Page 34 of Sweet Redemption

His thumb grazed over my lip, freeing it from my teeth, and God, I wanted to kiss it. I didn’t. I stepped back like the good little girl I was, sick to death of being good, and smiled. “Do you guys have some kind of curfew tonight?”

“Yeah. Lights out at ten.”

“That’s about four hours from now. I can be showered and out of the locker room in twenty minutes. You hungry?” I spun my clover between my fingers again. “Bring your brother and whoever else wants to come. I’m sure my team would love to meet them.”

“Where are we going?”

I smiled, knowing just the place. “Merritt’s Grill.”

And that was it. What had started with two kids drawn to each other in a way they were too young to understand changed that day. More like changed again that day. We’d change a million more times over the next ten years. But that day didn’t hurt. Not like the ones that would come later.

My phone vibrates next to me with an incoming text, and my stomach drops at the name that’s displayed.

Hendrix.

Why?

You’d think he’d have taken the hint when I never opened the last damn text.

I pull my wine glass closer and stare at my phone as it vibrates again.

Fuck. This.

I finish my Riesling, grab the phone, and open the texts before common sense kicks in and I have time to change my mind.

Hendrix

That’s twice you’ve seen me and ignored me.

Serena

Not so sure a panic attack is ignoring you. How about you pop that massive ego, Sinclair.

Hendrix

How was your lunch with Langley? I hadn’t realized you two were together.

Serena

Oh no. You don’t get to do that.

Hendrix

Do what?

Serena

Ask me questions like we’re friends.

Hendrix

Why not?

Serena

We stopped being friends when you married someone else.

Hendrix