The Playbook Read Free Page B

I blush, because not one single place comes to mind. Shit. I really need to work on my cover skills . I rack my mind, trying to think of the name of the new bar Mel was raving on about.
    “Oh just that new place, Revive?” The words squeak out, and I’m already planning my escape. It’s strange how I count down the seconds every morning until I see Adam, and when I’m in front of him, I can’t wait to get away.    
    “No way—I was heading there tonight with a few of the guys from here,” he says with a smile.    
    My heart skips a beat. Seriously? Of all the places, I choose the one he’s heading to? I blush again which earns me a chuckle. I’m glad he finds my embarrassment amusing.
    “R-really?” I can't hide the fear in my voice. He has to be messing with me.    
    “We were just talking about it, yeah,” he says casually, handing me my latte. “Maybe we could meet up for a drink?”    
    Is he asking me out ? My heart pounds. Trying to act all casual and non-committal, I take a big sip of my coffee and pretend to consider his offer—immediately regretting my decision as the boiling liquid burns my throat. Gasping, I lurch forward, expelling the hot coffee from my mouth and all over him. He stares back at me, wide-eyed, and mouth hanging open, no doubt in shock.    
    “Shit! Sorry,” I gasp, horrified. “Adam, I'm so sorry. Shit, shit, shit.” I hold my hand over my mouth, my feet frozen to the ground.    
    He stands there silently for a second, in his coffee-soaked shirt, until he finally bursts into laughter. I lift my gaze away from his chest, my eyes meeting his, pretending I didn’t notice the outline of his muscular chest through his damp shirt. I swallow past the lump in my throat, my face hot.
    “Geez, Abbey; my coffee isn't that bad, is it?!”    
    Mortified I laugh, because it’s the only thing I can do. I toss a twenty down on the counter, grab what’s left of my drink and bolt, trying to ignore the chuckles rippling through the crowd of people waiting for their orders.    
    I’m so embarrassed. I walk down the street so fast that I somehow manage to trip over my own shoes and snap the heel on my best pair of shoes. This can’t be happening . I park my arse down on the dirty pavement and laugh. Can today get any worse? I down the rest of my coffee and toss the cup into a nearby trash can. The saddest thing is now I have to find a new coffee shop.    
    My phone vibrates in my bag. Still sitting on the pavement, I fish it out and click answer.    
    “Thank god,” I sigh, when I realize it’s Mel. “You will not believe what just happened.”    
    “Abbey,” she sobs down the phone, “Can - can you come over?”     
    “Are you okay?” I sit forward, my own problems now the last thing on my mind.
    “No,” she sobs. “Why are guys such assholes?”    
    “I’m on my way,” I say. Consoling Mel after a bad date is becoming a bit of a habit. But it’s not really surprising, considering the type of guys she goes for. “I’ll pick up supplies on the way - any requests?”     
    “Yeah a tub of the good stuff – Häagen-Dazs,” she sniffs down the phone. “Double chocolate. And if you want some, you’ll need your own tub.” Wow, this must be serious.    
     
    I reach Mel’s house twenty minutes later. I’m still none the wiser as to exactly what’s going on, other than it being related to a guy. Which guy is anyone’s guess, considering she’s been out with a dozen in the last two weeks.
    If there were an opposite to me when it comes to relationships it would be Mel. She’s out nearly every night with a different guy, sometimes two. I’m lucky if I go out once a month. I use work as an excuse, but the truth is I’m scared of putting myself out there again, especially after how my last relationship ended. Not that you could really call it a relationship. When a guy refuses to be seen with you in public, it should be