Page 33 of Buzzer Beater

I needed to tear my eyes away, but I was frozen appreciating that body. Good grief did the man know what a carb was? It just made me feel worse. I tugged the bottom of my suit, trying to cover even an inch more of my legs.

I snuck a glance his way again. This time, he caught me watching him. Trapping my gaze. He blinked several times and visibly swallowed, an accusation in his eyes, before he flicked his glance towards the sea.

That was different from the stare down we had before. What ?

I didn’t want him to stare at me.

No. I wanted him to move on. Be happy far, far away from me.

Right?

Something had changed though.

“You guys didn’t tell him anything, right?” I realized I’d blurted that out, interrupting their conversation, when the girls’ eyes turned to me. “Sorry.”

Chloe shook her head. “There wasn’t anything to tell, but no. We didn’t.” She paused. “There’s obviously something, but it’s not my business. Or anyone else’s.”

I nodded. “Thanks.”

“I think you should talk to him about it. Whatever it is.” Emma said, massaging her belly.

I pursed my lips but didn’t say anything else. They wrapped up their conversation before walking away.

“That was rude.” Elena said, lowering her glasses to meet my eyes.

“I know. I just…I thought maybe they told him something.”

“Why?”

How would I explain to her that it was because Colin looked away? She would think I was crazy.

“Just a feeling.”

She watched me for another second before laying down. “They were right. You do need to talk to him.”

Amber and Riley agreed.

Great. They were all against me now.

I laid back down and closed my eyes. Soon, they were talking about something new and hopefully forgot about me. Everything that happened between me and Colin was painful, but I’d moved on. It had been five years since we broke up. Obviously, I was over it.

Or I had been.

Until I saw him again and remembered what it felt like to have his eyes on me. To feel like I was the only woman in the world. He’d always made me feel loved and secure. I craved that again.

Plus, that body and those lips were otherworldly. I opened one eye and stole a glance at his sun kissed skin.

But I knew there was more to him than just his exterior. Good and bad things. How caring and thoughtful he could be.

He remembered each time I had a test and had meals sent to me before, so I wouldn’t have to worry about taking a break from studying, and afterward there was always a bouquet of white tulips waiting for me when I was done.

It was silly, especially when I compared it to his mistakes.

He wasn’t perfect. Neither of us were and I hated that the outside world, even these girls, couldn’t see that.

I knew better and any communication with him would lead to more pain. Talking to him, even just catching up, wasn’t worth ripping open that old wound. My life was moving forward, things had happened since we were together, and Colin had no right to know.

Then why couldn't I relax and stop thinking about him?