Page 80 of Resisting the Running Back

I take a few photos and do my best to be polite. I know I work in an interesting profession, and people are either fans or they’re not.

Everyone here seems to be cordial, which is really all I could ask for.

The four of us head to the bar, where we grab another round of drinks, and we explore the various pools the ship offers before we head back to our staterooms to get ready for dinner. Sophie changes into a flowery dress that’s perfect cruise attire, and I throw on a pair of khaki shorts and a white shirt with sailboats on it—crazy for me, but downright demure compared to Asher’s tropical shirt with neon flamingos plastered all over it.

Our group of thirty-two is divided into three tables of ten with a few high chairs, and tonight we’re sitting with Tanner and Cassie, Cassie’s parents, Sophie’s parents, and our parents—after we take some more photos with strangers who seem to know us, of course.

We’re all quiet as we peruse our dinner options, and once we order, Tanner carries the conversation as we all chat about how wonderful their wedding was. Sophie’s parents weren’t in attendance, so they’re filled in on all the details as Mom shows off photos from her phone. I glance at Sophie’s dad, and I can’t help but notice how quiet he is. It’s not a conversation he has much to contribute to, I guess.

My dad is sitting to my left, and he nudges me a little. “So you two are next, huh?”

I press my lips together and nod. “February twentieth at the Venetian in Vegas.”

Sophie’s mom glances up, and she looks surprised. “You set a date?”

Sophie clears her throat. “Oh, uh. Didn’t I tell you?”

Her mom purses her lips and shakes her head, the look of disapproval evident in her eyes.

I know that look, and I know it’s exactly why Sophie doesn’t want to tell her the truth. She quit her stable job teaching topursue a career in publishing. Her mother would never understand.

Sophie drops a small smile that doesn’t reach her eyes. “I’m sorry. We chose February twentieth. I hope you can all make it.”

The drinks are served along with a couple baskets of dinner rolls, thankfully diverting both the conversation and the attention.

But now Sophie is quiet, too, and I can’t help but wonder whether her mom shut her dad down like she just did to her daughter.

It’s only the first night, but I already feel a little stuck on this boat with so many family members. Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea.

And maybe that’s because of the ominous feeling Sophie passed onto me. Maybe it’s not paradise after all.

CHAPTER 37: Sophie Summers

What’s Next for Our Famous Friend

I don’t know why I didn’t tell my mom we picked a date. Maybe because I wasn’t sure whether we were really doing it, so I didn’t want to get her hopes up when it might not actually happen—regardless of the fact that Iwantit to happen.

And I’m still sort of feeling shut down by all that when Cassie turns to look at me, and I realize about two seconds too late that I never told her that my parents don’t know about my books.

“So what’s next for our famous friend?” Cassie asks me.

My eyes widen, but I glance at Miller to try to play it off. “Oh, training camp, I suppose,” I say, my voice an octave higher than is natural.

“I mean you, silly,” she says, not getting my hint.

“Famous friend?” my mom repeats, andfuck, of course she heard.

“Her books,” Cassie says, smiling at my mom. “I readMarried to the Enemy, and Ilovedit. Please tell me there’s more of the Hendrix clan coming our way soon.”

I’m frozen to the spot as I try to come up with something to say, but I’m at a total loss. I don’t know how to get out of this one.

“Her books?” my mom says.

Cassie finally seems to put it together, and she slaps a hand over her mouth as her eyes widen. “Oh my God,” she murmurs. “Do they not know?”

I close my eyes as I slowly shake my head.

“I’m so, so sorry. I had no idea. I just—”

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