Page 32 of You're The One
“Yeah, I can see how it would make good television. The way he looks at you… It makes me hot.” Summer fans herself, and I laugh.
“The only way he looks at me is with loathing or concern.”
She raises one perfectly sculpted eyebrow. “Youhaveto see the way he looks at you.”
I’ve definitely caught him looking at me more than is comfortable today. But it’s just part of his good guy act. He’s following through on the promise he made to keep an eye on me. Nothing more.
“He can barely keep his eyes off you. I bet if I looked over my shoulder right now, he’d be watching.”
My gaze flicks past her before I can stop it, and sure enough, Dominic’s head is tipped in our direction. I look away quickly, but my face must give me away, because Summer lets out a hearty laugh, and I can’t help smiling, too.
Summer could be a good match for Dominic. She’s got that same easy confidence he does. There’s adon’t fuck with meenergy about her, but it’s balanced with the kind of warmth that says she takes care of her people. She’s also extroverted, likehim, which is probably why I’m drawn to her. Every introvert needs an extrovert to balance her out.
“Hey, could I ask you about the other girls?” I shift closer to her.
“Sure,” she replies. “What about them?”
I decide to let her in on the plan, or at least part of it. “Dominic asked who he should take on the one-on-one. He’s struggling to get a read on everyone?—”
“Aww, that’s so sweet,” she singsongs.
Is it?
“Yeah, so… I kinda wanted to mess with him a little. Set him up with the opposite of what he’s looking for. Nothing malicious, just a bit of fun.”
“And what would that be?”
“Someone more like me. No five-year plan. No sense of direction.”
Her brows knit together. “You sure about that?”
“Positive. He basically told me as much.”
She doesn’t look convinced, but humors me anyway, running through a few of the girls in the house. I’m not shocked to hear that most of them are driven in their own way, but Summer gives me a few ideas for women who might not vibe with Dominic.
“Oh! Maybe Ashley.” She sits up straighter, eyes lighting. “She’s an astrologer. I don’t know much about Dominic, but he doesn’t exactly strike me as the type to base life decisions on horoscopes or the phases of the moon.”
“That’s perfect! Thanks?—”
“Hey, what’re you two scheming about over here?” Dominic asks with a chuckle, dropping into the seat across from us. I didn’t even notice him playing musical chairs.
“You know, the usual.” Summer flashes a coy smile.
Dominic’s eyes practically light up when he looks at her. They would make a cute couple. The hockey player and the countrysinger. And Summer did say she was looking for some publicity. This could work.
They fall into an easy rhythm, talking about college football, but I tune out almost immediately. I watch one game a year—the Super Bowl—and that’s only for the commercials and the halftime show.
“Where did you go to college? Please don’t tell me you roll with the Tide, or I’m afraid any chance of a future ends here.”
Dominic laughs, deep and genuine. “Don’t worry. I have no ties. I didn’t go to college?—”
“You didn’t?” I cut in, more interested than I mean to sound.
His gaze darts to me, like he’s just remembered I’m still sitting here. “Nope. I was drafted straight out of juniors.”
I guess we have that in common. Not the getting drafted part, just the being “uneducated.”
He says it so easily, like it’s no big deal. And maybe, for him, it isn’t. He had a plan. A path. I’ve just been… drifting.
