Page 35 of The Player
I didn’t expect brutal honesty, not from Will. He was always joking, teasing, making light out of anything and everything. I hadn’t expected him to put himself out there like this.
“You know, there are better ways to get a girls attention than drowning her, making her look like a tit in front of everyone and having her literally fearing for her life.”
“You’re being over dramatic. That pond is about a metre deep, maybe two at a push. You were never in any danger.”
“How do you know? People have been known to drown in puddles.”
“That was never gonna happen. I’d got you. Anyway, I thought you’d see the funny side.”
He still didn’t laugh, though. He knew he’d fucked up, and he was backpedalling.
“I can say this now,” he carried on. “Lying here, because I don’t know what tomorrow will bring. So, I’m gonna put it out there, live in the moment, like Colton always tells me to.” He paused, sighing before going on. “I like you, Bee. I always have. I’m just not great at showing it, but I do.” I was about to tell him I liked him too when he added, “I’ve never met a girl who could give as good as she gets. You’re like one of the lads. We bounce off each other. You roast me better than any of the boys. You keep me on my toes.”
Will had always joked about us getting together. He said it made sense, seeing as his best friend was with my sister. But this speech sounded an awful lot like I was being complimented and friend-zoned at the same time. I was a little confused, and I didn’t want to admit it, but I was disappointed too.
“I saw you at the Halloween party dressed as the Little Mermaid. I was Mitch from Baywatch. It made sense to me in that moment to do a little roleplay.”
“You’re such a knobhead. Has anyone ever told you that?”
“Yes, you have. Multiple times.”
I grinned to myself.
“I’d had too much to drink,” he said, sounding contrite all of a sudden. “I saw you and thought I’d impress everyone out there.”
“Everyone except me.”
“You didn’t seem that unhappy when I picked you up.”
I wasn’t about to admit that being held in Will’s arms that night had done things to me.
“I liked it though,” he said. I felt him shift next to me and then the warmth of his breath on my cheek as he lay beside me. “Having you in my arms, it made me feel…” He stopped for a moment, as if he was trying to find the right word to fit.
“Manly? Chauvinistic?” I offered.
“Protective,” he replied. “I liked how it felt to have your arms around my neck.”
“I could re-enact that with my hands if you like?”
He huffed a laugh.
“I knew the minute I’d dropped you in that I’d fucked up. I didn’t expect you to start thrashing around like you did, though.”
“I can’t swim, Will.”
“I know, and when those two guys waded in trying to get to you, I snapped, told them to fuck off.”
“And then you dragged me out covered in pond scum, while I yelled obscenities at you.”
“It was music to my ears.”
I turned my head to face him.
“I hated you that night.”
“I wasn’t that fond of myself either, although it did raise a laugh with some of the crowd.”
“I’m glad it was worth it.”
