AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I gaped, open mouth like the fish they were probably swimming with, and Heidi looked happily at me, as if to say,I do good?
No. No, you did not do good, you traitorous dog,I said to her telepathically.No more treats for you.
Diego got up from the water, droplets falling down the ridges of his abs to the v of his hips and down his legs. And I stared, just like I had when he’d walked toward me on the football field, his dark curls damp, his undershirt clinging to his muscles while he held his shoulder pads over his helmet, hanging on to the face mask with his fingers.
Maybe the most annoying thing about Diego, besides his distractingly good looks, was how easy he made everything look, from playing with his team on a football field to chatting with girls at a party and earning Heidi’s unending love. Even that impromptu stunt at the football game with his cheerleader girlfriend had been impressive. No matter how much I hated to admit it.
He handed Heidi’s soaked pink leash to me, and I said, “I’m sorry. This dog has a mind of her own.”One entirely separate from mine, I didn’t add. “I’ll walk her back to her owners’ house and be back in half an hour for our study session.”
“Her owners? Do you mean your parents?”
I shook my head. “One of our neighbors.”
“Sure it’s your neighbors.” He seemed unconvinced.
“It is!” I argued, rubbing my aching hip. If only I could soothe my wounded pride as easily.
“Prove it.”
Frustrated, I reached for her collar to see the tag. “Look, it says Heidi and has a phone number that is not mine.”
“Could be your mom’s.”
His smirk was so dang annoying. “You know what? Come along. Meet her owners.”
His eyebrows drew together. “You want to spend more time with me than you have to?”
“Of course not,” I said flatly.
He stroked his chin like he was an old man thinking over his order at a restaurant. “It’s not a bad idea. You can’t keep a hold of this dog, so there’s no telling when you’ll get back for our study session, and I’d rather have it out of the way so I can actually enjoy my day.”
“You’re a real Prince Charming,” I said. “But I assure you, I’m no Cinderella. I don’t need your saving.”
“You’re obviously not Cinderella. The animals actually listened to her.” He took the leash back and started walking up the beach. “This is the way you came from, right? You know, before that act of grace?”
I gaped after him, my cheeks flaming hot.
“Don’t worry,” he said with a grin. “I didn’t have my phone on me for any footage. Unfortunately.”
I rolled my eyes at him, trying not to be completely embarrassed. He slowed—Heidi staying at his side like the perfect angel—waiting for me to catch up. When I did, we walked silently toward the Pfanstiels, but not the comfortable kind of silence. In the charged kind that made me anxious. Should I say something? Apologize for being so testy with him? Ask him to apologize for our bad first meeting (and subsequent poor encounters)? I didn’t do great with conflict—honestly, I usually let stuff roll off my back since I always moved.
When people didn’t stay in your life long, it was easier to forget they hurt you. Forget them all together. Apologies only mattered when people stuck around long enough for a relationship to have ups and downs.
Luckily, the Pfanstiels’ wasn’t far from the De Leons’. “This is it,” I said, stopping at the picket fence. Diego walked with me up the brick path to their bright yellow door.
Mrs. Pfanstiel answered the door in her church clothes, and Heidi barreled past her, the leash dragging over their travertine tiles.
“Thank you, April! How fun to walk the dog with a friend.”
“We’re not friends,” I said quickly, making everything so awkward.
Diego nodded. “We’re studying for a class together.”
“What a great idea.” A crashing sounded in a room behind her, and Mrs. Pfanstiel rolled her eyes. “Better handle that. See you tomorrow, April.”
She was already yelling at Heidi before the door even shut. Diego turned toward me, humor glinting in his eyes. And despite myself, I smiled back.
We walked down the brick path, our shoulders brushing as we passed through the gate. The amount of heat I felt on my skin from that one little touch made me want to dive in the ocean. Or at least get some distance. “I need to get my things from home. I’ll see you in a little bit?”
