Page 25 of Over the Moon (Rosewood River #3)

eighteen

. . .

Eloise

Emilia, Henley, and Lulu had all come by the guesthouse for book club earlier, and they were hanging out while I got ready to go to dinner with my father, Randall, and Sebastian, and of course, Clark would be attending, as well.

We’d barely spoken this week. We went through the motions at practice, and we hadn’t texted about anything outside of practice and workouts since Monday.

He wouldn’t have to act like he didn’t like me tonight; I managed to make him dislike me all on my own.

And it hurt like hell.

But I needed him to understand all that I had at stake, and he just didn’t seem to realize the seriousness of the situation.

I filled the girls in throughout the week, as we all bonded over this last small-town romance we read, and we’d grown close.

“So, you’ll just act like the two of you are acquaintances?” Emilia asked.

“I guess so. I just needed him to act like I annoy him, you know, to throw everyone off the scent. But apparently, now I do annoy him, so it should be easy enough,” I said, pulling my hair back into a loose chignon at the nape of my neck, while Lulu went through my makeup bag because she was much better at this stuff than I was, and she agreed to help me get ready.

“I think it might be more noticeable if Clark is cold to you because he’s just not that kind of guy, you know?” Henley said, looking at me with a bit of concern. “He’s the fun guy. The good time. He dances and sings and makes jokes and basically charms the hell out of everyone.”

“I’m just worried because Randall is always making these comments about the contract and me being a professional. I feel like he wants to catch me doing something wrong. So I just need him to stop being suspicious.” I shrugged as Lulu put her hand under my chin and studied my face.

“You have great bone structure,” she said. “But I have to side with them. This is a risky plan. Clark’s just not an asshole. But Randall, on the other hand, sounds like a real douche-weiner.”

We all broke out in a fit of laughter at her choice of words.

“Well, Clark has adapted quickly to being an asshole the last few days,” I said, feeling that lump in my throat form again.

Lulu bent down with the pink makeup sponge and started applying something beneath my eyes. I wasn’t used to wearing much makeup, but I wanted to look like a professional tonight and not like I was here on vacation.

“El, I say this as your friend, okay?” Lulu said, as she continued blotting my face.

“Okay?” I said, but it came out more like a question.

“I think you’re misreading him. And trust me, I was a big manhater for a long time before I met my goofy guy.” She smiled and shook her head.

“Stay on point, Lu,” Henley chuckled.

“Yes, right. Okay, so I think he’s probably acting this way because you crushed him a little bit after the date.” She held my chin between her thumb and pointer finger, turning it from side to side and praising her work. “Stunning.”

“Crushed him? What? How did I crush him?”

“Listen, I’m not supposed to know this. Those Chadwick boys are like vaults with the things they share,” she said.

“But I heard Rafe on the phone with him the day after your date, and he was wounded. He said you didn’t mention anything about that night, and you were adamant that it never happen again.

And then I heard him mention that you asked him to act like he can’t stand you in front of your father. He sounded pretty upset.”

My chest squeezed at her words.

“That date was amazing, but what am I supposed to do? The owner of the team, the trainer I answer to, and my father are all coming to town. It’s just a reminder that we shouldn’t even go there.

We’ll be back in the city in three weeks.

I can’t date a player on the team—not that he even wants to date me.

For him, this is just something he’s having fun with.

I’m not a casual girl. I’ve also worked really, really hard for my job, you know?

” I swiped at the tear running down my cheek.

“And my father went out on a limb to get me the interview. This would be really bad for him. I could never do that to him.”

“Hey.” Lulu bent down in front of me and smiled. “Trust me, I get it. I went through something similar a few months ago when I moved to Paris. I left the man I loved because I needed to do that for myself.”

Henley moved beside me and squeezed my hand. “I totally understand your hesitation. It’s a lot to risk for something that’s very new and still unknown.”

“And let’s not forget that Clark doesn’t even do relationships. So I’d humiliate my dad and lose my job and my reputation when he could easily kick me to the curb,” I said.

“There’s a lot at risk. But maybe you can tell him he doesn’t have to hate you after they leave,” Emilia said, as she sat on the bed, smiling at me. “He might have thought that you meant he has to act that way moving forward.”

