I flip him the bird as the door closes. “Thanks for that profound unsolicited advice.”
Then I stare at my reflection.
This time I don’t say a word out loud. But in my head, I repeat my new mantra.
Don’t touch her again.
Don’t touch her again.
Don’t touch her again.
I’m sure Phoebe would agree that’s the right approach.
When I return to the table, I slap my palm on it. “Let’s review paintball strategy. We need to crush the opposition.”
That reroutes the conversation with the two most competitive friends I have, and for the next thirty minutes, I am laser-focused on paintball strategy and only paintball strategy.
Logan is determined to win the league, even more so because his ex-wife’s lover works at Lehman, an investment bank his firm worked with.
“So that’s the plan of attack for this weekend,” Logan says, then turns to Fitz. “We will see you after you destroy Montreal Friday night.”
“Annihilation is indeed the game plan,” Fitz says. “I have extra tix. Want ’em?”
Logan shakes his head. “I’m with Amelia that night.”
“Dude, she loves hockey.”
“Afternoon games. I can’t take her to a night one,” he says. “Past her bedtime.”
Fitz tips his chin at me. “Why don’t you take Summer? It’ll help with your public image, lover boy.”
“Good plan,” Logan seconds. “Sell it to the jury, man.”
And the funny thing is, in some other bar, some other guy is cursing himself for crushing on his best friend’s little sister because his friend would hate it.
But that’s not the case here.
Logan isn’t the issue. Hell, he’s given the idea of us his approval already.
The issue is I know exactly how it feels to lose the people you care for, the people who make your world go round.
I know, too, how it feels when your life falls to pieces.
I became a lawyer in the first place because of the battles my parents fought with insurance companies over my sister’s treatments. Because of the marathon phone calls they endured trying to get coverage, to get treatment, to get meds.
I saw what it did to them. How it nearly broke them. How they nearly withered. How we all nearly fell apart.
And how much I needed Logan and his sister at that time. They both became my family. Hell, their parents did too. It’s why I’ve never crossed a line before with Summer.
Because what if it all went to hell?
That could happen.
I don’t want to lose someone I love.
And I’m pretty sure I love Logan and Summer—as friends—and I want them in my life always.
Best way to keep Summer in it? Lock her in the friend zone.
I send her a quick text to see if she wants to go to the game, and she replies immediately with a yes. Perfect. The hockey game will be the ideal opportunity to refocus on our friendship.
“Sure, Summer and I will take the tickets,” I say.
I leave later with the perfect trick to rid my mind of dirty thoughts of my good friend, until Friday morning when I see her march into the pool area at the gym as I’m finishing my swim.
Out of the corner of my goggles, I notice her sundress, how it’s swishing around her legs, showing them off, accentuating her curves and muscles.
And now I won’t be able to get out of the pool.
Time to turn up the friendship charm.
20SUMMER
I crouch at the edge of the pool, waiting for Oliver to finish his lap.
When his head pops up, he gives me a grin. “Good morning, fake fiancée,” he whispers, wiggling his brows.
