With hurt the only emotion on her face, Summer whispers, “Please leave. I’m tired from a near-drowning, and…”
When she can’t think of another reason to send me packing, she rolls back onto her opposite hip, then snuggles into her pillow, where she remains long after the sun has risen, and throughout the holler of my cell phone announcing that the bus is out front, waiting for me.
It kills me slipping out of her bed today even more than usual. I wouldn’t leave her side if Coach Randall didn’t have her back as much as me yesterday. If I fail to arrive for today’s game, he’ll have no choice but to lessen the severity of some of his suspensions. Since one of the leniencies would most likely be gifted to Cody, a backup pitcher, I suck up the unease twisting my stomach and do what needs to be done.
I didn’t sleep a wink last night, and the tiredness is evident in my voice when I press my lips to Summer’s temple and promise, “We’ll talk more this afternoon, but I swear on my mother’s grave, I’m not holding back because I don’t find you attractive. I want you… but not enough to hurt you for my own selfish needs.”
21
Summer
Iwake up with a thumping head and an empty bed. I’m not exactly sure if Lennox spent the entire night with me, but I’m reasonably sure he mistook the three inches between our bodies as the width of the Amazon River as well.
I’ve never felt more distant from him than I did while lying directly next to him last night. It would be kinder to pretend the sedative Dr. Cameron gave me was responsible for my stupid suggestion for Lennox to claim my second-winded virginity, but that would be the cheater’s way out. Both Lennox’s filthy mouth and the confidence beaming out of him when he said he’d fuck the innocence from my eyes were the cause of my stupidity.
He was so assured he could get the job done, I wanted to give him the opportunity. It already sucks being the nerdy, reserved one of the group, and now I have another stupid title tacked onto my heading. Soon I’ll need to carry business cards so everyone knows exactly what they’re getting when they offer me their hand in greeting.
After blowing out a long breath of air I wasn’t sure I’d experience again while sinking to the bottom of the ocean, I glance at the alarm clock on Lennox’s half of the bed. I freeze in shock at both the time and my acknowledgment that part of my bed is reserved for Lennox. It’s well past eleven, meaning I can blame Lennox’s disappearing act on his rigorous Summer League schedule. His team will play three games in a row most weeks. This week’s comp was trimmed to two because a team traveling from the Nashville area forfeited at the last minute. It will give Lennox’s team an automatic win, but that will mean nothing to Coach Randall.
A win not earned isn’t a win as far as he is concerned.
Since I agree with him, I shrug off the snippet of jealousy that even baseball trumps me before rolling out of bed. Once I’ve returned Desiree’sgood morning, I’m finetext, I scamper to the bathroom to use the facilities. When I enter the elaborate tiled space in the far back corner of my room, I take a gingerly step back. I’m not just in awe about the giant claw foot tub, double shower, and sparkling clean marble stretched as far as the eye can see, I’m shocked by the appearance of the person peering back at me in the massive vanity mirror.
With my panic too perverse to care how I looked, I didn’t wrangle my hair into submission last night. I slept with it down and wet, and although it could do with a brush, the voluptuous curls framing my face have me admiring the locks I once thought were hideous. I look kind of cute like I’m the girl you’d buy a puppy for before taking her to your house in the burbs for a home-cooked meal.
I gag when realization dawns. I amexactlywhat Lennox’s teammates accuse me of being. I’m the cute, safe girl you settle down withafteryou’ve sowed your oats with half the female population. They don’t want me now. They want me when their hearts are ripped to shreds, and they need someone to piece it back together.
That’s pretty much the entire basis of my friendship with Lennox. I mended the damage his mother’s death and father’s betrayal caused his heart so he could be a better man for anyonebutme.
That’s crap.
Stuff that.
I might be a grease monkey’s daughter, but I amno one’ssecond.
And it’s time for Lennox and his teammates to learn that.
As scenes of Sandy’s makeover inGreaseroll through my head, I stomp to the main part of the living room to rummage up the address of the discount outlet Desiree informed me about yesterday. They have all the latest designer fads but at a fraction of the price.
I’ve only just snagged the card out of my purse when a knock sounds at the door. Assuming it’s housekeeping, I open the door, then issue an apology, “I’m so sorry about the mess. I didn’t think to wipe my feet when I entered my room last night. If it’s too much hassle, leave the vacuum, and I’ll clean up the sand for you.”
I stop blubbering like an idiot when a deep, masculine voice says, “I’m sure even housekeepers are accustomed to a bit of sand. This hotel isn’t the only property dotted along the coastline.”
“Cody,” I greet after spinning around to face him. “What are you doing here?” His walk off last night proves he doesn’t have what it takes to get through my overprotective best friend, so he should bow out now before he’s introduced to my even more protective father. “Shouldn’t you be at the game? Coach Randall will bust an artery if his best all-rounder is AWOL.”
He grins in appreciation of my accidental praise, then grimaces, proving I’m on the money when it comes to Coach Randall and his response to tardiness. “I should be at the game, but when I heard what happened to you, I jumped into the first cab I saw and came straight here.”
His explanation is somewhat plausible when I remember Desiree led me straight to her car. I didn’t re-enter the party, and I doubt my almost drowning was a hot topic for long. There were many celebrities at Cody’s party, so little old me wouldn’t hog the limelight for long.
My heart beats in a funny pattern when Cody pulls his hand out from behind his back. “In my eagerness to make sure you’re okay, I didn’t think to stop and get flowers.” He hands me a bunch of badly wilting shooting stars. “They’re from the garden bed out the front of your hotel.”
“They’re beautiful. Thank you.”
After accepting the flowers, I enter the living room to seek a vase for them. Cody sees that as an invitation to enter my room without permission. It doesn’t annoy me as much as it usually would. I’m giving him leniency I don’t generally give since he saved me from doing more than popping my knee into Lennox’s father’s balls last night.
I’ve never been propositioned before, but I’m reasonably sure the way Lionel approached me last night wasn’t normal. He was insanely obnoxious and full of himself—traits I usually adore when it comes to his son—but he had a creepy vibe about him that made it obvious no matter how hard Lennox strives to fix the barriers between them, Lionel will never be worthy of his son’s affection.
He wants to hurt Lennox. That isnota father’s normal response, and I was more than happy to tell him that last night. I’d just finished giving him my what for when Lennox interrupted Cody taking me to get some air.
