Chapter 11 – Beau
BEAU
I drop my mouth to hers and we both linger in that position, neither of us pulling away or pushing for more.
Frantic energy courses through me like a before-game rush.
After a month of talking to this girl every day, she probably knows me better than anyone else, but this is only the second time we’ve ever been face to face.
Soft laughter slips from her lips, the movement and the sound vibrating against me.
A girl laughing while you kiss her isn’t usually a good sign.
“Something funny?” I ask, resting my forehead against hers.
“No. Sometimes I laugh when I get nervous.” She giggles again. “I can’t believe you’re here and we just kissed.”
“Should I not have come?” I pull back to stare into her brown eyes.
“No. I’m glad that you did. All night I’ve been wishing you were here and now here you are.” She waves a hand in front of me.
“You kinda like me, huh?” My lips curve into a smile and my pulse races.
Stella lifts up on her toes and slides her fingers through the hair at the back of my neck. “Just a little bit.”
“Mmm.” I brush my lips against hers again. “Let’s see if we can change that into something more . . . enthusiastic.”
Reaching down, I scoop her up. She squeals as her feet leave the ground. I love the feel of her silky dress and the sound of her sweet laughter as I slant my mouth over hers. The noises coming from her are sexy as hell. Her body grips tighter to mine as our tongues tangle.
Her heart beats rapidly and I’m breathless when she stops suddenly. “Half the Valley U football team is inside.”
“I saw.” I set her down but keep her close. “Should I be worried about Moore?”
“Lucas?” She laughs. “No, but we should probably stay out here.”
Stella wraps her arms around her waist. I take off my coat and drape it around her shoulders.
“We can go anywhere you want,” I say.
With a smile, she tips her head toward the front of the building. “If we sit close, we can hear the music.”
Stella leads me to a bench off to the side of the front entrance. Some holiday tune plays, but I can’t quite put my finger on the song.
When I take the seat beside her, she angles her body toward mine. “Why are you here? Really.”
I rub my hands together in front of me. “I went to a buddy from high school’s house tonight.
An old teammate. We got to talking and I don’t know .
. . it all seemed so dumb. I like you; you like me.
I’m only home for ten more days and I want to hang out.
Who knows how long it’ll be until we’re in the same state again. ”
“Yeah.” She nods slowly, as if she’s thinking. Then her lips part and she hits me with a smile that has my heart rate picking up speed. “Yeah. You’re right. It all seems so silly. I’ve been up here dying to see you and here you are. Of course, we should hang out. Do you want to go somewhere else?”
“Nah. I know you were looking forward to this. Has it lived up to your expectations?”
“Oh yeah. Did you see the decorations inside? Trees in every corner, gaudy wreaths, and lights.” Her eyes widen. “So many lights. It’s amazing.”
“You really like Christmas, huh?”
“Of course. It’s the best time of the year.” She bumps her shoulder against mine. “How have things been at home?”
“Eh.” I stretch my legs out in front of me. “More football and pep talks than holiday cheer, but that’s really more our style.”
“They’re proud of you. They wouldn’t push if they weren’t, but I get it. I’m sorry.”
I know she’s right, but it doesn’t make it any easier to sit through dinners where my dad replays every mistake I’ve made this year.
“You wanna dance?”
“Out here?” She grins.
“Or inside, whatever you want.”
She stands and shrugs out of my coat, then sets it on the bench. Her fingers grip mine and she tugs gently. I get to my feet, and we come together again. Her hands on my shoulders and mine around her waist. We sway to the music and I hum lightly under my breath.
Leaning forward, she rests her head on my chest. I run a hand along the back of her head, then twist my fingers around her braid. Now this . . . this is my kind of holiday cheer.
“Stella?”
“Yeah?” She tips her head back to meet my gaze.
The words get caught in my throat. “Nothing. Just wanted to look at you again.”
“Is that a line from a movie?” A playful smile dances on her lips.
“Probably.” I chuckle. “What can I say? You’re so gorgeous you make me want to spout cheesy lines.”
While she’s giggling, I wrap my arms around her tighter and take her mouth again.
Voices and the sound of footsteps coming out the front door interrupt us. Reluctantly, I pull back but keep my arms around her. She sneaks a peek inside, and I suddenly feel like an ass for showing up and taking her away from a party she’s obviously been enjoying.
“Maybe we should just go inside,” I say as a man and woman head out to the parking lot, looking positively giddy.
“I don’t think that would be a very good idea.”
“All right, then.” I take her hand. “I should go and let you enjoy the party.”
“No. Don’t go. You drove all the way here.”
“I know how much you were looking forward to this and spending time with your brother and sister. It’s fine. You’ll be back in Scottsdale tomorrow, and we’ll see each other soon.”
She hesitates, but ultimately nods. “All right. Yeah. That’ll give me time to figure out how we’re going to explain you to my brother.”
I grab my coat and we start for my vehicle. “I’m glad I got to see you tonight. By the way, I was right. Red was definitely the right call.”
Smiling, she steps closer and wraps her fingers around my bicep. Her head tilts to the side and brushes against my shoulder. Disappointment settles on my chest. This didn’t go down how I planned, but it was totally worth the drive to see her.
We’re almost to my vehicle, and I’m dreading saying goodbye, when a deep voice calls out behind us. “Stella?”
Trepidation trickles down my spine as she grips my arm a little tighter.
“Ah, shit,” I mutter. I wouldn’t have thought I’d be able to pick out Felix Walter’s voice without seeing his face, but the concerned edge to his tone is undeniably Stella’s brother.
“It’s okay,” she whispers softly, and gives my bicep a reassuring squeeze. We freeze and she looks over her shoulder slowly before turning to face him.
Blowing out a breath, I turn and stand beside her.
