Read Online Love Match by Monica Seles - Free Book Online Page B

and, best of all, everyone was having a blast. She’d been most worried about that last part. Cleo was still mad at Travis for the role he played in Nicole’s plan to break up Maya and Jake. It didn’t matter that Cleo believed he wasn’t a completely willing participant. She was angry that he would fall for one of Nicole’s schemes.
    To be fair, Cleo was even angrier with Jake for believing it. That was the great thing about Cleo—she always had Maya’s back.
    Renee was the most easygoing of the trio, so she’d embraced Travis as part of the group more easily than even Maya, who still had her suspicions. Renee also embraced Diego, but that had more to do with his strong biceps, sexy accent, and piercing eyes.
    Maya enjoyed watching Renee get her flirt on. She’d seen it before, but this show was different. Diego’s skills were on par with Renee’s, if not better. It was a master class in flirtation, and Maya had a front-row seat.
    â€œWhy don’t you want to dance?” Renee asked Diego with a pout that implied she was waiting to be asked.
    â€œI save my moves for the soccer field,” he replied.
    â€œShame to waste those moves on a field full of other guys,” she countered.
    â€œWell, I keep some moves for more private shows,” he said.
    Maya and Cleo both downed the last of their drinks. The master class had turned from an entertaining display to a personal moment, and it was clear they both felt they’d crossed the line from playful eavesdroppers to voyeurs.
    â€œExcuse me,” Cleo said. “But that girl’s had her eye on me all evening, and it’s time I did something about it.”
    A tall, long-haired girl with an exotic look and multiple piercings was watching Cleo. She smiled as Cleo started toward her. Maya was glad that her friends had each found someone, but it suddenly made her being alone with her one other
friend
a lot more uncomfortable.
    â€œAnother drink?” Travis asked.
    Maya picked the drink menu off the bar. The club specialized in crazy, colorful concoctions that blended fruit juices into works of art so much better than that mysterious purple punch at the reception. None of the drinks had alcohol, but the sugar content was so high, they didn’t need any liquor.
    Maya worked her way down the list of silly tropical names. She’d already tried a Mango Melon Breeze, a Coconut Beach Comber, a Sunset Slammer, and a Banana Cabana. “I’m in the mood for”—her finger slid down the list—“blue!”
    Travis laughed. “Blue it is.” He flagged down the bartender and ordered a True Blue Hawaii for each of them.
    â€œI’m getting these.” Maya reached for her purse. The drinks were expensive, but she had enough to pay for this round.
    â€œDon’t worry,” Travis said. “It’s covered.”
    â€œTravis, if we’re going to be friends, I can’t let you pay for everything. How would that be fair?”
    It wouldn’t be fair, but it was more complicated than that. Travis could afford to buy a round of drinks for everyone in the club. Maya would be scrounging change out of the bottom of her bag just to pay for the two of them. Someday, maybe, she’d be in the position to shout “Drinks on me!” to the cheers of the crowd. But today was not that day.
    â€œDon’t worry, Maya,” Travis said. “I’m not trying to impress you again. When I say it’s covered, I mean that Renee opened a tab. She got everything we ordered tonight. Or, her
parents
covered our drinks. I think she’s still mad at them for missing her last swim meet.”
    That explained why Renee had insisted on that round of Sunset Slammers, the drinks with the gold flecks in them. Even without liquor, the Slammers were the most expensive thing on the menu. Between the five of them, Renee had already spent well over two hundred dollars on