Page 21 of Once Upon A Player
“I’ll come here. What time?”
“About seven.”
“Sure.” She nods and clutches her portfolio a little tighter. “So, um, it’s pretty casual?”
“Dead casual. Seriously, if my brother wears anything but faded jeans and old trainers, it’ll be a miracle.” Although maybe not such a miracle, now he has Alice.
“Well.” She shifts her weight from one foot to the other before edging toward the door. “I’ll see you on Friday, then.”
…
Violet
Lucas walks with me out of his penthouse and right to my car and then watches me drive off, so I can’t freak out until I’ve driven around the corner, when I pull over and rest my forehead against the steering wheel.
I just agreed to go out with Lucas Carter.
Only to help him out, as a thank you.
Yeah, right. I don’t think even he believed that load of rubbish, but I’m too keyed up to care. Obviously, my cringe-worthy lack of social life didn’t make him think I was a loser, although what was I thinking, dragging sodding Geoff into the conversation?
I give a dramatic shudder. At least Lucas didn’t seem to mind, but then, why would he? As he pointed out, more than once, on Friday night we’re going out asmates.
It doesn’t stop the ridiculous grin from splitting my face, though. Because although I’ve no intention of ever dating another player, the truth is I don’t want to stop seeing Lucas. And unless I’m totally misreading all the signals coming from him, he wants to keep seeing me, too, and not in agood mates onlykind of way.
You’re going to get burned, Vi.
No, I’m not. We both know the score.
I groan. I’m so lying to myself. Why did he have to be a top footballer? If he were anything else, we’d be dating already.
And he’s nothing like his rep.
Hmm. I’m not so sure about that. He flirts like a pro.
I daydream for a while about his beautiful blue eyes and dimples to die for, when I remember I’m scheduled to work on Friday night.
“Shit.” There’s no way I’m canceling on Lucas. I pull out my phone and text Katie.
Meet you for lunch?
We meet in our favorite burger bar, and over a plate of chips, Katie checks her staff roster on her phone.
“I’ll see if Tristan or Shell can swap their Saturday night shift for your Friday. It shouldn’t be a problem.”
“Thanks.”
“Why do you want to swap? Have you changed your mind about going to Aphrodite’s next week?”
This could be tricky. “No. And before you say anything, Idoknow what I’m doing.”
“Don’t tell me it’s got anything to do with Lucas Carter.”
“He just wants me to go to a family thing for his birthday. It’s not a date.”Must keep telling myself that.
“A family thing?” She says it like I just told her we’re going to an orgy.
I sigh. “As friends.”
