Page 11 of The Sweetheart Dance
Plus, I know my parents would love to meet him.
“What kind of friend?”
I roll my eyes while grabbing my discarded shirt off the handrail of the machine. “A friend. Speaking of which, she’s going to be staying in the cabin with us during the break. She’s off-limits. You get me?” I wipe my face off with the shirt to get some of the sweat off.
I’m trying to make it abundantly clear he doesn’t get any ideas about doing anything extra with her.
“You like this girl?” Karl asks with an eyebrow raised.
I consider what he’s asking and I’m beginning to think I might like her. Spending time with her yesterday was almost as if no time has passed. She’s still the quirky, sweet woman she was back then.
“I might.”
He chuckles while amping up the speed. “I’m on the case!”
I scoff. “I don’t need you to help. I got this.”
“You don’t have game. I don’t think you’ve ever had to smooze a lady before. I’m pretty sure all of the groupies you’ve been with just fall over their feet to get to you.”
“Are you going to give me crap or are you here to work out?”
“Testy, testy!”
I run for another thirty minutes in hopes of keeping up the exercise routine I have. Nothing stinks more than getting out of shape and having to get back into it.
Jumping off the machine, I stretch both legs out by grabbing either foot from the back and then switching. I feel the slight stretch in my hamstrings as I think about the next routine I’m going to do.
My phone buzzes again reminding me of the unread text message. I unlock the screen to read the message and am pleasantly happy it was Raina. I’m glad I have her phone number now.
ME: I’m glad you enjoyed it. Want to get dinner tonight?
RAINA: I’m working a 12-hour shift. I won’t be getting out until after 7.
ME: That works.
RAINA: I appreciate the offer but I have to work tomorrow, too.
ME:??
“What’s the plan tonight?” Karl asks as he completes the set of free weights he’s using right now.
Where I’m lean, Karl is the complete opposite. He’s stocky and looks like a brick house. The man can bench press me if I let him do it. Of course, I don’t since that’s strange.
“I think I have dinner plans, but maybe after we can go get a drink,” I throw out to soften the blow.
“Blowing me off, huh?”
“Whatever.”
Chapter Nine
Raina
I appreciate the offer of meeting Luke for dinner but after working a twelve and then turning around to work another twelve, going to a nice restaurant is the last thing I want to do.
In fact, I have two hours left of one of the longest days of my career. I really need to be getting more sleep or something because I’m dragging.
Luke has been on my mind all day and not the man I thought for sure I was going to be engaged to yesterday. Colton hasn’t entered my mind much at all and I’m happy about that. I’m still hurt about yesterday but spending time with Luke made it a lot better.
