Page 133 of The Rebound
He gives me a small smile. “Maybe when you don’t have sand in your hair.”
I frown at his words but before I can respond a loud engine cuts me off and we both look up the bank to see a red car speeding down the road.
Luke.
He does a double take when he spots me, one hand lifting in a wave before realizing I’m with someone. There’s just enough time to see confusion flash across his face before he drives past.
“A friend of yours?” Tyler asks as he pulls in up ahead. I hear the car door shut and a moment later he appears over the crest of the hill, looking just as unkempt as I am. Or maybe I just feel that way standing next to Tyler. Luke’s clothes are even dirtier than mine and he’s thrown on the old hoodie he keeps in his trunk.
“Everything okay?” he asks, his eyes on me as he makes his way toward us.
“Everything’s fine.” My voice comes out too high. “Luke, this is Tyler.”
And as always, he can’t keep the shock from his face.
Tyler smiles. “Tyler Olsen. And you are?”
“Luke Bailey.” He holds out his hand and Tyler doesn’t hesitate to grip it.
The shake goes on a little longer than necessary.
Are they…
“Okay,” I say. I’ve never been interested in a macho show off and I’m not about to start now. “Okay,” I repeat when neither of them stops. They reluctantly let go, still sizing each other up.
“Tyler surprised me,” I say to Luke, needing him to believe I didn’t plan this, that I didn’t know my ex-fiancé was coming and didn’t tell him. To my relief, he nods.
He believes me because of course he does.
And now I have to deal with both of them.
“Luke’s an old friend,” I say as they stand on either side of me, a buffer to the wind.
“Well, that’s great.” Tyler’s still smiling. “I was hoping you’d introduce me to people. But, if you’ll excuse us, Luke. We were in the middle of a private conversation.”
“Were you now?” Luke asks, equally as friendly. “I’m afraid you’ll have to catch up another time. Abby’s going to start seizing up if she doesn’t get into warmer clothes and we have a lunch to get to.”
“Lunch?”
“With his parents,” I explain. “They’re my next-door neighbors.”
“Sounds great. Would there be room for one more?”
“No,” Luke says before I can open my mouth.
“Alright,” I say firmly. “Let me just…” I turn to Luke. “Give me five minutes. And then you’re right. I need to take a shower. Could you let Louise know I’ll be late?”
Luke doesn’t move, looking at me as if he’s trying to read my mind. But if I am trying to give him a secret message, I hope he tells me what it is because I sure as hell don’t know.
“It was nice to meet you,” Tyler adds.
Luke doesn’t so much as blink at him. “I think I’ll stay right here,” he says, talking to me.
Tyler laughs once in disbelief, looking at me as if I know what to do. When I say nothing, his jaw tightens. “Fine,” he says. “Sure, pal, do whatever you want.” He turns fully toward me, essentially blocking Luke from the conversation. “The job is assured, Abby. The interview is a box tick, that’s all. You’re one of the smartest people I’ve ever met and you’ll be moving up the ranks in a few months. You know you will. Take it.”
“I don’t—”
“Take it,” he repeats, as Luke scowls behind him. “Don’t worry about me. Don’t even think about me. We can talk about that later. Do this for you because you know it’s the right thing.”
