Page 217 of The Bluffing Game

SAGE

“I’m so excited to see you in a couple of hours.” Parker’s voice is soft on the phone. “I really want to spoil you and show you that we could really be the full package,” Parker says.

I murmur my agreement, not wanting to say that I don’t know how excited I actually am, but I don’t know what else to say. Everything that he says to me seems to be going so fast, and I don’t really understand why he likes me. He’s barely asked any questions about me, and he seems to only talk about my appearance and how good I look on his arm. I should be happy. He is handsome. He hasn’t pushed me into doing anything. He shows me that he’s interested in me. He’s made it very clear, and yet it doesn’t feel like there’s a real spark between us. I don’t know if I’m overthinking it. I don’t know if it’s because I have this crazy chemistry with Dalton, but for now I’m going to ignore it.

“So, are you sure I can’t pick you up?” Parker says.

I pause because I know that’s what he wants. I know he’s waiting for an invitation.

“No, I’m good. I’ll meet you there.” I hear the doorbell ringing, and I hurry to the front in surprise. “Hey, can you hold on a second? There’s someone here.”

“Okay, sure.”

I open the door, and I see Dalton standing there with an impish grin on his face.

“Hey, are you busy? Can we talk?”

“Oh, sure. Hey, Parker. Dalton’s just come over and …”

“Not that jerk-ass again,” he says.

“Excuse me?” I ask, shocked that he called Dalton that.

“Nothing, nothing. I was just coughing,” Parker says. “I’ll see you later.”

“Yeah, I’ll see you later.”

We hang up, and I usher Dalton into the condo.

“You look like you’re getting ready for something,” he says.

I forgot about the curlers I put in this morning and laugh as I touch my hair self-consciously.

“Yeah, Parker and I have another date. What’s going on?”

“You’re still seeing him?” Dalton asks, shaking his head, looking pissed.

“Yeah, we have been dating.”

“He’s not a good guy, Sage.”

“There is nothing wrong with him. I don’t know why you would say that.”

“I don’t get a good feeling about him.”

“Well, I get a great feeling about him,” I lie.

I don’t know why I don’t want to be honest about the fact that there is something about Parker that’s not quite right. Maybe I’m just being stubborn.

“So, can we talk?”

“Sure,” I say. “The girls are out at the mall right now, so it’s just you and me.”

“Good,” he says. “I’m going to grab a glass of water, if you don’t mind.”

“Go right ahead. Be my guest.” I laugh. “Or rather, I’m still your guest.”

“You’re not. This is your home, Sage.”