Playing the Player(77)

She shrugged. “So maybe things started between you two because of a stupid bet. They’re guys; they’re morons. It goes with the territory.”

My stomach twisted and rolled. How could she be so casual about this?

“But God, Trina,” she continued. “The guy is in love with you. Everyone can see it.”

I swallowed over the lump in my throat. “It’s what I was always afraid of with him. Just being one more notch in his belt.”

She raised her eyebrows. “You’re not, though, right? You guys didn’t…” She didn’t finish the question.

My face flushed as I thought of what we’d done together, and what we hadn’t. I shook my head. “He never pressures me…like that.”

She sighed. “I told you he was a good guy. That’s more proof of how much he cares about you.”

I pulled my knees up to my chest. “I don’t know what to do,” I whispered. My emotions vacillated between anger and despair.

Slade’s calls and texts had stopped last night. As angry as I was, the thought of us being over, really over, shattered my heart into a million pieces. The only saving grace in this whole situation was having the week off from nannying so I didn’t have to see him.

“He’s probably hanging at the club pool with Alex today,” Desi said, eyeing me. “We could go.”

I gaped at her. “No way.”

“But I thought he was teaching you to swim. You’re getting more comfortable in the water, right?”

“Look, I’m not going to see him. At the pool or anywhere else.”

She sat quietly for a moment then propelled herself off the bed in one graceful move. “You know what? That whole perfectionist thing you’ve got going on? You need to drop it. Or there’s not going to be anyone good enough for you. Ever.”

Before I could respond, she’d left my room, slamming the door behind her.

I felt like she’d punched me. I curled into a ball on my bed, pulling the covers over my head, letting the tears overwhelm me.





Chapter Forty-One

Slade

Tuesday, July 16

Only someone at his wit’s end would ask his mom for advice. I’d obviously reached the depths of desperation.

Alex’s advice, to show up at Trina’s door with flowers, was totally lame. Not that I wasn’t willing to fall on my sword. I was. But I needed to do something more dramatic, like Lloyd in Say Anything, standing outside with a boom box over his head.

After Dad left, I cornered Mom in the kitchen.

“Oh, sweetie,” she sighed, shaking her head. “I hate seeing you like this.”

Mom had found out about the breakup thanks to Alex and his big mouth. He and my mom always gossiped together like those chicks in the nail salon in Legally Blonde.

I hated that he could kick my ass so easily, because I desperately wanted to kick his for telling Trina about the bet, and making it sound like the bet was about me using her. I had to explain to her that wasn’t the real bet, but how could I if she wouldn’t speak to me?

I sat across from Mom. “I’ve given up on calling. And texting.” I chose my next words carefully. I didn’t want her going all psycho-shrink all me, but I was desperate. I couldn’t lose Trina over something this stupid.

“Mom, I…I need your…” I took a deep breath. She watched me expectantly. “I need your advice.”

She looked shocked. Not surprising, since the last time I’d asked for her advice was when I couldn’t decide between a new bike or a new skateboard. When I was, like, ten years old.

She sat up straight in her chair, and the professional analyst side of her came to life. I put up a hand.

“No,” I said. “Not your professional advice.” I took a breath before plunging ahead. “Your advice as…as…a…” I squeezed my eyes shut. “As a girl. Woman. Person of the female persuasion.”

I waited for her laugh, but it never came. Cautiously, I opened one eye. She looked like she was ready to cry.

Crap.

She sniffed, pulling a tissue from nowhere like a magician, and wiped her eyes. “Oh, Slade. You’re breaking my heart.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Yours, too? I thought I’d just broken Trina’s.” I tried to force a smile, which just made her cry harder.

“It’s been so…so…” She struggled for composure. “…so amazing to see you with Trina.” She paused to blow her nose then blinked at me. “I just knew you weren’t a man whore.”

“Mom!”

She shrugged. “Well, that’s what the kids say now, isn’t it? That’s what Alex said, anyway.”