“Yeah,” I say dryly. “But unlike you and Jay, Rowyn and I aren’t faking it for our careers or to get back at any ex. She’s got her eye on another guy and we’re doing this so he’ll notice her.”
Penn gives me that look, the one that says he’s two seconds away from calling bullshit. “You do realize that never works, right?”
Before I can respond, Nicklas strolls past, towel slung over his shoulder, smirk in place. “You with your girl tonight, or do you think she might want to spend some time with a real man?”
My jaw tightens. I cock my head and raise a brow as I look at Penn. “See, that right there, my friend, is proof the fake thing works.”
Penn chuckles. “That’s just Nicklas being Nicklas. He’ll flirt with a fire hydrant if it gives him attention. Still, maybe keep him away from your girl.”
“She’s not my girl,” I say, probably a little too fast. “She’s my friend. I’m helping her out.”
“Sure,” he says, voice dripping with amusement. “So why don’t you and your friend come over for dinner tonight? You can relax, maybe play some cards. You know, as friends.”
“I can’t tonight,” I tell him. “Promised I’d make Rowyn dinner.” And a few other things that don’t need to be in the team group chat.
Penn just grins. “Fine, tomorrow then. Down time before the game. We could all use it.”
“I’ll check with her.” I think back to when she was in the box, chatting with the WAGs. I think she might’ve actually had fun, and could probably use a friend or two. Rowyn is normally reserved, but that night I’d caught her laughing, talking, her eyes bright. “Might be good for her to get to know Jaylynn better.”
“Perfect. I’ll tell Jay.”
I shower fast, pulling on jeans and a hoodie, anxious to get out before anyone else invites me somewhere I’ll have to dodge more questions. The air outside is warmer than it has been, a rare early-spring night that smells like fresh rain. I tilt my head up, taking in the blue stretch of late day sky.
“Hey.”
I glance over my shoulder. Ash is jogging to catch up. “Where you off to in such a hurry?”
“Just meeting up with Rowyn.”
He slows beside me, brows raising slightly. “Rowyn Perry?”
“Yeah,” I say cautiously. “Why?”
He scratches the back of his neck. “Nothing. I just didn’t peg you as the kind of guy who’d hook up with a reporter.”
“She’s not doing a story on any of us,” I say, a little defensive. “That’s not her beat.”
“Yeah, I know.” He looks off toward the parking lot lights, face tightening. “I just thought… after what happened with Ember…”
He trails off, but he doesn’t have to finish. The name hits like a slap. Ember. The girl who’d blown my life with her fake pregnancy, followed by me breaking off the engagement.
I swallow the knot in my throat. “Rowyn’s different. We go way back. She’s not like that.”
Ash nods, sincerity in his voice. “I trust you, buddy.”
Trust.
The word sticks in my chest as he falls quiet. Because the truth is, I do trust Rowyn. I trust that she’s not here for a story or a headline. I trust that when she looks at me, she’s not seeing a scandal or a sound bite.
But she is using me.
My lips twist into a humorless smile as I unlock my car. Yeah, she’s using me to get a guy. Now, the messed-up part…it was my suggestion and no, I’m not all that okay with it anymore. But it’s too late to turn back now. Right?
But trust…
Yeah, that word comes with baggage. It makes my chest tighten, pulling up memories I’ve worked damn hard to bury. Ember’s deceit, the lies, the fallout. And, hell, the birth control thing.
I don’t know why Rowyn and I didn’t think to talk about it. Probably because this whole sex lessons idea came out of nowhere. It’s not exactly something you prepare for. Still, I make a mental note to bring it up tonight, because if there’s one thing I learned from my past, it’s that trust without communication is a ticking time bomb.