She fumbles with the edge of my towel.“You ever worry about him?With—I don’t know—other girls back at school?”She holds up a hand.“He was joking earlier—about the naked swimming thing.But…”
Seriously, where is this coming from?I don’t like the concerned look on her face.She must be projecting.She’s had a shitty time of it, and now she thinks all guys are like the A-hole.
“We’re good, Gen.”
She lets out a slow breath.“Okay.”She sends me a warm smile and my stomach sinks.
Shit.Are Eric and I fine?
Things didn’t feel fine a moment ago.I’ve never worried about him, but I’ve been busy.Now that school has ended, have things changed?
I give my head a small shake.I’m overreacting.Eric and I will spend time together at the lake and get back on track.
Lines of strain form around Gen’s mouth.
“What about you?”I ask.“Ready to start dating again?”
She digs her heels into the gravel.“Sure.At some point.”
Gen has said this before, but it’s been a month since she got her heart crushed.Not long enough to heal, but sometimes getting back out there is the only way to pull out of a slump.
Eric splashes toward us, droplets running down his toned chest as he exits the water.I smile at him, and he grins back.
Eric and I are good.Of course we’re good.Gen will be good too.As soon as I find her a nice guy.
Gen is smart, beautiful, and funny as hell, though she doesn’t try to be, which makes her even more hilarious.I’m lucky to have a solid boyfriend, and I want that for her.
With the extra seasonal help at the casino this summer, there should be at least a few decent prospects.If not, we’ll scout the local hotspots and see who’s around.
Most of my friends from Tahoe are finishing college or have found jobs in San Francisco, but the populace of a vacation town is ever-changing.Lots of dating possibilities.I’ll find someone for Gen, or at least distract her from the slump she’s in and show her a good time.
Lake Tahoe is all about the high.How can I fail?
ChapterTwo
Tonight is my first night on the Blue Casino floor working at one of the blackjack tables.So far, I haven’t botched my addition skills, and my riffle shuffle rocks.
The customer in front of me swigs his diluted complimentary drink.He’s in a red floral Hawaiian shirt that stretches over a massive beer belly.I’m ignoring the coarse black hair poking through the gaps between his buttons, so I won’t be forced to gouge my eyes out later.
He picks up all but one chip—my tip, bless him—and walks away.As he leaves, Gen signals to me from her elevated perch in the Blue Casino open lounge.
I’m not supposed to chat with anyone but my customers.
I glance at the pit boss.He’s handing out complimentary drink tokens and what appears to be a coupon for a free night’s stay to a woman with a blond bob haircut and a designer bag.The pyramid of chips in front of her is worth about twenty grand, and while my pit boss distracts her with a room comp, a new dealer replaces the old.
Pit bosses switch dealers when a customer gets too lucky.I have no idea why, but somehow that can break a winning streak.
Sneaky casino bastards.
The pit boss is busy orchestrating the woman’s downfall, and I have no customers for the moment.I wave Gen over.
Gen’s job is more social and fluid.As long as she slings drinks, she can talk to anyone, though she does have to be careful about approaching tables outside of her section, even if it’s just to gossip with a friend.Higher-stakes gaming goes to the veteran waitresses who’ve been around five years or more, and those bitches are territorial as hell.And catty.As far as I can tell, they’ve hazed Gen for no other reason than that she’s young and beautiful.
Gen skips the three steps down from the lounge and crosses the wide lane separating us.Her nearly black hair, hazel eyes, and pale skin are a striking combination.With my strawberry-blond mop, we’re like a giant checkerboard walking down the street.
But right now, every guy in the vicinity is staring at Gen.
Poor girl.The universe put a reserved female in the body of a knockout.
