I let Flint have his talks with her because I knew his words didn’t mean anything to her. She shrugged them off, and he felt better having “done his job.” Being in the middle sucked, but the truth was I needed both of them. I didn’t want to have to choose.
When I finally hit my exertion limit, I walked in a few circles with my hands laced on my head then collapsed onto the cool grass.
“Good morning, stranger.”
I lifted my head, squinting against the sun. “Kelsey, hey.” I let my head drop back and closed my eyes. Nothing like the ex-girlfriend appearing out of nowhere at the worst time.
“My guy’s not usually this visible in the media during the summer.”
“I’m not your guy.” We were never together during the summer. She had no clue what she was talking about.
“We used to jog these paths together. Remember? Then we’d go back to your place and?—”
“I’m twenty-four not ninety-four. My memory is just fine.”
“Tell me, does she remove her leg when you’re together? Is it kind of weird? I’d have to insist the lights be out—totally black in the room.”
I rolled my head side to side. “You weren’t a bitch when we were together; I never would have been with you. Why now? Why stoop so low?”
“Why her? Are the tabloids right? Is she a charity case? A puppy from the pound?”
I lifted up on my elbows and squinted at her again. Why was she so damn ugly? How did I not see it before?
“I love her. That’s why.”
Kelsey fake stumbled back a few steps. “Love?” She laughed. “You told me you weren’t looking for love. You told me your career was your only love. Does she know that? Does she know your ‘love’ means nothing, because if you have to choose, you’ll choose your love of the game?”
“I’m sorry.”
“I don’t need your apologies. I’m going to watch you break another girl’s heart and that will be all I need to remind myself that you were a waste of my time.”
I honestly thought we had an amicable split. Clearly I was wrong. I stood and brushed the grass off my legs. “Enjoy your jog.”
“Cage?” My name fell softly from her lips.
I turned back to her.
“Would you? Would you give it up for her?” The pain in her voice stung a bit. I underestimated her feelings for me.
“I’d give her my last breath.”
Kelsey bit her lips together and nodded. I ignored the tears in her eyes. I had to.
“Take care, Kelsey.”
LAKE
“Lake?”
“On the deck.” I sat up in the lounge chair.
“Wine before noon? If Flint?—”
I shook my head. “It’s Sunday and past eleven. Close enough, right?” The wine had everything to do with Flint, but Cage didn’t need to know that. Flint wasn’t just his agent, they were friends. I could handle Flint. “I’m one lucky girl.” My eyes perused his naked chest and the sexy way his jogging shorts hung low on his hips giving a tease of the V that my tongue had traced countless times.
“That’s the wine talking.” He squatted down in front of my chair and ran his large hands up my bare legs, stopping at my shorts. “You showered without me.”
I nodded.
