Page 40 of Fair Play
I can’t vocalize that, though, because even though Bodi has his headphones on and isn’t participating in this conversation, he might still be half-listening.
“Well, it hasn’t taken Rome here any time to settle into the L.A. dating scene,” Connor says, switching the focus back to me.
Great.
Just what I need—attention on my love life.
“Not true,” I respond, shaking my head. “I’ve met some ladies, but no one special.” Damn, I’m already lying to these men. Men I need to form a bond with if there’s any chance at all of me coming back next season.
But I don’t have a choice.
Not when it comes to Billie.
“There are a lot of fish in the L.A. sea,” Connor says. “And I plan to reel in as many as I can while I’m single.”
“I think I’m a little old for that,” I say. “And since I don’t know if my contract will be renewed this summer, I’m keeping things simple. Wouldn’t be fair to get involved with someone when I might be in Alaska or Toronto or who-knows-where come fall.”
Where was all this common sense when I had my tongue stuffed down Billie’s throat?
“Makes sense.” Connor starts typing on his phone and the conversation seems to die off.
Like a lot of men, we’re not big on discussing our feelings and it’s rare we have serious conversations about women. Wives and girlfriends are strictly off-limits, beyond niceties, not to mention sisters and other family members. Which means I have nothing to talk about.
Instead, I wait until everyone is doing their own thing and get my phone out to respond to Billie’s text.
ROME: Are you trying to kill me? Jesus. What if your brother was sitting next to me on the plane when that popped up?
BILLIE: He’s never seen it. He only knows about the ones in my ears and the eyebrow. Everything else is a secret. So he wouldn’t think anything of it.
ROME: He’s never seen you in a bikini?
BILLIE: LOL You’re funny. You think Bodi would let me wear a bikini? Don’t get me wrong, I own several of them, and I wear them all the time. Just not in front of him. When we’re together, I wear a frumpy one piece that he thinks is “cute.”
I chuckle to myself.
ROME: Now I kind of want to see it.
BILLIE: The bikini, the one piece, or my many piercings?
ROME: All of the above. Wait—are there more piercings?!
BILLIE: Ooops… I guess you’ll have to wait and see.
ROME: You really are trying to kill me.
BILLIE: Is that old-people talk for sexting?
ROME: Did you just call me old?
BILLIE: Maybe? I mean, I sent you a picture of my pierced belly button and you responded by telling me you want to see me in some frumpy one-piece…
ROME: I’m pretty sure you’ve misconstrued my response. However, let’s be clear—the piercing is hot as fuck. And if we’re ever alone together again, I plan to inspect it up close and personal.
BILLIE: Anything else you want to inspect?
ROME: Every inch of you.
BILLIE: Now who’s trying to kill someone?
