Chapter 5

Chapter Five

Summer

My heart starts beating fast when he asks me out but then it sinks all the way to my toes. He’s not asking me because he wants to really go out with me. He wants to… thank me for helping him. I guess I can understand that.

“Um, sure.”

“Great. Say four tomorrow afternoon?”

“Yeah, that… that’s good. Four.”

“Alright then. I guess I’ll see you after we finish then.”

He turns to hop from the bleachers and get ready to play. As soon as he clears the stands the girls start making noises and jostling me.

“Oh my God! That was so hot.” Kat starts fanning herself.

“I’m so proud, like a momma bird watching her little baby bird leave the nest.” This comes from Pearl.

“Where do you think he’s going to take you? What are you going to wear?” Bea asks a little quieter than the other two but still just as excited.

“Guys, I’m sure it’s not what it sounds like.” All three of them look like I just killed a butterfly. “It’s not because he likes me.”

“What? Are you crazy? Of course, he likes you. Why else would he ask you out?” Kat blows a stray curl back from her face like she’s completely agitated with the situation.

“He’s just being nice because of how we met. He wants to say thank you.”

Bea frowns and turns to Kat. Pearl is the one to speak though. “That doesn’t sound right.”

“That’s because it isn’t.” Kat agrees with Pearl and turns to me with one hip cocked much like her eyebrow. “He isn’t doing this out of gratitude. No way this is gratitude. The man is into you, girl.”

I try to give them a smile and state the obvious. “If it were a date, I’m pretty sure it wouldn’t start at four, guys. Four is the perfect time to take a friend out and still have plenty of time to go back out with someone else later in the night.”

Kat still looks like she’s not buying it. Bea looks like my logic makes sense and she’s sorry for it, while Pearl looks wholly disappointed.

“Oh no. That sucks.”

It does, but I don’t want them to realize just how bad I think so. “It’s still sweet that he wants to thank me. And it might be really creepy, us sitting here talking about him when he could have a girlfriend he loves and doesn’t necessarily want people talking about him or drooling over him.”

Kat is the person who speaks up first, “I’ve never heard Roan talk about a woman.”

That doesn’t mean there isn’t one, but I don’t say it. Kat clearly isn’t going to give up on matchmaking while I am telling myself all of this out loud, so I don’t get carried away like the girls. I might have been dreaming about my Hot Cop but that doesn’t mean anyone has to know about it. I certainly wouldn’t want to be the kind of woman who poached someone else’s guy.

“Well, that doesn’t mean you can’t celebrate getting to know him by dressing up. What are you planning to wear tomorrow?”

My mind blanks at the question. It actually blanks. “Uh, well, uh…”

I got nothing.

“Do you have something short and black with sexy underwear? Something made of lace?”

“Ooh! I could do your nails!” Bea holds hers up so I can see how pretty they are.

“Oh, good gravy, not those things.” Kat snarls her nose up at them. It’s clear she isn’t a fan of the falsies.

“We should all have a girl’s night tonight so we can do them all together.” This comes from Pearl who is rocking a beautiful wide smile. “Kat doesn’t like them because she doesn’t know how to wear them.” She rolls her eyes but then looks to the side. “Last time we did them I glued one to my elbow. But once they’re on, I like them. I think they look awesome.”

“Since we are doing this stupid thing, I suggest my house. That way I only have to learn how to use my own damned bathroom when those demon claws go on.”

We all laugh and start talking about heading over to Kat’s and what we will bring to eat while we have our girls’ night. It takes my mind off having to think about Roan and his motives for going out with me. During our plotting and planning, Kat and the rest of the girls tell me all about the team the guys put together.

After the game, we all pile into separate cars and go to a restaurant. It’s different every time but always loud and full of fun according to the girls. Two things I could stand to have more of in my life right now.