Playing the Player(42)

I expelled a sigh of frustration. “That’s what I don’t get. I’ve never met anyone who…she’s just…” I sighed again. “I can’t figure her out.”

Desi waggled her eyebrows at me. “Can it be? Slade Edmunds met a girl he can’t wrap around his finger?”

I crossed my arms over my chest. “You’re not going to help me out, are you?” I grabbed my ponytail, retying it with my shoelace. I needed to get some of those elastic things girls used. “Kids’ lives are at stake, you know,” I told her. “Little kids.”

Desi snorted. “Yeah, right.” She pulled another pretzel from the case and handed it to me. “You’re still hungry, right? Trey always is.”

I took the pretzel. “Thanks. But shouldn’t I pay you?”

She shook her head. “My manager says I can have four per day for free.” She giggled. “He must think I’m a pig.”

I took a deep breath. “So, did she have some childhood trauma? Is that why she’s such a control freak?”

Desi’s eyes widened like I’d hit a nerve. She glanced away before speaking. “Her dad split when she was younger. Her mom’s cool, though.” She shrugged. “You could have an actual conversation with her, you know. If you really want to get to know her.”

“We have lots of conversations, but most of them end in arguments.”

She quirked her lips. “Sounds like my girl.” Then her face brightened. “But maybe there’s hope for you. She only argues when she cares about something. Or someone.”

My stomach did a weird somersault, which I chose to ignore. “I told you, this isn’t about…us…or anything like that. It’s about our job. So we don’t end up killing each other before the summer’s over.”

She just nodded, looking all smug. Crap. The second I left here, she’d text Trina. Hell, she’d probably send up a flare.

“Look, never mind. I just thought…”

A swarm of little kids ran into the store, trailed by a couple of dads talking on their cells.

I started to back away, but Desi’s voice stopped me. “Slade, hang on.” She looked desperate. “Please?”

Surprised, I nodded. I sat on a stool, scanning my phone while the dads and kids placed their orders. Tons of parties tonight, and I was invited to all of them.

Once the store was empty, I slid off the stool and met Desi at the counter.

“What?” I asked.

She bit her lip nervously then looked around.

I grinned at her. “Nobody here but us, Dez.”

She frowned. “I know. It’s just…” She took a deep breath. “I promised Trina a long time ago that I’d keep her secret.”

My heart rate sped up. “What secret?”

Desi shook her head. “I can’t tell you. But maybe she will. There’s something you should know about her. It explains a lot. Why she’s so uptight.” She glanced around again, looking for invisible eavesdroppers. She leaned across the counter and whispered. “Why she can’t swim.”

I had a desperate urge to run away. I didn’t need a girl with baggage. Drama. Emo. No way.

But I didn’t run. Instead I waited, wanting to hear more. “That’s it?” I prompted. “That’s all you’re going to tell me?”

She huffed out a sigh. “I wish I could tell you everything, Slade. But it’s Trina’s story to tell. And I made her a promise a long time ago.”

Girls. So freaking dramatic. Still, I sensed this wasn’t the usual girl drama. This was something real.

“Thanks,” I said. “At least you gave me a clue. Sort of.”

She laughed. “Just talk to her, Edmunds.” Her grin made her eyes sparkle. “She thinks you’re a total slacker who’s had everything handed to him on a silver platter, but I keep telling her you’re more than just a pretty face and a smokin’ body. Don’t let me down.”

I gaped at her. “She thinks I’m what?”

Desi crossed her arms, looking smug. “Don’t look all shocked, dude.”

My heart hammered in my chest again, but not in a good way. I turned to leave before Dez could see how much her words had pissed me off. And hurt.

A posse of middle school girls ran into the store, giggling. They stopped to stare at me, giggling even louder, then pelted Desi with shouted orders.

“Don’t give up, Edmunds!” She called after me. “She’s worth it.”

As I spun around, I almost crashed into Trey.

“Hey man.” He gave me a high-five. “You scamming my girl for free food? I hope you left some for me.” He grinned.

“Yeah,” I said, forcing a laugh. “I left you a few crumbs.”

Trey jangled his keys. “You going to Jackson’s party tonight?”

I shrugged. Maybe I should. Anything to get BB off my mind. “Maybe. You?”

“Yeah, as soon as Dez gets off work. Text me if you decide to go. You should bring Trina.”

I froze. “What?”

Trey punched me on the arm. “Mary Poppins. Drag her along. That girl needs to get out more. Dez and I try to drag her to parties and stuff, but she hardly ever goes.”

“I…uh…why do you think I can drag her out if you and Desi can’t?”