Page 22 of Best Year Ever
“I had fun. It’s always interesting to navigate the poses they want, but par for the course on an apparel shoot like that,” I respond.
“Yeah, I’m sure they’ll make the pictures look classy, but that was definitely a different experience for me,” she says. “I’m used to working out in skimpy clothes but not with two dozen people and cameras around.”
I chuckle. “Give it a year and you won’t even think twice about those types of shoots, you’ll have so many booked.”
Her face wears a flash of disbelief at my words, and then she looks at me with an amused look in her eye. “I’m glad it was with you. It would’ve been crazy to do some of that with a stranger.”
Her words inspire the memory of our bodies touching in all the places earlier today. Yeah, I’m glad it was me too.
The server comes over and leaves Rori’s drink. She takes a sip, and then her eyes look up at me after she sets the glass down.
“Thanks for making this dinner happen. I mean, keeping it private.”
I nod and let out a burst of honesty. “I couldn’t stand the thought of saying goodbye at the photo shoot so abruptly. We barely had a real conversation.”
Her face reacts with a small widening of her eyes, but then sheevens out her expression, looking like she is trying to find her words. “I….I understand. This whole day has been a whirlwind since I learned we were doing the shoot together. Landon, I…”
She pauses, but shortly after keeps going with her own wave of truth telling.
“I was nervous that you’d be upset at me for not responding to your text. I’m really glad that you didn’t take it that way. It wasn’t that I didn’t respond because I had a bad time that night.”
She takes another sip of her sparkling water.
Her green eyes then lock with mine, and she shares, with a subtle swallow, “I didn’t respond to your messages because it wasso good,” her voice dipping to a whisper on the last two words.
CHAPTER 9
Rori
Icannot believe I admitted that to Landon, even though it’s the truth.
Any surprise he feels at my comment is replaced quickly by a pleased expression lighting up his face.
“Well, that’s nice to hear, I confess,” he responds, his voice having dropped an octave.
I ease down into my seat and keep going. “I panicked because I wasn’t sure how to handle it, I’m so sorry. Good or not, I don’t…I don’t want to lead you on, if that is even a possibility.”
He looks at me, waiting.
“I’m in a place right now where I can have no distractions from tennis—even from hot football players,” I explain, smiling slightly at the last phrase so he feels the compliment. I half expect Landon to tease me about calling him ‘hot.’ Instead, there’s quiet for a second as he takes a slow sip of his beer, seemingly still content to listen.
Okay, I’ll keep going.
“This part of the season is critical for me,” I explain. “All of our ranking points from the tournaments update weekly, replacing what we had last year. They’re rolling updates, as lastyear’s tournament points fall off, and they add in what you did at that same tournament this year. It’s unusual, I know.”
He grimaces. “Yeah, that’s different.”
“Since I hadn't recovered yet this time last year, I can build up points in the overall standings for every round I win right now,” I continue. “Going from no points to even quarterfinal points is huge for my rankings. So I’m really locked in on tennis and keeping my personal life basically non-existent.”
He nods at that. “I get it,” he says. “My personal life hasn’t been a priority either, beyond my family and friends.”
I relax, feeling like we’ve come to some kind of understanding about our night together on New Year’s.
But then he looks back at me and says with a grin, “I’m not minding that we have this night together though.”
Before I can reply, I hear the server speak.
“How’re you both on drinks?” Not waiting for a response, she picks up the water jug and refills my cup. “The chef is excited to prepare a few of his best dishes for you to choose from tonight. Do you have any food sensitivities or preferences?”
