Page 35 of Wicked Love

I’m glad now that I went with this outfit because Elle is wearing a short dress and looks stunning. She motions for me to follow her, and I gush over how beautiful the house is. She takes me back to the family room with high vaulted ceilings where everyone is hanging out. I say hello to everyone and hug the girls, scanning the room quickly, but there's no signof Bowie. The tension in my body eases, but I'm disappointed at the same time.

Elle takes me to the kitchen and there’s a massive taco bar set up.

“Bowie got a puppy today…actually, not a puppy. She's a little older, but he bailed.” She looks at me apologetically. “Sorry.”

“Oh no, don't apologize. I'm happy he's not here. I mean,” I hold up my hand, “not happy, but yeah. Just…no, it doesn't matter,” I stutter and laugh at myself.

She smiles like she knows exactly how I really feel and sighs. “Sadie is always able to pull off the matchmaking, but clearly I am not the best at making it happen.”

“Nothing needs to happen,” I say. “In fact, I don't want it to happen.”

“Really? From what you said the other night, I could have sworn you were really into him.”

“I was,” I admit. “But he kind of wrecked it.”

“Ah, not already! Give him another chance,” she says, smiling.

“He wrecked it pretty bad.”

“But he is such a good guy,” she says. “He just needs to be shaken. When it comes to relationships, he's been so burned. He needs someone to shake him out of it.”

“I don't doubt it. And I can be happy for him from afar when that happens.”

“Ugh, so you think you guys won't even be friends?”

“I’m nice to everyone,” I say. “But yeah, I don't know. He completely blew me off after a very intimate night. And I don't need that kind of person in my life.”

“Really. I didn't know that it got that far. When you said something happened, I was thinking just a little…maybe a little kiss or something.”

“No,” I laugh, cringing. “But it's okay. I know that football players are different than real people. Sorry.” I shake my head. “God, I’m putting my foot in my mouth all over the place tonight. I’m not insinuating Rhodes and Henley and Weston are or were any kind of—” I shake my head and she laughs.

“Don’t worry. I know. And you’re right—a lot of professional athletes are the biggest players. They have every opportunity to be. But that doesn’t mean they’re all like that.”

“I know, and I’m not shaming Bowie for ghosting me after sex. It's just not for me. I am not normally a one-night stand kind of girl. That was actually the first time I’d ever done anything like that and I’m twenty-seven freaking years old.”

She makes a sympathetic face. “I hear ya. I’m so sorry it went that way. The thing is, he's not that way either. Like, yes, I think that’s happened occasionally, but I don't think he just goes around being a player…at least not from what I’ve heard him and the guys say. I’d say he is theoppositeof a player.”

I think about that. “Maybe it was just me then...that he regretted. And it’s okay. Whatever happened…the whole thing turned me off of him. So I'm good. I don't need this in Silver Hills anyway. Like, I shouldn't have gotten involved with someone in this small town. I can stick to going out with guys who live in Denver, so I don't have to see them on a regular basis if it doesn’t work out.”

“This is going to be uncomfortable for you. I hate that.”

I shake my head and add a dollop of sour cream on my taco. “No, I’ll get over it. I'll be fine. Iamfine.”

And I am absolutely fine…until he walks into the party an hour and a half later. By that time, I’ve thoroughly relaxed and had the best time talking with all my new friends. It’s like the air sucks out of the room when he walks in and looks right at me.

Marley was right. I do think the outfit helps. His eyes roam down my body, almost like he can’t help himself. Maybe he didn’t hate what we did after all. My ego wants to believe that anyway. But he doesn’t come search me out either, so there’s that. I meant it when I told Elle I was turned off...it’ll just take frequent reminders to myself for a while when I see him. And I don’t mind if he feels a little regret when he sees me. I don’t mind thatat all.

It gets awkward when we’re all talking about how we’re ready for the weather to get warmer.

“We need to have a pool party soon, Bowie,” Penn says. “I’ll bring a few palm trees…see if that makes it feel tropical.”

“I’m game,” Bowie says. “Let’s do it.”

“Bowie has an indoor pool, Poppy,” Rhodes says, grinning at me. “You’ll love it.”

I open my mouth to say something, but nothing comes out. I glance at Bowie and he looks as awkward as I feel. Pretty sure Bowie didn’t intend for me to be in on that invitation. When the conversation moves on, I go into the kitchen to get a glass of water. I hear something behind me and nearly spill the water when I see Bowie.

“Sorry,” he says.

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