the shop, do homework, spend time with Mom, repeat. My dad was never in the picture, but Mom and I were a cohesive team, which was good because it seemed like no one else was interested in playing.

Except Adam. He’d surprised me by staying glued to my side all day—asking questions and telling me about his family. It was a nice change of pace, but I wasn’t holding my breath for it to become a regular thing despite Adam’s assurances. People simply didn’t stick around when I was involved.

Mom may have been flighty, but I knew I could count on her. She was my constant.

Life had never been lonely with her around, and even though things would change when I graduated, we’d still be together in Dallas. Mom would open her yoga studio, and I’d be her business manager. Thinking about the move dropped a cold lump in my gut, but we couldn’t stay in Addison forever.

I jogged down the stairs to the dark street and checked my phone. The Uber was still fifteen minutes out, which meant I’d be late, but I’d probably beat Mom there. I chewed on my lower lip and tried not to let the frustration win.

When Mom had been dating Archer Bolme, he’d always sent a car for me when I joined them for dinner. I probably shouldn’t expect the same consideration from every guy she dated, but I couldn’t help comparing.

I didn’t know how Mom had gone from the sexy, brooding head coach for the Dallas Thunder to Rob Warren, venture capitalist. Athletes had never been a thing for me, but I’d liked Archer. He’d kept the hockey talk to a minimum, and he’d smiled at my jokes.

Rob rubbed me the wrong way, and his son, Shad, was one frat party away from a sexual assault charge. Every time I interacted with Rob, I left feeling bad about myself. Mom seemed happy though, especially once he offered to invest the money for her studio.

I just wished our whole future wasn’t tied up with him.

One egregiously expensive Uber ride later, I pulled up in front of the posh hotel housing the restaurant where I was supposed to meet them. Through the big glass doors, the place looked dim despite boasting several large sparkling chandeliers. If the mood lighting had to be that dark, I seriously questioned the quality of the food. Rob liked places that served tiny portions and had a twenty-page wine list.

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