Page 45 of His Choice

“Ready for another set?” he asked with a devilish smile.

I laughed. “I most certainly am not. There are only so many times in one day I’d like to have my ass handed to me, thank you.”

I caught him glance at my body more than once, then immediately look away with a blush. “You could beat me sometimes, I’m sure. You’re a very good power player with a wicked forehand and a powerful serve. But if you want to be sure I will lose to you at something, invite me over to play anything else. Tennis is the only sport I play well. Maybe because it’s the only one that ever interested me.”

“Is Aaron a good player, too?” I asked, figuring Mikey must have someone who was keeping him in good form since leaving Pittsburgh.

Mikey flinched at the question. “Aaron? Would you rather he was here with you now instead of me? It’s okay if you would. I could understand that.”

“Mikey, I chose you, didn’t I?” I asked, troubled that he had misinterpreted me.

“It was a sympathy selection, though, wasn’t it? I appreciate the time with you anyway, even if it was. I just asked about Aaron because even when he tries to build me up with others, they end up more impressed by him.” He wiped more sweat from his face, then looked down at his sneakers. “As they should be. Don’t let the teasing, cocky act fool you. He’s a great guy with a big heart. He’s everything I wish I could be.”

“Everything you wish you could be, or everything you wish you had in a boyfriend? Mikey, are you sure that you aren’t the one who’d prefer Aaron was here instead of me right now?” I asked gently so he’d know I wasn’t annoyed by the prospect.

He turned his head to me in surprise. “No! Why would I? I’d really like to have a boyfriend, but it will never be Aaron. He’s straight, remember?”

“My mother wondered if he might not be as straight as he thinks. After she observed the way he interacts with you, she suspected that he likes you more than as a friend.”

Mikey laughed out loud for the first time since he’d been in my presence. “That’s funny. Aaron would have a heart attack if he heard your mother say that.” When he sobered, he shook his head. “Not because he’s bigoted or anything. Quite the opposite. That’s why he’s so comfortable showing affection to me, besides the fact that he’s a touchy-feely guy overall. And because of his ego, he likes that I enjoy it. Why wouldn’t I? He’s sweet to me. And like everyone that knows him, it seems, I find him attractive. But I don’t waste time fantasizing about things that aren’t possible. It would be like wishing I was straight. It’s wasted energy. Trust me, if someone rounded up all the women Aaron slept with, they’d fill this tennis court from baseline to baseline. He likes me as a friend only. I’m the buddy who amuses him when I react to his immature antics, bad habits and bizarre observations.” Mikey chuckled, and it was loaded with affection, revealing that none of those things bothered him.

“I wouldn’t have known that about him by watching you two together—the annoying stuff, I mean.”

Mikey snickered. “You haven’t seen enough of us. I love him, but sometimes I want to wring his neck.”

“Well, I imagine living with anyone surfaces quirks that you either learn to accept or not. I didn’t go into this show expecting to find perfection, because whomever I choose, they won’t be getting that from me,” I replied. “I hope someone can love me anyway.”

“I’m still hopeful that someone could be me. Although I’m probably the contestant that’s furthest from perfect, so I know my chances aren’t great. I sure never expected that you’d choose me for the first date,” he admitted, looking away from me.

“I chose you because I wanted to get to know you better. You’re very cute. And I can tell that you’re humble, kind and caring. Those are characteristics I find attractive.”

He seemed surprised. “Oh. I… Really?”

I grinned. “Of course. Now, what do you say we go for a swim? You look great sweaty, but I know I don’t. The camera crew still needs to take some footage of us, and I’d rather not look disgusting when they do. My mother will claim she can’t show her face in town again.”

“She must have very high standards if she’d look at you now and think you’re anything but handsome. She’s very pretty, too.”

“Hmm, several people have told me she is—many, many times. Too often, it’s been men where the compliment sounded like a sexual fantasy confession.” I grimaced. “What the hell is wrong with people that they’d think someone’s kid—grown-up or not—wants to hear that?”

“I promise that I don’t want to sleep with her,” Mikey assured me with a grin. “That director, Marv, seems interested in her, though.”

“Just great,” I muttered. “At least she hasn’t persuaded him to put her on camera all the time like I feared she might.”

“If I had my way, I wouldn’t be on camera at all,” Mikey confessed. “I just went along with this for the chance to meet you.”

“That’s flattering, and I’m glad you did. Just so you know, I insisted that they give us private time, too. More than just the tennis match. After they film us swimming and chatting at the poolside, I’ll send them on their way. We can stay out on the patio and watch the sunset. If you’d like, I mean.”

“I would.”

“And if you’re worried about being on camera because you think the other contestants are better looking, then you’re getting yourself worked up over nothing. I saw the photo spread they did of the contestants. You’re stunning, Mikey, and you belong in this group. Trust me. I’m sure the viewers feel the same.”

Mikey seemed surprised again. “Thank you. Aaron says I need to be less like Eeyore, too. You know, the character from Winnie the Pooh who was always seeing the world through a glass half-empty? I try. Like right now, I’m optimistic that nobody will pay attention to me if I’m filmed in a bathing suit. Who’s going to notice me with you there?”

“I don’t know…”

“I do,” he interrupted. “You’re going to be screen-captured and posted all over the internet.”

I frowned at the idea.