Page 27 of Rival Season
Right now he’s rolling his hip with the foam roller as the PT holds his leg at the correct angle to get the best stretch…only he’s closing his eyes and trying to look sexy, groaning like he’s in the throes of passion.
“Tilly, that hurts so good,” he grits out, his voice breathy.
Tilly, the physical therapist, scrunches her nose in disgust. He doesn’t see because his eyes are still closed.
What did I see in this guy?My chest squeezes, because I know what I saw. I saw an incredibly handsome and successful man that my parents have always adored…and he was interested inme. Uptight, freckled, dorky, frizzy-haired Hazel Palmer. I couldn’t believe it when he asked me on a second date. Then when he asked me to be his girlfriend, our families were elated with the news, saying they always dreamed we’d end up together.
I pull up my phone to distract myself and speak of the devil…a text from my mother in the family group chat.
Mom
My baby boy got a promotion today! Isn’t he so handsome in his suit?
A photo comes through of my parents with my brother in front of my father’s company's building. My little brother, Cory, is smiling and wearing a black suit with a blue tie. My parents are holding gift bags in their hands.
It shouldn’t hurt or make my heart ache…and it probably wouldn’t, if, when I announced my acceptance into UCBerkeley's grad school, I’d gotten more than a quickcongratstext from both parents and a twenty-dollar gift card to Target.
I take a deep breath, calming my nerves before texting back.
Hazel
Congratulations, Cory!
Cory
Thanks, Sis! Wish you were here!
I smile at that. My brother has always been sweet to me. He’s easygoing and charming, impossible not to like.
Hazel
My evening isn’t as exciting.
I take a quick selfie of myself on the sofa with my computer on my lap.
Dad
Mom
Oh, Hazel. You really need to start moisturizing.
I sigh heavily. Why do I even try?
A knock comes from the door, and I look up. Perhaps another physical therapist? Or maybe the poor girl who’s already here SOS-texted someone to come save her. Either way, I’m thankful for a distraction from my mother who secretly—or not so secretly—dislikes me. I toss my phone aside and jump up to answer the door.
A smiling Ally greets me when I swing the door open. “Hey!” She says with a friendly grin, but her smile fades when her eyes move past me to the balcony.
I glance over my shoulder to see Tilly massaging Chadwick's calf and him moaning.
I shake my head. “Hey, Ally. What’s up?”
She sneers at whatever is happening outside, then turns back to me. “Okay, so I wondered if you might want to grab dinner? The guys are gone, as you know, and I’m tired of sitting home alone.”
Arching a brow, I cross my arms. I cannot believe Penn made this poor girl come over and ask me to dinner. I’m sure a girl as nice as Ally has a million friends to choose from, and my dorky self is at the bottom of the list. “Penn put you up to this, didn’t he?”
She looks confused as she blinks at me. “Put me up to what? Eating? No one has to beg me to eat.”
The familiar yet strange sound of crutches creeps up behind me, the closer the sound gets, the higher my shoulders creep up. Chadwick settles in beside me. “You’re not leaving, are you? I’ve barely seen you since I moved in. I thought we could order dinner.”
