Читать книгу Dandelions - Darby Jr. Rae - Страница 8

“Nice play,” he grinned, insinuating I meant to end on top of him.

“It wasn’t a play.”

“So that’s your story, huh?”

“Knock it off,” I said breaking loose. I stood up and brushed the sand off my clothes intent on restoring some of my dignity when Luke tossed me over his shoulder.

“Didn’t expect that from you.”

“I’m full of surprises; now put me down, Tarzan.” I looked back to see most of the girls scowling at me. My attitude shifted. They should have more self-respect. Luke pulled me off his back putting me into a cradle in front of him. “Not so tough when you’re off your feet, are you?”

This was wrong in so many ways. I was being carried by a stranger who I vowed to keep my distance from. Well, maybe I didn’t vow, but I knew better than to allow this. Something jolted through my body and out my toes; I was fairly certain it wasn’t adrenaline.

Instead of insisting he put me down, I continued to taunt him. “Awww is someone a sore loser?”

“You really come alive at night, don’t you superstar?”

“Too bad you’re so clumsy,” I laughed.

“Maybe you want to go swimming to cool down, show off?” He started running toward the water.

“Stop! Put me down!”

Firmly holding me, Luke began to wade into the water until it was just below his knees.

“Still want me to put you down, superstar?” Slowly he began to lower me toward the water, while I wrapped my arms around his neck.

“Don’t drop me!” I laughed trying my hardest to hold on to him.

“You’re a fickle one, aren’t you? Put me down. Don’t put me down. How should I know what you really want?”

“Take me back to the beach. Where is Cole when I need him?”

“Now you bring up Cole. You were flirting with my buddy all night, and here I thought you had a thing for me.”

I wasn’t going to respond to that. It would have landed me smack in the water.

Without further prompting he walked far enough past the water’s edge that my sweats wouldn’t get wet and set me on my feet. From the look on his face, I think he expected me to run away from him. Besides not having the energy to run, I felt the need to show some act of defiance so I shoved him as hard as I could. He barely fell off balance.

“You’re a lot spunkier when you’re not parading around half-naked at the beach.”

“And the charm never ends.”

“You’ll get used to it, Tess.” He grinned and laced his fingers into mine so smoothly I hardly noticed his move. I should have yanked my hand away and announced I wasn’t one of his babes but instead I kept the ball in play.

“Wow, you do know my name. All this time I thought it was just too tough for you to remember all one syllable of it.”

“Easy, superstar, the water is just six strides away.” He raised his eyebrows daring me to continue.

We sat in the sand. There was a short awkward silence, which I made more awkward with my next question.

“So which ones are your girlfriends?” Not a smooth question, but I was curious.

“None of them.”

“You haven’t dated any of them?”

“I’m not dating any of them.”

“So you have dated some of them.”

“Some.”

“And?”

“And I’m not dating any of them now.”

That really didn’t tell me what I wanted to know, and I silently chastised myself for asking. I was no better than any of them; grateful for the attention he gave me. How pathetic. I took my hand back.

“Do you want to come to the beach with me tomorrow?” he asked.

“No.” And I’m not joining your team of showgirls either.

“That’s it, just no?”

“I have to watch my brothers for the next week or two while my mom is out of town. I won’t be able to do anything during the day.” There, problem solved.

“We go to the beach most days. I’ll give you my cell number if you want to come; just call and I can come and get you.”

“I can’t. I have to watch my brothers.” Didn’t I just say that?

“Bring them with you, I don’t care.”

“That’s nice of you to offer, but...” I wasn’t sure how to finish that sentence politely.

“Give me your phone. I’ll put my number in it just in case you change your mind.”

My brain was a few beats behind my body. I handed my phone to Luke. Then I cringed hoping he wouldn’t notice I only had five phone numbers programmed in it, one of them Pizza Hut. Instead of just putting his phone number in my cell, he called his cell with my phone so he could have my number. Smooth.

