Page 20 of The Game

Chapter Eleven

Dani

“You are not wearing that.” Ashley shakes her head in disgust as she walks into my bedroom. “That’s completely unacceptable.”

“Why?” I wrinkle my nose and glance down at the dress – it’s navy blue and form-fitting on top. I twist around and study my butt. The fabric flutters around my knees. “What’s wrong with it?”

“Nothing.” She shrugs. “If you’re going to a PTA event at the school. You’re going to a wedding with one of the most famous men in the city.”

My breath catches, and my hands shake. This is a horrible idea. I’m not the type to covet the limelight. I need to call him and tell him I can’t go. I’ve got an intestinal bug. That’s it. I take a step toward my desk.

“What are you doing?” She crosses her arms and glares like I’m something nasty in a trashcan with a lid that won’t close.

“Calling him and canceling. I can’t do this.” I run to the desk, but before I can reach my cellphone, Ashley snatches it up and shoves her arm behind her back.

“No, you aren’t. You’ll go and have a good time. Give me a second, and I’ll get you something appropriate to wear.” She turns on her heel and disappears out of the room.

Great. I can’t wait to see what she considers appropriate. I fall against the wall and scrutinize my reflection as she exits the room.

I run my hands down the fabric. It looks fine. Gunner doesn’t seem to be the type to get caught up in clothes, or what a person is wearing. I’ve seen him on the news when they’re getting off the team bus. He dresses nicely, but he’s usually casual.

Gunner’s not the type who wears a purple suit that screams for the paparazzi to do a photo op. Now, Tony, on the other hand, would wear a snappy suit and beg for some media attention.

Several seconds later, Ashley returns with a black skintight dress. And when I say skintight, I mean slither in like it’s a snakeskin. The bodice has heart-shaped cups that should cover my boobs, but where the navy dress flows, this one hugs. Everything.

“I can’t wear that.” My face heats until I’m afraid I’m going to spontaneously combust. “That dress screams hook up.”

She stretches out her arm toward me, and the dress dangles on the hanger between us. “And, you aren’t interested in a hook up?”

“No.” I shake my head vehemently.

“Wrong answer.” She steps into my space and shoves the dress at me. “Wear it, and I’ll do your make-up.”

“Ash, I can’t. I don’t want him to think I’m expecting something more than a fake date.” I hold the hanger like it’s a bomb about ready to detonate. Ashley knows all about Gunner’s mom and her matchmaking plans.

She cocks her head. “Do you want him dating this woman his mom has picked out?”

“No.” Damn it. I answered way too quickly. Not that she doesn’t already suspect I have feelings for him.

“Stop fighting it. Yo

u aren’t fooling anyone.” Her face softens. “Why are you pretending you don’t like him? He’s a great guy, and you would be perfect together. You both love sports and working out. You both prefer hanging out together over partying with the crowd. What’s the problem?”

“I’ve never been the girl that guys are interested in. The only guy I’ve really dated was Tad, and you know how that ended.”

“He was an idiot.”

“Maybe so, but Gunner’s not that different than him. They both played football.”

“And, that’s where the similarities end. Tad was a jerk.”

I dated Tad for six months in college. He finally dumped me and said it was because I wasn’t feminine enough and started dating a cheerleader. Not exactly a glowing review of my sexual skills or a boost to my self-esteem. Since then, I’ve not exactly put myself out there in the dating pool.

“I’m not going to disagree, but that doesn’t change the fact I’m not even remotely in Gunner’s league.”

“Why don’t you let him decide?” Her eyes are open wide as she raises her hands in question. “Put on the dress and let me do your make-up. What’s the worst that could happen?”

“Fine.” I stomp to the bathroom and shut the door with a snap. What’s the worst that could happen? Probably a lot. Making a fool out of myself is number one. I hold the dress out and study it.

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