Page 74 of Playbook
“No.” I sigh.
“If you change your mind, say the word.”
I won’t but the offer is nice.
“Look at it this way, he gets to see how happy you are, and you get to rub it in his face. I mean, you’re dating a freaking professional football player.”
“Right,” I say, not trusting myself to say more. Even if it weren’t all fake, Chris is too full of himself to be bothered by me dating anyone.
I shake off my irritation. Today, and until the wedding is over, at least, I am going to be the bigger person. After that, I can go back to loathing him and hopefully never seeing him.
“I love you, Lo Lo.” She throws her arms around me and squeezes me tight as the front door opens.
I meet Chris’s gaze through the headlock she has me in. His brows inch higher in amusement that speaks of a familiarity with Sierra’s and my bond. Sierra steps back and then lifts a hand. “Hey! So glad you two could make it.”
While she rushes forward to properly greet Chris and Gretchen, I empty my water glass and set it in the sink.
I take a cleansing breath before I attempt to play nice.
“Hi.” The bubbly word comes out a little too forced.
“I love this neighborhood.” Gretchen scans the living room with a smile. “Baby, we should totally look at houses over here.”
Luckily, I know how much Chris detests the traditional southwestern style houses in this neighborhood, because if he moved in nearby, I’d have to spend my weeknights egging his house.
“Yeah, maybe,” he says.
I want to snort at the dismissive way he plays it off.
“Excuse me,” I say, leaving them in Sierra’s much politer presence.
In my old bedroom, I go to the dresser and pull out my swimsuits. I keep them all here since my apartment doesn’t have a pool. None of the options feel appropriate. Too-small bikinis I bought because they were good for tanning, and old ones that are too tight in the butt since it got bigger after the rest of me stopped growing.
I have to remind myself that it doesn’t matter. Brogan isn’t some guy I’m interested in. There’s absolutely no reason to try to impress him.
I pick a black one-piece that I bought to do water aerobics with Grandma last summer. I mistakenly thought I needed something more appropriate than a string-tie bikini. But I only wore it once because when I showed up the first day, half the old ladies were rocking bikinis and tankinis. Plus, I figured if I was going to brave the heat, I should at least get a decent tan.
When I walk back out into the kitchen, I pause at the window. Brogan is sitting at the table with my parents while everyone else is in the pool.
Perfect. I let out a long breath. I guess it’s showtime.
Outside, I head straight for Brogan. His mouth curves up when he spots me. I slide into an empty seat next to him.
“Nice day,” my dad says, turning his face up to the sky. Itisa beautiful day. I love the fall in Arizona when the temperatures start to drop from unbearable to just hot.
“What’s Alec up to today?” Mom asks. “I’m surprised he didn’t tag along.”
My mom loves Alec. He lets her fawn over him like a mother hen, something Sierra and I stopped allowing years ago. And he’s completely himself around her, giving her all the gossip and insight into his dating life.
“He’s at a company picnic.”
“For Channel 3?” Her brows knit in confusion.
My anxiety arises at the mention of my job. Me and my big mouth. “Yeah.”
“Why didn’t you go?” she asks, leaning forward in that way that tells me she has an opinion about me skipping a company function.
“Because I’m here spending time with my family.” And because I didn’t want to see everyone in the stupid shirts I designed. My attempt to play it off like it’s not a big deal isn’t working.
