Total pages in book: 44
Estimated words: 42306 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 212(@200wpm)___ 169(@250wpm)___ 141(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 42306 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 212(@200wpm)___ 169(@250wpm)___ 141(@300wpm)
Nope.
I’m not going there.
The thoughts circle through my head like hungry sharks. The more I try to shut them down, the hungrier they grow until it feels like they’ll gnaw their way out of my brain.
Every so often, she tries to strike up a conversation or ask me a question. I make it a point to answer in as few words as possible. If I could get away with grunting out a response, I’d do it. After about the fourth attempt, she gives up, allowing Derek and Anne to direct the conversation.
Now…if she’d just stop staring at me with those big blue eyes, I’d probably be able to make it through this dinner without losing it. I can practically feel her gaze licking over me. She doesn’t even try to hide her interest.
Unfortunately, that turns me on even more than I already am.
It takes every ounce of willpower not to reach out and drag her onto my lap before taking her mouth in a punishing kiss.
Fuck.
Fuck.
Fuck.
By the time dinner ends, I’m a jittery, sweaty mess. I need to get the hell out of here before I self-combust. Anne and Poppy clear away the dishes while Coach discusses a few more ideas he’s thinking about executing over the course of this season. I nod at all the appropriate intervals. Every time the voluptuous blonde walks by, I have to force myself not to stare.
It's not like I’m purposefully trying to be a dick. Although, I’m pretty sure that would be her assumption. The last thing I need is for her to think we’re friends.
We’re not.
And we aren’t going to be.
She needs to understand that now so there aren’t any hurt feelings or misunderstandings in the future. I can’t be anywhere near this girl without the need to take her rushing through my veins.
So, yeah…it’s better for both of us if I steer clear.
Just as I’m about to rise to my feet and tell them that I need to get moving, Anne brings out a key lime pie.
If I have one weakness, it’s for homemade key lime pie.
Especially when it has just the right amount of tartness.
And this one does. Each forkful of the custard-like filling practically melts in my mouth. It’s a little slice of heaven on a warm night.
Now that the sun has set, darkness floods the yard, and the stars brighten the velvety night sky. As tempting as it is to sit back and enjoy it, that’s not possible. Not with Poppy in the vicinity.
I finish off my beer before setting it on the table and clearing my throat. “I should probably head out.”
“Already?” Coach glances at the heavy silver watch wrapped around his wrist. “It’s not even nine.”
“Yeah, well…my boss scheduled an early morning practice, and I need to catch a few Z’s so I can run their asses on the field.”
“Sounds like the guy is a real jerk,” he says with a chuckle. “But seriously, I’m glad you were able to make it for dinner. We’ll have to do it again real soon.”
“Definitely.”
Not going to happen.
Once we reach the front door, Anne pulls me in for another hug and Coach claps me on the shoulder. I make sure to keep my distance from Poppy. She doesn’t look surprised by my chin lift. But still, her attention never deviates from me. The muscles in my gut clench as her gaze slides over my body like a physical caress.
Before the evening can stretch any further, I hightail it from the house and to my old pickup parked along the curb. From the corner of my eye, I catch sight of a lime green Volkswagen Beetle in the driveway and shake my head in disgust.
It’s such a girly car.
My guess is that it belongs to Poppy. I don’t know her well, but it fits her personality to a T. Just go ahead and slap flower decals on the damn thing and call it a day.
Relief rushes through me as I slide onto the worn front seat and jam the key into the ignition. A second later, the engine roars to life and I pull away from the house, leaving it behind in the rearview mirror.
If only evicting Poppy from my brain were as easy.
Instead of heading home like I originally intended, I swing a right at the light and head to a little dive bar where the beer is cheap, the music is loud enough to blast the insistent thoughts from my head, and the women are easy. Maybe that’s exactly what I need. Someone soft to sink inside of so I can forget about the girl with the pretty little sundress once and for all.
Poppy
If there were any lingering doubts in my mind that Mason Price doesn’t like me, they’ve been laid to rest this evening.
He barely glanced at me the entire time he was here.