“Oh, you meant it,” she says with a grin. “I think you’re skilled enough to kill, Alex.”
***
Once training is complete, I ask Coach Neill to linger nearby while I head into the girls locker room to shower. It’s a protective measure, one that makes me feel much safer for a split second. Showering is my recovery space. Where the world is in utter chaos, the shower is predictability, comfort, and a ritual that provides cleansing.
I rinse quickly, dry off, and pull on dark jeans with a sleeveless emerald green blouse. The look is complete with white tennis shoes that host a green stripe to match my blouse. After gathering my things and trying not to look at the bench between lockers, I head for the exit, hoping that I won’t run into anyone in the hallway who might keep me from going home.
My shoulders drop with defeat. I don’t want to go home today.
Stepping into the hall makes me freeze in place. Well, the universe works fast to fulfill wishes. Leaning against the opposite wall with the most casual expression is Soren, wearing a gray Polo shirt with a white collar and khaki slacks that accentuate all the right features. My eyes drop to his hips, thighs, and then to the way his hand shifts in his right pocket. A long bulge pulses briefly, but I don’t look long enough to try to determine if what I’m seeing is what I’m actually seeing.
“What?”
He gives me an innocent grin. “Bet you’re hungry.”
“And how could you figure that?”
“Because you worked hard at practice,” he points out. I turn right to head for the parking deck and he skips after me, catching up with my pace. “Come on. I’ll take you out to eat at the club.”
I arch my right brow. “Why would you do that?”
“Because it occurred to me the other day that not one of those dick-focused motherfuckers has bothered to take you on a proper date.”
It’s weird to hear him say that—and it’s stranger still how my heart skips a beat in response. His hand skims over the small of my back as he guides me to his sports car and helps me into the passenger seat. It happens so fast that I don’t have time to argue against the offer, and by the time I’ve thought of a great excuse, we’re already seated at the restaurant at Thasos.
The waiter greets us in French. Before I can say anything, Soren orders for us, speaking more fluent French than I could have anticipated. Our impressed waiter beams and then retreats to the kitchen. Soren catches me staring at him and winks.
“Well, I guess you’re just full of surprises,” I reason. I reach for my water and take a quick sip. “Thanks for dinner, I guess.”
“It’s the least I can do. Bare minimum.”
My curiosity piques. “Really?”
“I know what the guys have put you through,” he says. “I’ve seen it. How badly they treated you. They don’t know how to treasure or appreciate you.” He flashes a cocksure smile. “Not like me.”
I scoff. “You just want my money.”
“My father wants your money,” he corrects. His eyes fall for a second as he plays with one of the silver forks next to his plate. When he meets my gaze, he whispers, “I just want you.”
“I don’t understand.”
A soft smile quirks on his lips. “I wouldn’t believe me either. But I’ll make it up to you. I swear.”
Being with Soren never occurred to me. Sure, maybe it’s a thought I considered at some point as part of my plan—and it has been nice to have social lubrication as a result of his announcement—but it’s not like he’s Prince fucking Charming here.
Except he’s sort of acting like it now.
He listens intently when I talk, and then he responds to what I say instead of waiting to share what’s on his mind. It’s a total flip from his usual behavior, the cocky trickster who will verbally abuse the people around him just to get whatever he wants. It’s so convincing that it makes me wonder if I dumped all the pills into the lake or if maybe I kept a few and took one this morning. Did I?
When we’re done eating, he pays for the bill and offers me his hand. He grins. “There’s someone I want you to meet.”
“I’ve already met your parents, Soren.”
“No, this person is way more important.”
I study him carefully. “All right, if you say so.”
***