Page 54 of Tempting the Player
“I have not.”
“You have. I’m deaf, not blind. And normally it’d be forgivable to be glued to your phone at a high school basketball game, but Flynn is having the game of his life, and I know you wouldn’t want to miss that unless something else is going on.”
He’s right, dammit. And now I feel like an ass to boot.
“Nothing is going on. I mean, she’s fine. I guess I’m just on edge after this week.”
He nods slowly. “How’s she handling everything?”
“She plays it off like she’s good, but I can tell she’s still freaked out.”
“I saw her in passing today on campus. She seemed all right to me. She was smiling and friendly, as usual.”
“It’s not anything like that.” I hesitate for a moment, remembering her interaction with Cameron. “She got invited to a party tonight and when I asked her about it, she said she wasn’t going.”
“Maybe she’s not in the mood to party tonight.” He shrugs it off, then smiles. “Even Brogan and I take a Friday night off from partying every once in a while.”
“Not that I’ve seen,” I say, and he laughs. “When I pressed her on it, though, she said she hasn’t been out in a month.”
Understanding dawns in my brother’s eyes and his brows scrunch together. “Now that you say that I can’t remember the last time I saw her out. Actually, that’s a lie. I do remember. It was the night of her party.”
We fall quiet for a beat, then Archer adds, “What are you going to do?”
“Nothing.”
“By nothing you mean continue obsessively checking your phone.” He catches me doing just that. “Just text her and check in. That seems perfectly logical for a bodyguard.”
“Yeah,” I say, but I slide my phone into my pocket.
* * *
Flynn continues having an epic game in the second half and I enjoy it instead of staring at my phone waiting for something bad to happen. She’s home with her friends for the night. She’s safe. That’s the job, not meddling in her social life.
Archer and Brogan head out right after, but Knox and I wait for Flynn. He comes out of the locker room, hair wet and clothes wrinkly, wearing a shy smile. He might be confident and cocky on the court, but he’s back to his usual timid and quiet self now.
“What a fucking game.” Knox hugs him and pats his back. “Thirty-three points and if coach hadn’t subbed you out in the fourth period, I think you would have hit fifty.”
When Knox steps back, I move forward. “Congrats. That was impressive.”
“Thanks, Hen.” He shuffles uncomfortably and his cheeks, still ruddy from the game, take on a brighter pink hue.
“Do you guys want to grab something to eat?” I ask.
“Ooooh, pizza sounds good,” Knox says. “Or Mexican.”
Some of Flynn’s friends and teammates come out behind him. One guy yells, “Flynn, are you coming to Pete’s?”
A girl with long brown hair pulled up into a high ponytail plays with the ends as she smiles at my brother and hangs back slightly from the group waiting for his answer. He looks from his friends to her, then quickly away. “Uhh, maybe.”
“Go,” Knox tells him.
Flynn looks at me. I hold back a laugh at how hopeful his gaze is, silently asking me not to ruin his night by making him have dinner with us. “It’s cool. Have fun with your friends. Text me if you need a ride later.”
“I’ll get a ride home with Glenn,” he says, already heading after his friends.
I’m about to ask Knox if he wants to go out to dinner anyway, but my phone vibrates in my jeans pocket, and I eagerly slide my hand in to retrieve it as my heart beats faster.
Jane