“Did you think I wouldn’t give you my number if you asked?” Which I wouldn’t have.

“You’ve got me guessing, Tess. Didn’t want to give you a chance to reject me again. I’m tender. There, now I’m saved in your phone. I put Cole’s number in, too.” Luke handed my phone back. “So you’re busy for two weeks during the day?”

“Sadly, yes.” I was softening, but that was his last question.

Cole and Lauren found us. Lauren had to be home by 11:30 so it was time to leave. Luke laced his fingers into mine again and we walked to the car. He let go of my hand to walk to the driver’s side; then stopped short as if someone had slapped him. Turning quickly, he put his hand on my lower back and walked me to the passenger side door. He opened the door for me. I climbed in and quickly pulled my feet into the car. I pictured Luke closing the door too quickly, crushing my legs. He was obviously new at this. I remember Gabe caught my mother’s legs in the car door once when she was teaching him how to help a lady into the car.

As before, Cole did most of the talking on the way home. This time he was teasing Luke about being outdone athletically by a girl.

“You should have seen your faces when the two of you crashed in the air.”

“You should have seen everyone’s faces,” Lauren added, “it isn’t often that someone gets the best of Luke. It was almost worth losing to see. Everyone was talking about it. Everyone was talking about you, Tess.”

“I didn’t get the best of him. I collided with him.” I usually tried so hard just to blend in. I hated to be the center of attention in any way, not that I had much opportunity for it. Thankfully, it was dark so nobody could see my face turn red.

“You hear that, superstar, everyone was talking about you.”

“She’s as fierce a competitor as you are.” Cole continued to talk about me like I wasn’t there, teasing Luke unmercifully. “She out-strategized you, too, man. Almost made the catch, too. Did you see how she used Ellie to block you and charged from your blind side? It was sick how she outdid you, man. You didn’t even see her coming.”

“You want to walk home, cheerleader?” Luke asked. We all knew he was just kidding. He enjoyed hearing Cole’s replay even more than Cole enjoyed telling it. I was sure my face would be glowing in the dark soon if he didn’t stop.

“Ellie caught the pass and fired it off to me for the touchdown. Game over.” We pulled into Lauren’s driveway, and I was relieved to have a break from Cole’s praises while he walked Lauren to her door. Unfortunately, the silence didn’t last long. Luke picked up where Cole left off.

“He’s not exaggerating, you know. I wish I could have seen the whole play myself. Did you really think it through like Cole described?”

“Sort of.” I was looking out the window. There was too much light in the car from Lauren’s house to hide my red face.

“So were you holding back the rest of the game?” Cole was back now and he was interested in the answer too.

“Um…ya, sort of.”

“Why?” They asked in unison giving each other an intense look.

This was bizarre. Guys aren’t supposed to ask questions like that. They are supposed to say ‘nice play’ and punch you in the shoulder or something. Both of them were overly curious and it made me feel weird.

“I don’t like to show off. It isn’t…polite.”

“Polite,” Luke repeated, as if the word wasn’t in English and he was learning it for the first time. “Polite,” he said again. “Are you always polite when you compete? How do you compete politely?” The question was childlike, as though it truly puzzled him.

Turning and facing both of them, I sighed and tried to explain, “Like when I was playing volleyball this afternoon, I just have to be good enough to win. I don’t have to compete with everything I’ve got. It’s rarely necessary,” I paused. “Wow, that must sound awfully conceited. I didn’t mean to…” I looked down at my lap.

“Polite,” Luke said again.

“What does it prove to destroy the other team? I don’t like the attention anyway. I’d rather just have fun playing. I know guys are wired differently.”

Luke put his hand on my leg but kept his eyes on the road. “Please, tell me you were giving it your all on that last play, even if it isn’t true. I need to protect my tender ego here, superstar.”

Just like that, Luke had us laughing again.

I covered his hand with mine and patted it in a reassuring, grandmotherly way. “Don’t worry, you’ve seen my best.” Then I whispered, “For now.”