“What’s going on?” Felix asks. His gaze darts between us and I can tell the second he recognizes me. His jaw flexes and his eyes widen.
Three of his teammates hover behind him. They’re talking, a couple of girls standing with them, all of them oblivious to me. Moore is the first to put the situation together. He moves to stand beside his QB.
“Is everything okay?” Lucas asks.
“I don’t know,” Felix says and takes another step toward us. “Stella, what’s going on? Why are you standing next to Beau Ricci?”
The way my name rolls off his tongue, even I don’t like myself right now.
“You piece of shit.” Garrison Hamilton gets a wild look in his eye seconds before he rushes me, which is impressive for a guy wearing a boot.
I pull Stella behind me and move closer to the madman coming at me, holding out a hand to stop him, which, of course, doesn’t.
He swings. I dodge at the last second, but he still manages to clip me.
I taste blood. Stella gasps behind me. I have no idea what is about to go down, so I put more distance between me and Stella to keep her safe.
“Stop it!” she yells when it looks like Garrison is coming back for another shot. She moves to my side, and he rethinks his attack.
I scan the area, weighing my options if they all come at me. Two more people join the commotion. I recognize both of them, but only know one. Theo Bradford. Valley U’s star running back and Holly, Stella’s twin.
Stella told me they were identical, but it’s still trippy to see another version of my girl. This is not how I expected to meet her.
“Stella.” Felix’s icy tone cuts through the tension. I’m actually impressed with his ability to keep his cool. His teammates look like they want to murder me. “What the hell is going on?”
“Beau is the guy I’ve been talking to. We met at the airport. Neither of us knew the connection at first,” she says it all at once, like it can explain away any wrongdoing on my part.
“I have been dying to run into you off the field, Ricci.” Garrison stalks around us. I don’t like how close he’s getting to Stella, but I don’t know how to get her out of this situation. “Let’s do this. Me and you.”
“I didn’t come here for a fight,” I say, loud enough for them all to hear me.
“Too bad.”
Garrison lunges at me again. This time, I’m prepared. I sidestep, drawing him away from Stella. Then grab his T-shirt and hold him away from me.
“Fight me, you piece of shit,” he yells.
“No!” My girl hurtles herself forward.
I let go of Garrison to shield her. What a clusterfuck. Felix finally joins the action. I think he’s going to take a shot at me too, but instead, he gets between me and Garrison and tells his teammate, “Take a walk before someone else gets hurt.”
Garrison’s voice is outraged. “He broke my fucking foot. My football career might be over because of this prick.”
“You almost hit Stella. Take a fucking walk,” Felix says again. “I need to talk to my sister.”
I’m shocked when he listens. Garrison mutters some choice words to Felix, but then stalks off.
I glance back at Stella. Tears track down her face. Her sister has moved to stand beside her.
“I don’t understand. What’s going on?” Holly asks. It hits me then. Stella hasn’t told her who I am. Confirmed by the look of hopelessness she sends me. My gut churns.
“We’re just trying to figure out the same thing. Stella, please help me understand. Did you invite him here? Are you dating this asshole? Beau fucking Ricci, really?” Felix cuts me a hard look.
“She didn’t invite me. I drove up to surprise her. She had nothing to do with this.”
“I was going to tell you,” Stella says to her brother.
“This isn’t how I wanted you to find out, but yeah, we like each other.
” She looks up at me, lips trembling. It does something to me to have her declare her feelings for me, a guy she barely knows, to her brother, who I know she cares about a great deal and also hates me.
That’s not true. Yes, Felix hates me, but it isn’t accurate to say that Stella barely knows me. In fact, I think she probably knows me better than anyone, but the reality is, this is only the second time we’ve met in person.
I wrap an arm around her and whisper, “I’m sorry.”
I’m so fucking sorry I showed up here. It was selfish and reckless.
“No. This isn’t happening. Stella, you can’t date this guy. You know what he did to Garrison. Beau’s dirty hit cost Garrison the season.” Felix’s words make me bristle.
“That was an accident.” Stella swipes at the tears on her cheeks. I wonder if she’s known all along. I wanted to tell her, but part of me does feel responsible. “He didn’t intentionally hurt him.”
“I’d never take a guy out on purpose,” I say, more to her than anyone else.
“Yeah-fucking-right.” Garrison stomps back toward us and gets in my face. “You expect me to believe that shit, Ricci? You fucking coward.”
“You don’t even know me.” We’ve attracted an audience.
Two guys, wearing security guard polos, come out the door and survey the situation.
My mouth stings and I bring two fingers up to my lip and come away with blood.
“I don’t want to fight you, but I’m not walking away from Stella unless she tells me to. ”
I look down at her. “Are you okay?”
“She’s not your concern.” Felix practically growls the words and takes a step toward me.
“Okay, that’s enough.” All eyes go to Theo when he speaks. “We need to take this somewhere else before they call the cops.”
Felix looks away from me and nods. “Agreed. We’re done here. It’s time for you to leave, Ricci. Keep your dirty games to the field and leave my sister out of it.”
The guys head for an orange Corvette at the front of the lot.
“Come on, Stell,” Felix calls.
She worries her lip as she looks from him to me.
He says her name again.
“No,” she says, finally. “This is dumb. You can’t tell me who to date. Beau is a great guy. If you’d just take a breath and get to know him, you—”
“It’s okay,” I tell her. A knot forms in my chest. I can see the desperation, hear it in her tone, and I love her for it, but it’s wasted tonight. “Go with your brother. We’ll talk tomorrow.”
“I’m sorry. This wasn’t supposed to go this way.”
She’s right. And it’s all my fault for showing up here. Dangerously stupid. More tears fall and I wipe them away with the pad of my thumb. “It’s okay. Go, baby.”