“Uh-huh. Sure.”
I’m still grinning as she marches to the end of the pier and dives into the lake.
Chapter 12
BLAKE
ANNALIESE AND THE BOYS STAY well into the night. When it gets colder, we move the party from the dock to the great room, where we play drunk charades and a game of “never have I ever” that devolves so fast that Annaliese and I immediately say we’re done. Her friends are horndogs. Coming from the enchanting Kuri, it’s not that bad, but the other two are very broey. Every time Clay says something flirtatious, it just sounds gross. And Preston reminds me too much of Isaac. He has his red hair and the same bulky build.
Speaking of my ex, he just texted, determined to stand his ground on the escalating Hot Boi situation.
THE CHEATER
Just buy a new one. I don’t see the big fucking deal.
I want the one I already bought.
THE CHEATER
Like it was even your money. Daddy bought it for his princess.
The accusation has me fuming. Low blow. I could easily buy a new toaster, butthat’s not the point.
“I still can’t believe you broke up with an NFL player,” Annaliese remarks as she watches me rage text my ex.
“Maybe he’ll get cut in training camp,” I say hopefully.
“With that monster rookie contract they gave him? No way.” Clay drops his empty bottle on the coffee table and gets to his feet. “Need another beer.”
On the other end of the couch, Preston rolls his eyes at me. “I don’t get why you ended it. All professional athletes cheat.”
Annaliese stares at him in shock. “That doesn’t make it okay, Pres.”
“Just saying, it’s part of the lifestyle. You think all their wives and girlfriends aren’t aware of it? They just turn the other cheek because they want their flashy diamonds and their cars and mansions.”
“Yeah, well, I don’t want any of that,” I retort. “I want someone who doesn’t cheat on me.”
“Honestly, I’m surprised you were even interested in being part of that lifestyle,” Annaliese tells me, sounding bemused. “You don’t seem like the type who enjoys the spotlight.”
“I mean, I don’t love it,” I admit. “But I was never really in the spotlight with Isaac. I don’t think that would’ve changed once he started in the NFL.” I offer a little shrug. “I was his plus-one. The woman behind the man. Nobody ever paid much attention to me when I was with him…” I trail off, suddenly disturbed by my own words.
But it’s true, I realize. I was Isaac’s arm candy, for lack of a better word. The cute, unassuming sorority girl he could bring to events, who looked good in a dress and could chat with the other girlfriends but never hog his spotlight.
Fuck.
Is that what drew him to me? For some reason, that notionbothers me.
Annaliese snorts loudly. “I’d rather die than be some man’s plus-one. This day and age, it’s time for the man to be behind the woman.”
“Oh, I’dloveto be behind you, Liese,” Preston declares, and she flicks up her middle finger.
I catch a blur of motion from the kitchen. Clay is grabbing a beer from the fridge. But rather than rejoin us, he leaves the bottle on the counter and wanders toward the stairs.
That instantly raises my hackles. I made it clear they can’t go roaming around the house, and while I’d like to say I trust these guys by virtue of them being friends with Annaliese, I don’t. Sadly, it’s not unheard of for guests to try to steal memorabilia from my dad and Garrett’s study. It’s happened before. And we have valuable photographs and a few framed jerseys hanging on the walls upstairs.
“I’ll be right back,” I say, cutting Annaliese off midsentence. “I don’t want Clay wandering around the house by himself. I’m gonna go get him.”
“Yeah, go get him, tiger,” Preston drawls.
