Chapter Six Summer #2
“Look, I know you still have friends at Oakley, but if you’re going to be a part of this team, then you need to keep the things we do here to yourself.”
My brows pinch together. She can’t be serious.
“They would never ask me to spy on you guys. That’s not—” I stop myself from saying our in time. “Their style.”
“Good.”
It isn’t exactly the welcome I might have hoped for from my new team captain, but I accept the olive branch anyway. I’m ready to turn and walk off, but she’s still standing here and making some sort of effort, so I don’t move either.
When she speaks again, I wish I had taken my opportunity to go.
“You and Rowan…” Amanda’s voice trails off. It’s the closest to discomfort I’ve seen from her.
“There is no me and Rowan,” I clarify. The last thing I want is to get mixed up in their drama.
“It’s fine if there is. We aren’t together. I’m talking to Ronnie First. He’s quarterback for the football team.”
“Good for him.” I nod a few times, unsure what else to say.
“He’s fun and definitely cute, but he doesn’t really do serious.”
“Ronnie?”
“No, Rowan.”
“Oh.” I open and close my mouth several times.
“I just thought you should know.”
“Thanks,” I say, still feeling very uncomfortable.
“Okay, well, see you tomorrow,” Amanda says, and relief shoots through me as she steps away.
“See you,” I say, watching as she walks off.
I’m still staring, a little dumbfounded, when MJ jogs up.
“Hey. Nice job today,” she says.
“Thanks.” I let out a breath. There’s something about MJ that makes it hard to be anything but relaxed. She glances back at Amanda. “What was that about?”
“I’m not sure,” I admit. “I think she might have been warning me away from Rowan. Or welcoming me to the team. It’s hard to say.”
She laughs softly. “She can’t have all the guys at Frost Lake High. Besides, if she cared so much about Rowan she shouldn’t have cheated on him.”
My brows lift. “For real?”
She nods but looks like maybe she wishes she hadn’t shared that. “I’ve probably said more than I should, but it isn’t a secret or anything.”
We walk slowly toward the parking lot behind the soccer field. My mind spins as I stew on this new information. I knew that Rowan was still pining after her and she was with someone else, but why the hell would he still want to be with her if she cheated on him?
“I don’t know exactly what happened, but rumor is that she started hooking up with Ronnie while she and Rowan were still hanging out.”
“Wow.” I didn’t see that coming. I saw Ronnie, and he didn’t seem all that impressive to me.
“Amanda and Rowan were talking at Boone’s party last night, so I’m sure they’ll be back together again as soon as she and Ronnie end things.” MJ looks at me, gaze narrowing slightly.
“Sounds tiring,” I say of the back-and-forth.
“There’s really nothing going on between you and Rowan?”
“Is that so surprising? I barely know the guy.”
She shrugs one shoulder. “He talks to you a lot for someone he’s not interested in.”
My cheeks heat, and I do my best not to think too hard about if she’s right or not. It doesn’t matter. “Trust me. There is nothing going on between me and Rowan Blakenship.”
* * *
I have a shift at the club on Saturday afternoon. Charlotte isn’t working today, but we’re slammed anyway. It’s a gorgeous day, and it seems like everyone is trying to enjoy one last day of summer.
We have our first break in two hours just before I’m about to clock out.
“Go ahead and go,” Brent says.
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah. Next shift will be here soon.”
Grateful, I grab my stuff before he can change his mind.
There’s just enough of the day left that I might be able to get in a long run.
I’m not where I want to be conditioning-wise yet.
The Frost Lake girls, Amanda in particular, have that advantage on me.
I should have gotten in a few more running days over the summer.
As I’m crossing the grassy area between the pool and the clubhouse, someone calls out to me.
“Lindsey!” someone shouts, which is uncommon for the golf course.
I look in the direction of the voice to find Rowan behind a table on the first tee box. He waves as my stare falls on him.
There isn’t anyone at the tee box currently besides him, so I walk over.
“What are you doing here?” I ask.
“Holding down the fort.” He waves to the Frost Lake University banner on the front of the table. Then he picks up a navy foam finger. “Can I interest you in some merch?”
“I can see what you’re doing, but why?”
“I got roped into helping out. Some sort of admission fair thing,” he says. “My parents are friends with the head of admissions. You met her, actually. Well, sort of.”
“The woman at dinner,” I say, perfectly picturing her. I groan. “Of course I would make the worst impression ever in front of FLU’s head of admission.”
“So what?”
“I’m applying there.”
“Really?”
“They just got a new coach for the women’s soccer team two years ago, and she’s amazing. They made it to the Sweet Sixteen last season, and this year they’re going to be even better.”
His lips tip up at the corners. “Well, I guess I don’t need to sell you on FLU.”
“They’re my top choice,” I say and then mutter quietly, “I almost got fired in front of the head of admissions at my number one school.”
“On the plus side, I doubt she remembers you.”
I scowl at him, and he laughs.
A group of golfers walk up to the tee box.
“Afternoon,” Rowan says to them.
The guys tip their heads to him.
“Good school,” one of them says, then touches the brim of his hat. He’s wearing an FLU hat. “Do you go there?”
“No, sir,” Rowan says. “I’m still in high school, but I hear great things. My parents are alumni.”
“You’re Lee Blakenship’s son,” the other says.
Rowan nods.
“You play soccer for Frost Lake. You all had a great season. I hope you win state this year.”
I try to find an easy way to slip away while they’re talking but can’t seem to manage it.
Especially when Rowan slings an arm around my shoulder and says, “That’s right.
And this is Summer Lindsey. She’s a transfer to the girls’ team.
They’re looking good too. Might have two teams making a run for that state championship this year. ”
The two men give me polite smiles, then exchange a few more words before heading up to the tees.
Rowan moves his arm from around my shoulders like this is all perfectly normal. What must it be like to be this comfortable in your own skin?
“Are you on a break?” he asks.
“No, actually I’m done for the day.”
“That’s great. You can keep me company.”
I arch a brow. “Why would I do that?”
He bats his eyes at me and attempts to pout, but he’s too playful and happy to pull it off. “Because I have FLU merch and the other two left me to go to lunch.”
“I need to get a run in before it gets too late.”
He scoffs. “On your last Saturday of summer break?”
“Yeah? And possibly look for other colleges to apply to now.”
He sits and pulls out the chair next to him for me. “If you’re so worried about what Kristy thinks, then stick around. She’ll be back in thirty minutes.”
I gape.
“She went to lunch with the other person working the booth, Val. She’s on the soccer team.” He beams at me like he knows he has me. “You can fangirl all over both of them.”
“It would be cruel to joke with me right now.”
He holds my gaze. “Only one way to find out.”