"Can’t wait." I end the call and spin to see the girls watching me again. I head back inside. "Alright, you have thirty minutes to finish this and get out of my hair."
"Why the sudden rush?" Caroline asks. "Is it because a–"
I cut off her question. "No, a girl isn’t coming over. But I’ve gotta go see a friend."
"What friend? You don’t have friends besides your teammates." Ivanna challenges.
"How do you know?" I argue back.
"Gals, it’s fine, let’s finish up what we can." Harper says.
"I want to know what he’s hiding from us. Because if he’s hiding a relationship I need to know." Caroline whines.
"Why do you need to know so bad?" I see them all look at each other.
Entire conversations are had between them with no words spoken.
"Caroline made a wager." Harper caves.
"Harper!" Caroline scolds.
"She lost already and she went double or nothing." Ivanna says as she inspects her manicure.
"What was the bet? Can I get in on the action?"
"You’re the bet." Harper says.
"Huh?"
"Caroline was so confident that she could get you into a relationship before the end of last season she bet us a six month shopping ban."
"How does that work?" I ask instead of focusing on how misguided her bet was.
"If you weren’t in a relationship she couldn’t shop for new clothes for six months. If you were, then we couldn’t shop."
"And when I wasn’t in a relationship at the end of last season you went double or nothing?" I look at Caroline. "How are you going to go a full year without shopping?"
"A clothing rental service is a loophole I’m prepared to explore." She says with her chin held high.
"And what made you think I was headed for a relationship?"
"Just a hunch."
"Sorry to bust your bubble C. I’m not in a relationship and I’m not headed towards one."
But the words sort of fall flat as they come out of my mouth.
Is it possible Iwantto be in a relationship?
Nah.
Not possible.
I’m simply guaranteeing myself consistent sex with the same person.
Not like a relationshipat all.
Chapter twenty-six
