Page 14 of The Game

“And, I’m not into swinging, either.” Jenna grins and then turns to study Gunner. “Still living the celibate life?”

“Motherfucker, seriously?” He glares at Tony and elbows him hard in the ribs.

“Shit. I’ve got to play Sunday.” He drops his arm off Gunner’s shoulders and rubs on his abs and side.

“Do you tell everyone you meet about my sex life?”

“Your lack of sex life, in this case. And, I only tell the important people. The ones that matter. Jenna’s the love of my life, so she knows everything. Dani’s your…”

He pauses several seconds and sweat breaks out on my forehead. Oh, my God, what’s he going to say?

Finally, he continues, “Dani’s your friend, and she already knows. All your friends know, so what’s the big deal?”

“Just shut up about it,” he growls.

“If you’re getting worked up about it, why don’t you get laid?” He turns to me and smiles. “Why don’t you have sex with Gunner and put him out of his misery.”

“I…” My eyes are huge, and my mouth is dry. Holy shit. Do I have a neon sign on my forehead advertising my complete infatuation with Gunner? How mortifying.

Jenna hits him in the chest. “You’re embarrassing them. Stop it.”

“Well, if I wait for one of them to initiate this thing, we’re all going to die of old age.”

“Tony, you don’t get to decide who has sex with whom.”

If I sit still enough, will they all forget I’m here? This conversation is not happening. It can’t be.

“Look at them.” Tony turns from Gunner to me and then back to his wife like we aren’t listening. “They’re adorable. They’d make beautiful babies together, and he’d get the corncob that’s stuck up his ass out.”

“Jesus Christ, you’re a prick.” Gunner shoves Tony, who jumps up and lands on his feet. If his reflexes weren’t as quick, he would have fallen on his ass.

“We’re friends. Nothing else. Let it go.” He brushes past the two of them and weaves through the crowd.

Tears spring to my eyes. Shit. This is not how I envisioned the evening ending. Or even starting. Lord, I need a drink and ten hours of sleep. Maybe a new job.

“Tony, you need to apologize to Dani.” Jenna switches her attention to me. “I’m so sorry. He’s got a huge heart, but sometimes he’s thickheaded.”

“I’m not the thickheaded one. Gunner is,” he growls.

“It was nice meeting you.” I grab my purse and slide out of the seat. I’ve got to get the fuck out of here before I bawl.

Chapter Eight

Gunner

I draw in the fresh air outside the restaurant and blow out a steady breath. Tony is getting on my damn nerves, he couldn’t be any more obvious if he tried. Clearly, he’s realized I have feelings for Dani, and he’s hellbent on embarrassing the shit out of me.

If she were attracted to me, I’d do something about it. Celibacy pact of not. Unfortunately, she has zero interest in me in a sexual way.

The moon casts a glow along the sidewalk as I trudge to the parking lot. I should have stayed home and babysat Joselyn for Veronica. That would have beat this night by a mile. Now, Dani’s going to be too humiliated to talk to me, and what fledgling friendship we’ve developed will have gone in an instant. Thank you, Tony.

My phone buzzes in my back pocket. I should toss it under the tire of my Grand Cherokee and run over it. Hell, it’s not my phone’s fault that my personal life is shit. I snatch my phone out of my pocket. Mom. Crap. Now, what?

“Hello?”

“Who was the girl you were talking to?”

What the fuck? My stomach dives to my feet. Don’t tell me the paparazzi got a photo of Dani and me together. I rub my forehead. “What?”

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