Page 76 of Playbook
“Are you okay, honey?” Her mom asks from where she sits at a table under a large umbrella blocking the sun. “That looked bad.”
“Fine,” she calls quietly. I get the feeling even if she was hurt, her ego wouldn’t dare let anyone know it.
“I got her, Renee.”
“Sports were never London’s thing,” her dad adds. “You should have seen her the time we signed her up for basketball.”
Laughter follows the statement.
London blushes and ducks her head so I can’t see her eyes.
Steve reappears with a beer, handing it to me from the edge.
“Thanks,” I tell him and then lead her by the elbow. “Come on. You don’t want it to get any worse.”
She follows and I lift her up onto the edge of the pool in the shallowend farthest from her family. London watches in amusement as I put the cold can gently on the bump.
She takes over holding it there. “Laying it on a little thick, aren’t you?”
“Not at all. This is how I take care of all my fake girlfriends.”
I place my hands on either side of her and then dip down into the water in front of her. Those sexy legs of hers graze my chest. I take in some water and then when I pop back up, spit it at her.
Her smile finally makes an appearance. “My family likes you.”
“Yeah?” I ask, running a hand over my wet hair.
She nods.
“I like them too.” Her family is legit. They’ve all been nice and welcoming. I can see there is a lot of love there, and London and her sister are obviously tight.
“What’s your family like?” she asks, tilting her head so she can more comfortably hold the beer can there.
“I got it,” I say, stepping back up to her and taking over to give her arm a rest.
She looks like she wants to fight me for a moment, but then relaxes.
“My family is…chaos.” I grin thinking of the small house in Valley where I lived with the Holland brothers.
She searches my face for…something. I can’t read her expression.
“I think it’s okay.” She reaches for the can and neither of us lets go for a moment. She smells like coconuts, and I have the overwhelming desire to lean in and lick her face.
“Mind if we join?” Chris’s deep voice cuts through the nice moment.
London takes the can from me and I slowly turn in time to see Chris step down into the pool with his girlfriend next to him.
“Sure,” I say, moving beside London but staying close. I don’t like the way he looks at her. Or the way she seems to stiffen every time he’s around.
“London, I love your suit.” Gretchen smiles at her and moves closer with a floatie. Chris doesn’t have a lot of options but to follow. Though he had the option of not coming today.
“Thanks.” London’s reply has a hint of uncertainty in it like she isn’t sure if she’s messing with her. Probably because the suit Gretchen is wearing is basically floss. London’s suit could be ripped apart and make five of hers. No judgment but I’m afraid to look at Gretchen too closely because I’m pretty sure I can see part of a nipple.
I don’t think Gretchen’s being petty, though, maybe just a smidge oblivious to the situation. Or, fuck, maybe this is perfectly normal behavior for two girls who have dated the same guy. What the hell do I know?
“I heard the Mavericks won today,” Chris says. “Congrats. I think you guys are going to have a great season.”
“Appreciate you saying so.”
