Page 14 of Buzzer Beater

“I wandered around a bit.” She looked around the table, finally stopping at me. “Her friend, Elena, was talking about how hot some guys across the room were and Lucy was agreeing. Elena challenged her to go talk to them to see if they were interested and guess what?”

I wanted to shake her for making me wait.

“Lucy said he wasn’t her type. Not no, I’m engaged or that’s inappropriate. She just eyed the guy and said nah. Either our bride-to-be believes it’s all fair game until the wedding day, or she’s a big old liar.”

I didn’t want any of them thinking either option about her. I knew it was their instinct to be on my side. To see me as the good guy, but in this situation, I most definitely wasn’t.

The girls all made eye contact, as if they could read each other’s minds.

“Oh no.” Reese groaned next to me. “They’re scheming.”

“No.” I spoke up, so I had everyone’s attention. “I want everyone to drop it. If Lucy wants me to think she’s engaged that’s fine. I don’t care if she’s lying.” That was a lie. I cared way too much. I wanted to know everything about her and the past five years. Did she get her dream job? Was she happy? Did she miss me?

Colby and Kendall looked at each other. I thought I’d at least have Kendall on my side, she was the newest and therefore the least devious of the women.

Kendall smiled. “We’re going to get to the bottom of this.”

Wyatt turned to her. “No chasing her around. You’re still supposed to be taking it easy.”

She rolled her eyes. “My kidney won’t be harmed by a little recon work. We won’t be running after her. More like finding a cabana in the same area.”

“No.” I said it again, but no one acknowledged me.

In perfect synchronization, the women stood and left together. I had a bad feeling as I watched them leave. I wanted to leave it all alone. Just pretended I hadn't seen her and that she hadn’t undone all the progress I’d made in just one look.

“Well, you’re in for one interesting week,” Reese said.

I glared at him. “Thanks for your help, guys.”

Olli threw up a hand. “You know what they’re like. There’s absolutely nothing anyone of us could say to change their minds.”

Noah nodded. “I’ve learned not to fight it. It’s much easier to go with their plans.”

They might be right, but I didn’t like it.

Lucy didn’t deserve them following her around and harassing her.

“Just try to rein them in as much as possible.”

Erik laughed. “I’ll tell Madi and Chloe we won’t post their bail if they get arrested.”

Grant laughed. “They wouldn’t last two minutes in a Mexican prison.”

“That’s the point. It should keep them in line.” Reese shook his head.

I zoned out while they joked about the trouble the girls could cause in a foreign country. The ladies could be evil masterminds when they wanted to be, I just had to hope I wouldn't end up with another broken heart at the end of this vacation.

5

Lucy

I tried to ignore Elena’s gaze, but she wasn’t easily deterred.

“Lucy.”

I studied my plate like it held the answers to every question floating in my brain.

“Lucy, you can’t ignore me.”