Playing for Keeps Read Online Free

the plate from Gaz and shoveling the remaining sweet plantains onto his own dish.
    â€œThat’s the goal, sir.” Gaz smiled.
    â€œGood,” Alicia’s father said. “You keep me posted on how that’s going.”
    When dinner—and the questions—were done, Gaz and Alicia cleared the table and then went into the kitchen together and cleaned up. The extra help meant that Maribelle could nip out to the Florida room to watch her favorite telenovela .
    As they loaded the last dishes into the washer, Alicia turned to Gaz with a playful smile. “Do you have time for a swim?”
    He grinned back. “Always. I even brought my suit.”
    She went to her room to change while Gaz changed in the half bathroom off the kitchen. As they walked out to the pool together, Alicia instinctively reached for his hand, surprised anew at just how right it felt. She wondered if it would ever stop giving her butterflies—holding his hand, seeing how handsome he was, like now, in his papaya-colored board shorts that showed off his natural tan perfectly.
    She stood near the edge of the pool, preparing herself for the jump into the cool water, when Gaz surprised her. Grabbing her by the waist, he jumped into the water taking her with him. She screamed and laughed as they both plunged under.
    â€œHey!” she said, pretending to be miffed as she surfaced and spluttered. “What’s the big idea?”
    Gaz didn’t answer. He just kissed her, the kind of kiss that made her quiver, as if she were made of jello.
    â€œThat’s the big idea,” he said, when he finally disconnected his lips from hers.
    â€œI like it,” she smiled. “I also like the idea of us in Austin, all expenses paid, for spring break. Aren’t you excited?”
    â€œI am excited,” Gaz sighed, sounding anything but. “And I love that Amigas Inc. has taken off. It’s just a bummer that the trip is at the same time as the yearly South by Southwest Music and Media Conference in Austin, but by now, the tickets are completely sold out. It’s sucky timing. I mean, if I had known, I could’ve gone. I’ve always dreamed about going to South by Southwest. It has all kinds of cutting-edge media presentations, music showcases, and film screenings. It’s the place to be if you want to get exposure and buzz going for your work. Watching you rock the quince business in Miami makes me want to take my music to the next level. But I don’t know. I’m just not as good at putting myself out there as you are.”
    Alicia hated to hear Gaz criticize himself. She kissed him lightly. “You’re an amazing songwriter. You pour your entire soul into every song.”
    â€œBut if I’m going to be a successful musician, I’m going to have to learn how to sell my music. I want to turn on the radio and hear my songs. I want to play stadiums, like Coldplay, or even minor-league baseball stadiums, like Wilco. I want to go all the way, and I don’t even know where to start,” Gaz insisted, ignoring his girlfriend’s support. “There’s so much I could learn at a place like South by Southwest.”
    â€œSo, we’ll get you a ticket,” Alicia said.
    â€œHow?” Gaz asked.
    Alicia beamed at her boyfriend. “I’ll make a way out of no way. It’s my thing.”
    Gaz pulled her close, hugging her tight. “It’s enough that you are trying. That you just believe in me.”
    Alicia hugged him back. “I do believe in you, Gaz.”
    â€œI know you do,” he said. “And that makes a world of difference. With you by my side, I can do anything.”

THAT NIGHT, AFTER Gaz left, Alicia was too excited to sleep. She had managed to get ahold of Carmen and Jamie earlier and filled them in. But they were still waiting to get the okay from their folks. Figuring that chatting was better than tossing and turning, she logged on to her