Page 65 of Love Me Not
Of course he had. “I should have guessed that.”
“Was that sarcasm?”
This time, actually no. “I genuinely should have guessed you’d run a marathon. It’s long and excruciating—I assume—and I can see that sort of thing being attractive to you. I mean, you’re out with me so you must be a sadist.”
Trey leaned back in his chair. “Why do you do that?”
“Do what?”
“Insult yourself.”
“It’s one of my charms,” I replied, dropping my eyes to my plate.
“No, seriously. I get that it’s self-deprecating humor, but if you say things like that often enough you start to believe them. In case you do, I can assure you there’s nothing sadistic about being out with you.” After a long pause, he said, “Lindsey.”
I looked up from the food. “What?”
“Are you hearing me?” His bright eyes shone with genuine concern, which forced me to swallow the sarcastic retort on the tip of my tongue.
“Trey, I’m fine. I’m just well aware that my personality isn’t for everyone.”
“Whose is?”
“What?”
“Whose is?” he repeated. “You think I’ve never met a person who didn’t like my personality? I give pep talks for a living, I’m overly curious about everything, and I talk to strangers like I’ve known them my whole life. If anything, it’s more odd that you’re out with me than the other way around.”
You could not convince me this man had a single enemy on the planet. “That’s bull.”
Trey blinked twice before setting his fork down and sitting up straighter. “Why are you the only person you get to think badly about?”
He was way off the mark with that one. “Let me assure you, there are plenty of people I don’t like. You were one of them, if you recall.”
“Thank you for proving my point,” he said, and returned to eating.
What did I… Wait. “You can’t count me. I don’t like anyone.”
With a pfft he said, “Yes, you do. You have as many friends as anyone else.”
I had to think about that one. Other than the girls, who did I have? The guys, I supposed. Georgie, of course, and Latrelle, then Carole, since she was practically part of the family, and I’d gotten to know Gina pretty well. There were other teachers on staff that I’d socialized with over the years and come to both like and respect. Did that make us friends?
“You’re doing the math, aren’t you?” Trey said with a shake of his head. “The reality is that you aren’t the ogre you think you are.”
This was why I didn’t let people into my swamp. “I never said I’m an ogre. Just…cranky.”
Trey shook his head. “You aren’t even that most of the time.”
Who did he think he was? Less than three months since we met and he was an expert on my whole personality? I’d lived with myself for thirty-three years, not him. And if he kept this up, he’d be lucky if he got another thirty-three seconds of my time.
“Has anyone ever told you that your observational skills suck?”
His chuckle surprised me. “You’re the only woman I’ve ever met who gets upset when I say something positive about you.” After swirling the last bite of steak around his plate, he popped it into his mouth and locked eyes with mine. Seconds passed before he said, “My mission is to get you to see yourself the way the rest of us do.”
So he spoke for everyone now? Jaw tight, I pushed my plate away, appetite waning. “I’m not a project you need to fix, Coach Collins.”
“No, you aren’t.” His voice softened. “But everyone can use a little positive perspective now and then. You’re a good person, Lindsey. I see it at school, I hear it from your friends, and I sense it even when you’re scowling at me like you are right now. In case no one’s ever told you, that little crinkle you get between your eyebrows is really cute.”
Self-conscious, I rubbed my forehead and pulled my plate close again. To show that I actually could accept a compliment, I said, “Thank you.”