“Yeah. I kind of freaked out when I found out they were coming to town. I probably overreacted, and we should have just acted normal, like we were friends. I just got in my head, I think. But honestly, it’s because of how much I like him.

It freaks me out. I like him a lot. Too much,” I finally said, feeling so vulnerable and anxious as the words left my mouth.

“I thought I needed to overcompensate because I feel like everyone can tell how I feel.”

“Listen, you are right to be concerned. You are a woman in a man’s world professionally.

I get it. You need to protect yourself. But I promise you, you can trust Clark.

You can even tell him how you feel. Even though you can’t go there, he’ll understand.

You are justified in not wanting to risk everything for something that might not go anywhere, but you can talk to Clark about this.

You two can still be friends and not cross the line.

I mean, you didn’t sleep with the guy, so you're already stronger than most women who would have gone for it,” Lulu said.

“I agree. You are strong and smart and fierce, Eloise Gable.” Henley squeezed my hand. “And if you decide to go for it and keep it a secret, we support that, too.”

“Gahhhh… I love my book besties,” Emilia said over her laughter. “Girls rule, and boys drool.”

Lulu shook her head and laughed. “I used to say girls are cool, and boys are fools .”

“I do remember that phase,” Henley chuckled. “Anyway, you’ve got this tonight. You have been training Clark for over two months, and even he says he’s in the best shape of his life, and that’s after coming off an injury. You’re amazing at your job, and that’s what tonight should be about.”

“Yes. And Clark will follow your lead. So just go there and act like you normally do with him. Part of being good at your job is connecting with the athletes. He trusts you to train him, and that says a lot about your relationship right there,” Emilia said.

I nodded. “Thank you. I feel much better.”

“That’s called a damn good bitch squad,” Lulu said.

“It’s girl squad. Not bitch squad.” Henley gaped at her bestie.

“To-may-to. To-mot-to.” Lulu shrugged and told me to close my eyes as she applied shadow to my lids.

I slipped into my black silk midi skirt and white blouse before sitting down on my bed to put on my favorite nude heels.

I glanced in the mirror, shocked by how different I looked all done up. My hair was pulled back, my makeup really defined my cheekbones, and my eyes looked twice as big. I applied some pink lipstick and puckered before making a popping sound that made everyone laugh.

“Damn, girl, you look like hot business Barbie,” Lulu said.

Henley and Emilia both gushed over my look, and I thanked them all for being here for me today.

I’d been down in the dumps the last few days.

Clark was doing everything that I asked him to do, yet I wasn’t happy about it.

I hated how distant he was being.

I hated that I hurt him.

I wouldn’t have thought that possible, but hearing what Lulu said hit me hard.

Clark and I had a connection, whether we liked it or not.

And even though we couldn’t act on it, it didn’t mean I needed to be cruel.

I was so in my own head that I hadn’t stopped to think about how it had made him feel.

I grabbed the notebook on my bed after the girls left, and I glanced through it. We hadn’t written in it since our date, and I hated that. So I jotted down a note to him because I wanted to do it while I was all in my feelings. I’d give it to him at our next practice.

Chadwick,

I’ve been a real jerk. Fear took over, and I’m not proud of it. First, I want to thank you for the best date I’ve ever been on. I had so much fun, and you made me feel so special. I should have told you that the next morning.

I shouldn’t have asked you to pretend to hate me.

I was scared and insecure, and I messed up.

I hope you can forgive me. Even though we can’t do it again, I’m grateful for your friendship.

You’re the only guy friend I’ve ever had.

Thanks for making me laugh every day, teaching me your dance moves, and being the best athlete on my first stint as a trainer/therapist. We’re allowed to be friends.

I just felt like everyone could read my feelings like an open book.

It’s hard not to act on them most days, so please understand that I’m just trying to do the right thing.

XO,

Weeze

I sighed as I tucked the notebook into my dresser drawer and grabbed my purse. We were meeting at Rosewood’s. I hadn’t been there, but apparently, it was not only the best steakhouse in Rosewood River, but people from all over the Bay Area traveled here just to eat there.

I got in my car and drove the short distance to the restaurant. My father had texted when he arrived an hour ago, and they were all dropping their bags at the hotel and then heading over to Rosewood’s.