Page 124 of Relationship Goals

“Thank you for the great session,” another player tells Lauren, who beams at the praise.

“You’re the best for finding this gem of a trainer,” one of the guys tells me, grinning widely before wincing as he gingerly steps past where Lauren and I stand. “I am going to be sore in places I didn’t even know I could be.”

I make myself smile at him, but inside, I want to scream. I want to tear my hair out.

As for the real target of my ire, Luke Wolfe watches me carefully, and I wonder if he’s finally guessed what I’m playing at.Call me on my bluff, bitch, I think at him, giving him a razor-sharp smile.

I’m coming unraveled with every step he takes toward me, torn between wanting to smack that smile off his face and kiss it off his face.

Which, truly, is a sign of how unfair life is.

Why does he have to be so handsome? Why does he have to put up with all this shit and act like I’m doing him a favor?

I need to raise the stakes.

He’s in front of me before I can sidestep him, picking me up and spinning me in a circle while my legs dangle.

It would be so easy to accidentally let my knee slip straight into his balls. Watch him crumple into the turf like the giant shit he is.

I savor the idea for a minute, then he sets me down on my feet, and I blink back into reality.

“Violence is not the answer,” I mutter.

“What?” Luke tilts his head, then laughs. “What did you say?”

“I said violets are the answer,” I hedge. “Violets. As in my favorite flower. Uh, because I’m sure you’re thinking,What can I send Abigail to thank her for organizing this?And violets are the answer.”

He quirks an eyebrow, a slow smile transforming his face into something even more delicious than usual. “Good to know.”

“Yep, good to know.”

He tightens his grip on my hips, and I go hot all over, which just makes me even madder. How dare my body still be attracted to this man! I mean, yes, he’s gorgeous.

But he’s also aliar.

Luke Wolfe is just like every other person who thought they could charm their way into my life and use me up for all I was worth.

Hurt races through me.

“Can I see you tonight?” he asks, raising an eyebrow. I hate how much those overly bushy eyebrows affect me.

I would rather never see him ever again, especially not when I can’t seem to control myself around him.

“I’m having my annualLord of the Ringsrewatch,” I lie blithely. “Then I have to wash my hair.”

“Can I come watch it? The movie…and maybe the hair?”

“Yes,” I say slowly, an idea taking form in the ether. “But I have to warn you, I take my rewatch very seriously.”

“I can handle whatever you throw at me, love,” he says, brushing a kiss against my forehead. “See you tonight.”

He tosses me a grin as he jogs off to rejoin his teammates, and I want to sink to my knees and fucking cry.

No, not cry. That can’t be it. I’m not sad about this.

I’m not sad, not at all. I’m mad. My throat tightens, tears beginning to sting my eyes.

I must be confusing the need to cry with the actual need to scream in frustration.