To Love a Player by Gjoe Uzor Page A

of my sweaty ponytail and heard a muffled groan as I shook my hair around me. I felt Callen's fingers tangle in the back as he worked his way to my scalp and started massaging. A thousand little sparks rushed through my body, causing a deep warmth rise within and I could feel myself relaxing. It made me remember that day in class when he did it. I felt like I was in a trance under his touch.
     
    I sighed, letting out a soft moan as he gently moved his hand down to the base of my neck. I felt him lean over and kiss up the side of my neck to my jaw line, causing me to close my eyes and let out a small whimper. His lips left a blazing trail on my skin. He touched my chin as he turned my face towards him, cupping it in the palm of his hands. His eyes were pleading as they looked into mine and his voice was thick when he began to ask, "Mollie, can I..."
     
    We were interrupted by the sound of the door swinging open and Sophie calling out, "Callen, are you out here?"
     
    He let out a frustrated sigh as he dropped his hands from my face and stood up, leaving me, for once, grateful for the interruption. I slipped off the swing, sliding by Sophie who narrowed her eyes at me in wonder and accusation, when I turned back to him and said, "By the way, I love a home cooked Italian meal, none of this take-out stuff."
     
    I went into my room, locking the door behind me as I breathed a sigh of relief. I began to wonder about what he was about to ask me. Was it permission to kiss me? Kissing Callen now would not be a good thing, no matter how bad I wanted to. I needed to try to focus on my relationship with Ben, even if I was unsure it would last through the summer.  Plus, Callen was back with Sophie.
     
    I pushed myself away from the door to get ready for the day, even though a part of me was wishing I were a fly on the porch wall listening to the conversation between Callen and Sophie.
     

Callen
    "What is she talking about, Callen?" Sophie asked me for the hundredth time. I inhaled slowly and gave her a look before rolling my eyes, replying, "Nothing, we had a little bet and I lost, that's all."
     
    "It didn't sound like nothing," Sophie stated firmly and I rose up from my seat, putting my best smile on. I didn't want to have this conversation with her. She wasn't too happy about the Mollie roommate situation and had tried to convince me that I needed to move in with her for the summer. I loved Sophie, but was beginning to only be able to take her in small doses. I wasn't sure if it was because my feelings for Mollie were growing or because Sophie had come back with an ego the size of the world. I figured that it was more the latter since most conversations were about her and her modeling jobs—who she has worked with and who she wants to work with. I was slightly annoyed that my sister's name made her nose scrunch in disgust when she mentioned having to work with her.
     
    My sister was an amazing designer and I could see how her latest designs were too simple for the likes of Sophie. She used to be considered high fashion, but after all the trouble she had finding a nanny that would care for her kids like their own she decided to take a step back.  She simplified her style and went back to her design roots. She was still being praised for her work, but was having a hard time getting models to wear her clothes. Landing Sophie was huge for her, even though it took a lot of money and I hate to think that if it weren't for her dating me, Sophie would have passed the opportunity up.
     
    "My agent called," Sophie said, annoyance creeping into her voice at the thought of the early morning call. I raised my eyebrows up at her, pretending like I cared and she said, "I landed the job in Australia!"
     
    "That's great, babe!" I exclaimed and she nodded enthusiastically, "I know, right? The designer specifically asked for me. He loved what I did at the Calvin Klein show during fashion week and really wanted me to be the main model for his