Playing the Player(38)

I decided to head to the mall and see Desi, then maybe go to a movie. Anything to stop replaying the horrific swim lesson over and over in my mind.

Desi wasn’t at Pretzel Logic yet, since her shift started later, so I took the escalator to the theater and scanned the show times. My choices were a zombie flick or a romantic comedy. Gore or kissing? No contest. A girl had to get her romance where she could.

After the movie I headed to the pretzel shop. A group of guys congregated, their loud shouts of laughter making me hesitate. Guys always flocked to Desi. As I got closer, I recognized Trey and a couple of his friends.

Desi glanced up, a smile lighting her face. The guys turned to see who she was waving at and my eyes locked with the one person I hadn’t noticed before.

Slade.

Oh my God. Was he stalking me or what? A guy who I never used to see anywhere was now showing up everywhere I went. Everywhere he shouldn’t be.

Slade sucked on his lemonade and pretended to read the menu on the wall.

So was he as embarrassed to see me as I was to see him? Or was he thinking what a pathetic Bird Brain I was? The loser who couldn’t swim. Who couldn’t control a five-year-old girl. Who acted like she’d won a gold medal at a Putt-Putt course.

The guys draped themselves over the tables lining the wall. Their laughter was loud, then their voices dropped low. God, I hoped Slade wasn’t telling them about my swim lesson.

He wouldn’t do that. Would he?

I stepped up to the counter, my face burning. “Next time text me a warning,” I said through gritted teeth.

She tilted her head. “Warn you about what?”

I darted my eyes at Slade.

She followed my gaze. “He doesn’t bite.” She gave me a devilish grin. “Or maybe he does. And maybe you’d like to be his next victim.”

My mouth dropped open. “What?” I glanced nervously over my shoulder, but the guys ignored us, shooting spit wads at each other through their straws.

She shrugged. “I’m just saying…”

I glared at her. “Well, stop saying it.”

She laughed. “You want a pretzel? Lemonade?”

I’d been starving when I left the theater but now my appetite had fled. I shook my head.

She examined me from head to toe. “You look different today.”

I panicked. Was my shirt on inside out? Was my hair sticking up?

“Maybe it’s new makeup?”

I shook my head.

“You just look…more alive, I guess.” She frowned at me. “You sure about the makeup?”

I rolled my eyes. The guys roared with laughter over something, and I was grateful they couldn’t hear our ridiculous conversation.

“You should wear red more often. It makes your hair and eyes really pop.”

I glanced down at my red shirt and denim miniskirt. I was totally regretting the skirt, but all my shorts were in the wash, and it was too hot for jeans.

Why did I care, anyway? Slade had already seen me in swimsuit. I glanced at him, just in time to see him look away from me.

I had to get out of there. “Look, I’ll call you later, okay?”

Desi’s face crumpled. “Come on, don’t leave.” She glanced at the guys. “They’ll be gone in a few minutes. They’re going to some zombie movie.”

As if on cue, Trey walked over. “See ya later, baby,” he said, leaning over the counter to kiss Desi.

I stared at the floor while the guys made catcalls.

They all said various obnoxious versions of good-bye as they moved away from us like a giant amoeba of testosterone.

Except for Slade, who separated himself from the amoeba and walked right up to me. I swore I could hear my pulse thumping in my ears.

“What’s the plan for tomorrow?” His topaz eyes held my gaze.

“Uh,” I stammered, then took a breath. “Butterflies.” As I said the word, they came to life in my stomach.

He frowned. “Butterflies?”

I cleared my throat. “Yeah. The Butterfly Pavilion. Gillian loves it there.” Or at least I assumed she would. Who wouldn’t love butterflies?

A tiny smile quirked his lips. “And you said you weren’t a risk taker.”

“Are you mocking me?”

His smile vanished as he shook his head, looking worried. “No. I’d never do that.” He tugged at his stupid hair tie. “So do you want to drive up there together? It’s a long way. We should take one car.”

I bit my lip. He was right. The Pavilion was practically in Boulder.

“How about if Max-man and I pick you and Gilly up around ten thirty tomorrow?”

I nodded, still searching for words. I pictured us in the pool again. Me flailing around the shallow end, Slade looming over me like the buff lifeguard he was.