Kevin pointed at Cassian. “Your coach is overnighting some logo wear to the hotel, so as soon as it gets here, we’ll race over there with it.” He gave a faux-serious expression to the group. “Try not to stay out too late tomorrow night, because the next morning we leave at nine AM for Salina, Kansas. Now, there, we’ve got a seventeen-year-old boy with leukemia.”
As Kevin continued to lay out the schedule for the next week, Gigi forced her attention on her dinner. Though she felt Cassian’s eyes scraping over her skin like nettles, she refused to look at him.
Because if she did, he’d see so much more than anger. He’d see she hadn’t forgotten the good, sweet memories.
I belong with you.
Every time she remembered the feel of her hand in his, the way he’d looked at her like she was the light drawing him out of the darkness, her heart just twisted.
That night at the party, yes, okay, she’d kissed him. But he’d kissed her back, and it had been real. You can’t fake a response like that.
She should know. She’d never felt anything like it since.
When she couldn’t take it anymore, she looked up, wanting to read his expression and see if he felt even an ounce of regret for having destroyed their friendship.
But he wasn’t looking at her. He was smiling, as his girlfriend gazed up at him.
God, they made a gorgeous couple. So sexy and glamorous.
Rage rushed her, and she had to check the impulse to lob a roll at his head.
You are so stupid. Getting all worked up over a kiss from nine years ago?
Are you kidding me? He’s had seven million kisses since then.
He’d forgotten her. Moved on.
When the presentation ended, everyone started chatting. She heard people talking about going to the bar after dinner, but she couldn’t do it. She would give one hundred percent of herself on this tour—starting tomorrow. Tonight, she needed some time alone.
Kevin came up to her. “Can I talk to you for a second?”
“Yes, of course.” She pushed her chair back and followed him a few feet away from the table. “What’s up?”
“Is there going to be a problem between you and Cassian?”
“No, of course not.” Oh, God. How humiliating.
“Okay, good. I thought I picked up some tension between you two. See, the thing is, we’re really glad to have him with us, but he’s got some bad press at the moment, and it’s extremely important that it not impact the tour.”
“Then why is he here?”
“Can you imagine what would happen if we didn’t allow people on these tours who had something going on in the press?” Kevin asked with a smile. “That would get really complicated. So, our policy is to not give it any attention, keep the focus on the kids.” He paused, his expression turning serious. “It just…it can’t be on the Lollipop and the Bad Boy Quarterback.”
The weight of embarrassment crushed her down to the size of a pebble. “I promise you there will be no problems. I’ll be one hundred percent focused on this tour.”
“Great. Just what I want to hear. We’re actually adding a few more visits since you joined. There are a lot of kids who want to meet you.”
“I can’t wait to meet them.” Honestly, they’d bring her as much joy as she brought them.
If she kept that in mind, it would be a great week.
Cassian swiped the bathroom mirror with a hand towel before he started shaving and looked into the face of an asshole.
Well, if it isn’t a little Lollipop.
That was his first sentence to Gigi in nine years.
As regret scored his heart, he stopped scraping and closed his eyes. Jesus, he’d never get that image out of his brain, the proud jut of her chin, all while her eyes screamed hurt and humiliation.
I did that. I hurt her.
Again.
Okay, well. New day, fresh start. Tilting his head back, he shaved his neck. In his defense, he hadn’t been expecting to see her. He’d choked, plain and simple.
Because she’d been looking at him with disgust.
That’s because she thought you were flirting in front of your “girlfriend.”
Who just happened to be the same woman he’d held naked in his arms in a tabloid photograph. The same woman he’d supposedly had a threesome with.
Nice. Way to reinforce her shitty impression of him.
He turned on the faucet and rinsed the razor, before drawing it back over his jaw.
“Knock knock.” Amie entered his room from the adjoining one. “Okay, I printed out the schedule, so now you have a physical copy. The guys get into Calamity tomorrow. I’ll meet with them in the morning and get their groups worked out. Well, except for Dean. But he’ll be there on opening day.”
His friend had an opportunity to visit his new girlfriend—an actual princess—so he was grabbing the chance.
Finished shaving, Cassian peered out of the bathroom. “You confirm the teachers for the electives?”
“Yes.” Amie read notes on her phone. “Let’s see. Callie’s committed to teaching art for all three sessions. Delilah can’t do a daily class, but she’s going to take the kids to the farmer’s market Saturday mornings and then do a cooking class. And Meghan’s psyched to do yoga—” She glanced up to find him heading for the luggage stand. Gawking, she immediately looked away. “Jesus, Cassian. Put some clothes on. There are some things a girl can’t unsee.”
He stood in nothing but his boxers. “You’re the one who walked into my room without knocking.”
“I knocked.”
“You said the word, as you barged in. Now, turn around and let me get dressed.” He grabbed his jeans off the top of his suitcase and stepped into them. While there, he glanced at his cell phone and saw a few text messages.
Tyler: Need a favor
There wasn’t anything he wouldn’t do for Gigi’s dad.
Cassian: Anything.
Tyler: 10 year old kid’s obsessed with penguins, so we’re bringing in two from the zoo. Want to give him something he can take home. Got a car waiting for you at the valet desk. Get directions for toy stores and see if you can find a stuffed penguin.
Cassian: You got it.
Tyler: Thanks.
“Everything okay?” Amie asked.
“Yeah. I’ve got to run an errand, though. Anything else we need to discuss before you head back to Calamity?”
“Just those money transfers, but let’s wait until I pull all the receipts together for the new equipment we bought. I’ll have it done by the time you get back to the hotel.”
“I might not come back.” Who knew how easy it would be to find a stuffed penguin? “Might have to head straight to the community center. Just send a PDF of the receipts to me.”
“Or I can stop by the center. I checked, and it’s on my way to the airport.” When she saw his alarm, she said, “Would you chill out? I’ll text you when I get there, and you can meet me in the car, so no one sees us together.”
She’d come on the trip to go over last-minute camp business—but only on the condition that they not be seen together in front of fans or press. He didn’t need to stir up more speculation about the nature of their relationship.