Page 62 of Is She Really Going Out with Him?
Spicy books about workplace romance
*Orders The Spanish Love Deception by Elena Armas*
Chapter 20
“I think you should justsleep with him,” Lottie says as we stand on the sidelines watching Ethan play hockey for his school team.
“Shhh,” I hiss, nervously looking around to see who might have heard her. Lottie is already drawing attention. She’s wearing aWorld’s Greatest AuntT-shirt pulled tight around her pregnancy bump and she keeps whooping loudly whenever anyone on Ethan’s team has possession of the ball. The sidelines are buzzing with parents, and my heart sinks as I spot Neil standing alone near the goal line. Even from half a field away, I can see his cheek is still a strange purple color.
“I don’t want to be another notch on Will’s office bedpost,” I tell Lottie.
“Maybe it’s not that. Maybe he’s in love with you,” Lottie says, and this makes me burst out laughing.
“That doesn’t make any sense.”
“Yes!” Lottie says, warming to this theory. “He’s had a crush on you forever, but he’s trying to rein it in because he knows he’s leaving.”
Now that I’ve filled Lottie in on my moonlit flirtation with Will, his kindness over Katniss, and the secrecy over Deedee, she is full of theories and advice, most of which involve “throwing caution to the wind” and sleeping with him.
“How does Deedee fit into this theory of yours then?” I ask, wincing as Ethan takes a thwack to the ankles by someone on the opposing team.
“A distraction,” she says.
“It’s more likely he got bored in Hay, andIwas the distraction until someone better came along.”
“Better?” Lottie shakes her head. “What planet are you on?”
“What do you mean?”
“You’re hot! You turn heads wherever you go, you always have. I don’t know when you stopped seeing it.” We watch as Ethan runs for the ball and I take a minute to digest her words.Is that true, or is she just saying it because she’s my sister?“Woohoo! Go, Ethan!” Lottie yells toward the pitch, then at almost at the same volume says, “Will is exactly what you need, a younger guy who knows what he’s doing. Break the seal, get your confidence back. If he’s not boyfriend material, who cares, have a kinky weekend, then move on.”
“Hi, Anna,” comes a voice from behind me. Lottie and I both swivel around to see Neil standing right there. His appearance makes me start, not only because he’s crept up on us, but also because his face looks even worse at close range.
“Oh Jesus, Neil, that looks…bad. Have you seen a doctor?” I ask.
“It’s a secondary infection,” Neil tells me. “It looks far worse than it is. I’m told the oozing is a sign of improvement.”
“Really?” I ask, wincing. “Um, Neil, this is my sister, Lottie.”
“Hi,” Lottie says, reaching out to shake his hand. “Is your daughter playing in the match?”
Neil nods. “Tilly scored a goal,” he says proudly. Then, withhis eyes on the pitch, he says, “I told Sheila that you and I were seeing each other. I hope that’s okay.”
“Oh, right. Um, why?” I ask, a sinking feeling in my chest.
“I want her to know I’ve moved on. You don’t need to do anything. I’m only telling you in case she asks.”
Lottie and I exchange a look.
“I’d rather not lie, Neil,” I say gently.
“I already mentioned it to a few people. You can spread the word that we broke up if you like,” Neil says, stuffing his hands into his pockets. My gut swirls with indignation, and I clamp my jaw shut. This is why people date online—it’s easier to never see people again.
“We’re going to go and stand over here now. Lovely to meet you, Neil,” says Lottie, steering me away from him. She says it with such a warm smile, Neil doesn’t even seem offended, he just waves us off.
“This is what happens when you get involved with people you have to see again,” I hiss to Lottie. “I can’t just have a kinky weekend with Will, I have to work with the guy. Plus why are we even talking about this, because he’s clearly not available.”
“Why don’t you just ask him what’s going on? What have you got to lose?”
