Page 66 of Love You, Mean It

“Definitely. Dudelovesgetting grunt work delegated to him.” Everett held up a finger, quickly finished his message, and slipped his phone back into his bag, then turned to me. “So, Ellie. Big tennis player?”

“Hardly. I think the last time I held a racket was in high school gym class.” I hadn’t been half bad…but I hadn’t been on a court since.

“Are you trying to get me to go easy on you?” Everett’s eyes sparkled. “Because I don’t reallydothat, ask Theo.”

“God no. I’m trying to get you to run Theo ragged while I look cute in my tennis skirt. He’s had it too easy lately. Or…always, really.”

Everett bellowed out a laugh.

“Theo, Ilikeher.” He slapped both thighs, then pulled his racket out of his bag. “Especially because I might actually beat you today.”

“Only if I’m not a handicap.” Sam’s voice sang out from the open doorway. Her long blond hair was up in a jaunty ponytail, and the cold had pinked her cheeks prettily. “Sorry I’m late, I was sitting in the parking lot for the last ten minutes trying to wrap up a call with Ted.”

Just like we’d planned. Her showing up last guaranteed all eyes would be on her, including, hopefully, Theo’s. She made her way to Everett first, stretching up to give him a hug that went onjusta moment too long.

“Thanks for suggesting this, Ev. It’sexactlywhat I needed.” Hereyes dropped to his lips for a few seconds before she stepped back, lingering a moment before she turned to Theo and me. God, she wasgoodat this. Was that practiced, or just part of the genetic package people like Sam were gifted at birth? “And thanks to you two for being willing to play doubles. Pretty sure trying to destroy each other on the court isn’t the best path to future dates.”

I watched Theo for a reaction, but he just flashed his trademark sardonic half-smile.

“Plus, it gave you a reason to end a Ted call. My deepest sympathies, by the way.”

“Don’t worry, I knew what I was getting into.” She smiled slyly at him over her shoulder, then bent to wriggle out of the fitted sweats she was wearing over her tennis skirt. I couldn’t help but notice Theo’s eyes catching on her legs, impossibly long and smooth beneath the short hem.

Which was good. Definitely the goal. I tugged my own sweats down, smoothing the pleated skirt I’d picked up the day before. Compared to Sam’s clingy spandex, it felt old-fashioned, and vaguely fussy. I pulled out the racket Theo had lent me, tucked my pants into my gym bag, then bounced anxiously from foot to foot on the springy green court as Theo, Everett, and Sam stretched and took a few practice swings. I’d told Sam I’d try to find a way to push her and Theo together…

“Should we warm up?” I squeaked. “I think I’ll need it.”

“Good idea. Should we take the far side?” Theo looked at me expectantly.

“Actually, didn’t you say Everett’s the best player?” Theo frowned. “I thought I could try to steal his secrets while we warm up, then maybe I won’t embarrass youquiteas badly when we actually play a set.”

“We can lob you a few easy balls while you get the rust off,” Sam said, smiling pleasantly. “It’s been a long time for me, too. Some easy volleys would definitely help.”

“As if any of us believethat.” Everett raised an eyebrow at Sam, then turned to me. “She was all-state in high school.”

“High school was a long time ago.” Sam smiled coquettishly at him. Theo glanced back and forth between them, expression unreadable.

“Shall we?” Theo finally said.

“Sir, yes sir!” Everett said, mock-saluting and setting off for the far side of the court. I followed, leaving Sam and Theo to drift to the opposite baseline together.

“So, Everett. We’ve barely had a chance to meet. What’s your deal?”

“Mydeal?” His eyes flashed with humor.

“You know, what you do, things you like, the basics.” On the opposite side of the court, Theo mimed tossing a ball in the air, practicing what looked like an extremely competent serve. I could hear Sam saying something teasing. He gestured for her to demonstrate. She mimed her own serve, the sharp swish of the racket audible all the way across the court. Theo mock-bowed and she playfully pushed his shoulder, the sort of gesture of physical comfort with each other I couldn’t ever remember reaching with any of my recent…“boyfriends” didn’t feel like the right term anymore. More like bedwarmers.

I tried a fake serve of my own, trying to focus on my pretend-ball instead of the warmth on Theo and Sam’s faces.This is working, it’s what you want, don’t fuck it up.

“Like for me…own a deli, so I always smell like cured meat—I know, erotic—love a good dive bar, which I guess means I love abaddive bar? And…I sew. Clothes, mostly.” The last felt almost like a lie—when had I last made a totally new piece?—but the recent appreciation for my library pieces made it feel like something I was at least allowed to mention. Which was surprisingly…nice.

“I suppose my deal is…finance bro, but I tryreallyhard not to be a douche?”

“That’s a start. If it’s your whole deal, though, expect me to have a lot of previous plans whenever you and Theo want to hang.”

Everett laughed loudly. I noticed Theo’s head twitch our way.

“Okay, I hear you. Give me a prompt. I work better with parameters.”

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