The Fluke

25 - Jules

The desert heat is no joke. My legs are sticking uncomfortably to the stadium seat and the condensation on my slushy margarita is dripping rapidly off the cup and onto my thigh.

"Here you go."

Tessa hands me a small battery operated fan that she pulled out of her purse as soon as we arrived. We've been taking turns passing it around and after cooling off for a few, I pass the fan to Amber who is sitting on my other side.

I haven't spent much time with her yet but she seems really sweet and genuine, and the fact that she's held Nate's attention for longer than just one night speaks volumes. Out of all of Spencer's friends, Nate is by far the the busiest one when it comes to women.

"You think I'd be used to the heat after 25 years but it's always so much hotter in here than anywhere else." Amber rolls her eyes at herself before cracking a smile. Then she gestures out toward the top of the stadium. "There's no wind in here because of the high walls so it's just sun and heat."

"Damn," Tessa says, now fanning herself with the suite's drink menu. "The boys have the right idea staying inside with the AC."

I thought everyone would join us outside in the stadium seats but the guys had opted to stay in the suite for now. As much as I want to watch the tennis up close, I'm beginning to regret planting my bare legs on this plastic seat.

Plus, I miss Luke. My heart swells at the thought of him. At the memory of the excitement that skittered through me when we were able to openly be together in front of our friends. I'm addicted to the feeling.

I'm considering how I can excuse myself to head inside when my phone pings with a text.

Val: This radio silence thing isn't working for me, bitch

I immediately feel a little guilty. I haven't had a spare moment in the last two days to call her or even send her a note. She has no idea what has happened, and I know she is going to kill me when I fill her in and she realizes I was sitting on "juicy 411".

I shift the straw of my margarita to the side and down the rest of the cup in one big gulp before dropping it into the holder in front of my seat. Then I begin the slightly painful process of gently unsticking my leg from the seat.

"Oh my God," Tessa gasps as she watches me wiggle back and forth. "I'm officially never getting out of this seat."

Once I've basically surgically removed the chair from my ass, I stand and twist to check the damage. Two pink marks are left on the back of my thighs and I try to rub them away.

"They'll be gone in a minute or two," Amber says. "Happens to me every year."

"Okay. I'll be right back. I'm gonna give my friend a call."

I head up the stairs and into the suite. Spencer, Nate, Slade and Luke are standing around the buffet table that sits against the back wall. Sandwiches, sushi and bowls of snacks litter the tabletop. An array of food all prepared by the personal chef assigned to Spencer's suite.

The sight of Luke makes the butterflies rage but I really want to give Val a call in private, so I try my best to sneak through the suite and head for the door.

Just as I'm reaching for the handle, two fingers hook around my belt loops and I'm hauled back into Luke's broad chest.

"And where are you running off to?" He whispers into my ear, sending shivers all the way down to my toes.

"I'm just stepping outside to call Val."

"Mmmm, okay," he murmurs as he unhooks his fingers and squeezes my hips.