“Do you want to talk about it?” he asks as he drives down the highway. He doesn’t turn to look over at me, and it feels like he’s trying to give me the space I need to confide in him or unburden myself. But still, I can’t take it. I can’t do this.
“Please don’t,” I whisper and tuck my chin down. I can’t even face him right now.
Eric doesn’t say anything more; he just continues to drive us toward the practice track out in East County. He pulls through the gate, and there appears to be a bit of a commotion by the entrance, but I can’t see what.
“Stay close,” he says as we park and climb out of the car. Where King was clearly with me when he was protecting me, Eric is slightly behind me and to the side, walking with me in a very bodyguard, not boyfriend way.
“Of course.”
When we make our way over to the entrance to the track, it’s clear the commotion is a large media presence, and I’m not sure why. Paparazzi line the sidewalk outside the entrance. I can’t help but wonder what’s going on or how they got in here past the gate. I don’t have long to wonder, because Bobby comes out of nowhere and slings his arm around my shoulders, surprising me. I also haven’t seen him in days, not since our terrible date when he was rude and arrogant.
“Hey, baby,” Bobby greets me in an overly friendly manner, and I don’t know what to do. I should do something, but I’m so surprised I don’t have an opportunity to block him when his head lowers and he kisses me. In front of Eric and all the photographers.
And it would seem that my life could, in fact, get worse.
I don’t know what to do, so I pretend like nothing is out of the ordinary and continue to walk into the track. Bobby comes with, like we do this every day and a pleased-with-himself smile on his face. I know now that this whole sham is a setup of his making, and I want to smack that smile right off of his freaking face.
“What the hell was that?” I hiss once we’re behind closed doors.
“All’s fair in love and war,” he says with a happy smile.
“There will be no love here if you continue to try to play me,” I warn him.
“Come on, Addie,” he cajoles, and I see a little glimmer of my childhood friend. “I didn’t mean any harm.”
I sigh. “I know that you didn’t mean it, but that doesn’t mean it’s okay either.”
“I’ll try to be better,” he says before placing a kiss on my cheek. And then he’s gone, and I’m left wondering what the hell just happened.
“I really don’t like that guy,” Eric mutters under his breath, but I can hear him clearly.
“He’s not that bad,” I reply, and he glances at me with a you’ve-got-to-be-kidding-me look on his face. I guess no one likes me today. I’ll just have to survive without my fan club, I guess. “Really. I promise.”
“So you’re gonna marry that jackass like all the sports channels are saying?” he drawls as Manny walks up.
“Thatburrodrives me apeshit,” he says. “There’s something about him that I just don’t like.”
“He’s not that bad!” I snap. I’m feeling more than a little frustrated that these two think they can weigh in on my life, when it’s their friend who left me brokenhearted. But then again, I’m desperately praying they don’t know about that. “And what is aburroanyway?”
“A jackass,” Eric explains before throwing me right under the bus. “Addie was just telling me how she’s going to marry the moron.”
Manny narrows his eyes on me, and I throw my hands up in the air. “I was not!”
“And she let him kiss her in front of the paps outside,” Eric further explains, and my eyes go wide as Manny’s face turns bright red.
“I did not!”
“Did he kiss you?” Manny asks, his voice deceptively quiet.
“Yes,” I admit. “But he caught me by surprise!”
He sighs. “This is going to be a problem,” Manny says cryptically.
“I know,” Eric replies.
“What are you guys talking about?” I can’t help but ask.
They look at each other before looking back to me, and I know without a doubt that they are about to lie to me.
