The Trouble With Love(14)

She felt Cassidy’s eyes on hers, but when she flicked her gaze toward him, his flicked away. Not before she saw that they were blue tonight. It had been a game they’d played back in the day. Aqua eyes, she’d called them. She’d been forever trying to figure out which she’d preferred: the days when they glowed green or the days when they burned blue.

“Where’d you go to college?” she asked Benedict.

“Duke. I was goalie at the same time Cassidy here was striker.”

“I’m surprised you two are on speaking terms after the game. The one that went to penalty kicks?”

Benedict glanced at her in surprise at her knowledge of collegiate sports, and she gave a sheepish shrug. “Go Tar Heels?”

“Holy shit,” he said, looking from her to Cassidy. “You both went to UNC? Did you know each other?”

“We did,” Emma said, before Cassidy could open his fat mouth and say something horrid.

“Wow, small world,” Benedict said.

You have no idea.

“Camille actually asked me if I thought you two would click,” Cassidy said, his expression all pleasantness.

“Yeah?” Benedict asked.

Cassidy’s smile was quick. “I told her absolutely.”

Emma rolled her eyes, just as Benedict rested a casual hand on her waist. “Well, guess I should thank you then.”

Cassidy grinned. “Call it me making amends for the way that last game played out.”

Benedict laughed. “Do you know how many times I’ve replayed that moment? I was so sure you were going to go right. There was only a flicker of doubt that maybe you’d go left….”

Emma knew how this story went. Knew Benedict had done what most keepers would have done.

But Cassidy had changed the rules. He hadn’t gone right. Or left. He’d aimed dead center, his kick securing UNC’s victory over one if its most bitter rivals.

Emma couldn’t believe she hadn’t placed Benedict as that poor goalie from that epic night. But then, perhaps she shouldn’t be surprised that she hadn’t recognized him.

Back then, she’d had eyes for only one guy.

Emma was spared more soccer talk by the arrival of a cab at the curb. The doorman at Camille’s building opened it, and Cassidy’s attention shifted.

A familiar brunette approached. Danielle.

Emma smiled reflexively as Alex’s girlfriend turned their awkward threesome into an unbearable foursome.

Cassidy’s hand found Danielle’s waist, mimicking the position of Benedict’s hand on Emma’s.

For the briefest of seconds, his gaze burned into Emma’s and she felt herself go hot, before going cold. Very, very cold.

She forced her gaze to Danielle, ready with a Nice to see you again greeting, but Danielle wasn’t looking at her.

Nor was she looking at Cassidy.

Her blue eyes were locked on Benedict, and she looked dazed.

“Danielle, you remember Emma?” Cassidy said.

“Sure, hi!” Danielle said, her voice a little sharp as she gave Emma a wide, false smile. Her gaze immediately went back to Benedict’s and then she glanced at the ground.

Puzzled, Emma looked at her date and saw that he, too, looked shell-shocked before seeming to recover.

“Benedict Wade,” he said, extending a hand toward Danielle.

Emma’s nose scrunched in confusion. All night long, Benedict had been charming and jovial, but now his tone was almost reverent.

Danielle extended her hand, and Emma could have sworn she saw sparks when their fingers made contact. Actual sparks.

They both jerked back.

Emma lifted an eyebrow and her gaze found Cassidy’s just as he looked at hers. For once, their eye contact was free of subtext. For the first time in a long time, they were on the same page.

The page of confusion.

“Have you two met?” Emma asked, unable to keep her curiosity at bay.

“No,” Danielle said, still sounding dazed.

Benedict wordlessly shook his head.

Emma’s eyes met Cassidy’s again, wondering if he realized what was going on here. Emma was pretty sure that his girlfriend and her date had just stumbled upon the elusive insta-love.

Also known as love at first sight.

Also known as They are complete idiots if they think it will ever last.

Still, Emma knew when she was beat. She and Benedict had gotten along fine. More than fine. But the air was practically sizzling with sexual tension, and it wasn’t between her and Benedict.

Emma’d bet that even Camille hadn’t seen this turn of events coming.

Emma cleared her throat, just as Cassidy glanced down at Danielle. “Shall we let these two get back to their date?” he said.

“Oh! Sure!” Danielle said, forcing a smile for Emma.

“It was nice meeting you,” Benedict rushed to say.

“You, too.”

Danielle and Benedict held each other’s gaze for just a second longer than necessary before she followed Cassidy toward the lobby.

Danielle didn’t look back. If she did, she would have caught Benedict staring after her.

Emma sighed. All chances of a perfect first-date kiss had just evaporated.

His gaze swung back around to her. “They seem nice.”

“Mmm-hmm,” Emma said.