“So how many boys have asked you to the luau?” Colin asked.
The yacht club held an annual pre–New Year’s party—this year it was a Hawaiian luau. When they were younger, Spencer and Melissa used to hide under the elegantly decorated tables and marvel at the artfully carved ice sculptures and fireworks display. “Uh, none,” Spencer admitted, looking down.
Colin tilted his head, studying her for a moment. “I find that hard to believe.”
Spencer couldn’t help but blush. “Why?”
“Because you sure are something else, Spencer Hastings.” He playfully swatted at her arm. “And I’m not just talking about your blistering tennis serve!”
“Is ‘something else’ a good thing?” Spencer asked flirtatiously, her elbow tingling where he’d touched her.
“I’d say so.” Then his expression turned serious. “Except for in my family, of course.”
“What do you mean?” Spencer asked.
An owl hooted in a nearby tree, and the faint sound of laughter floated over from the club’s restaurant. “Well, I’m kind of the black sheep of my family,” Colin admitted.
“Me too,” Spencer confessed, her heart going out to him. “I feel like I’m living in that Sesame Street game ‘One of these things is not like the other.’ No matter what I do, I’ll never be good enough for my parents.”
Colin reached forward and squeezed her hand. “Me either. My dad is so hard on me, especially when it comes to tennis. I guess it’s why I practice so much.”
“But you’re such an amazing player,” Spencer protested. “What more can he want?”
Colin shook his head. “When I was younger, my dad would make me stay behind on the courts every time I lost a match. I had to do a hundred serves before I was allowed to go home for dinner.”
“That’s horrible!” Spencer cried.
Suddenly Colin looked embarrassed. “I’m sorry. I can’t believe I told you that. I’ve actually never told anyone that, it’s just that . . .” He hesitated for a moment. “I just feel so comfortable with you.”
Spencer smiled. “I feel really comfortable with you, too.”
Actually, Colin was the first guy she’d connected with in a long time. Maybe it could even turn into something serious. She pictured herself boarding a commuter jet every Friday afternoon to visit Colin for a long weekend. And maybe Colin would get a wild-card draw in the US Open or another big tennis tournament. She imagined sitting in the stands, big sunglasses on her face, a classy wide-brimmed hat on her head. When the cameras panned to her, the commentators would whisper about how poised and pretty she was. She looks so intelligent, too, they would add. So driven. Like a girl who is really going somewhere. They seem like the perfect couple.
A pair of Vespas flashed their headlights across the knoll, casting Colin’s face into a spotlight for a second—just long enough for Spencer to see just how dazzlingly blue his eyes were.
Suddenly, Colin’s gaze shifted to the left, like he was looking past Spencer and back into the tennis courts. He jumped to his feet, nearly knocking over the remains of her AminoSpa water bottle. She yelped and followed his gaze. The lights on the courts were still on, and a black-haired girl was visible, wearing a little black dress that hugged every curve, shading her eyes. “Hey, Colin!” she said, bounding up the hill toward them.
Spencer gritted her teeth—another groupie? This girl had sleek, catlike eyes, and the most angular, model-thin body Spencer had ever seen.
Colin started toward the girl. Spencer figured he was going to shoo her away, but when he reached her, he greeted her with a long kiss on the lips.
Spencer blinked hard, her stomach dropping to her feet. What the—
The girl pulled away. “I came to tell you I was able to get reservations at Culpeper’s tonight. I know the chef from New York, and he’s saved us the best table in the house. You need to go get cleaned up!”
Spencer rose and swung her tennis bag over her shoulder, trying to retain as much dignity as possible. “Um, Colin?”
Colin glanced over his shoulder, as if only then remembering Spencer was there. “Spencer, this is Ramona. My girlfriend.”
Chapter 4
Smells Like Team Spirit
An hour later, Spencer sat in the kitchen, blinking back tears as the shame and humiliation of her evening washed over her once more. After Colin had introduced Spencer to his girlfriend—his girlfriend!—Ramona had given Spencer a very obvious once-over and said, “Colin said you challenged him to a match. That’s so cute!”