Chapter Eleven Sienna
Chapter Eleven
Sienna
It got a little sticky at one point, but eventually the Dolphins win the game, and all is good in our little world. Everleigh and I even waited for the guys to come out of the locker room after the game, which is what I usually do. Always hoping for a glimpse of Gavin even while I avoided him over the last couple of seasons.
This season? I should be still avoiding him after our conversation at Charley’s a few nights ago, but screw it. There’s a newfound confidence in me thanks to possibly going on a date with Ryland, and at the moment I feel unstoppable.
When the guys exit the locker room and we start heading out to go celebrate, I have no qualms walking right up to Gavin. “Great game today.”
He does a double take, startled by my approach. “Uh, thanks.”
“You looked good out there, QB.” My voice hopefully rings with sincerity. I want him to know that I am truly proud of him. “I mean it.”
“I appreciate that, Sienna.” He sends a soft smile my way, and I do my best to steel my heart, but it’s no use.
Seeing that smile melts me.
“You came to the game with Everleigh?” he asks, trying to keep up our conversation.
“I did. She’s really sweet. Did you know she’s never been to a football game before?”
He seems shocked. “Not even in high school?”
I shake my head. “Can you believe it?”
“No, I can’t. My entire life has been around football.”
“Same,” I murmur, thinking of all the youth-league games we went to when we were younger. By the time I was in high school, I gave up on cheer and wanted to do something on my own. I was on the volleyball team my freshman year, and while I had the height, I was awkward with the ball. I shifted to track that spring and never looked back, participating in it all four years of high school.
Decided not to pursue it in college, though. I was over it. My athlete years are done.
“You coming with us to Charley’s or heading home?” Gavin asks me.
“Going to Charley’s. I mean, what else am I going to do on a Saturday night?” I shrug.
“Don’t have a date?”
Oh, now look who’s fishing. This is such an interesting turn of events. Not just one man is asking me if I’m seeing anyone; now there are two. And considering the second man knows pretty much everything I’m doing at all times, he has to also realize that I am not dating anyone in particular. Though that could all change thanks to Ryland.
Life is so weird sometimes.
“Gav, baby. You of all people should know that I’m not seeing anyone.” I keep my tone light and flirtatious, hoping I sound like every other starstruck girl who tries to talk to him.
“Right.” He nods, kicking a small rock on the sidewalk and sending it skittering into the street. “And did you really just call me Gav baby ?”
I burst out laughing, the tension easing from my body at his question. At the way he’s looking at me. Smiling at me. I forget all about my potential with Ryland, my focus entirely on the man walking beside me. Towering over me and making me feel small and delicate. And not small in a bad way. More like small in a feminine, I’m just a girl way.
Sometimes a strong woman wants to feel like she’s “just a girl,” and there’s nothing wrong with that.
“I did,” I finally say. “I’m trying to be like all of those girls who come around.”
Gavin grimaces. “Seriously? That’s the reason we like having you around, Sienna. Because you’re not one of those girls who’s trying to get with us.”
I’m oddly touched by his appreciation for me. “Not that you’ve tried to spend any time with me over the last couple of years.”
“Not that you’ve been warm and welcoming toward me either,” he throws back.
“True.” I shrug. No point in arguing with him about that. “Are we finally at peace with each other?”
“Are you still pissed at me?”
Why is it suddenly so hard to stay mad at him? I did a pretty fair job of it before, though I was never really mad. More like I was hurt and positive that I’d done something to turn him off. God, he made me feel insecure about everything, and I hated it. That’s why I stayed away from him.
“Not really,” I admit, glancing over at him to find he’s already watching me. “Even though I probably should be.”
“Look.” A ragged exhale leaves him. “I’m not always good with my words, especially with women.”
“I’ll say.”
“And I know I keep saying dumb shit that makes you angry.”
“Uh-huh.”
“I don’t mean to.” His gaze is dark and heavy. Full of sincerity. “I’m sorry, Freckles.”
I wish he didn’t call me that, but then again, I would miss it if he stopped. “It’s okay, Gavin.”
We’re quiet as we walk side by side along the sidewalk through campus, surrounded by everyone else’s chatter. I can hear Nico grumbling to my brother behind us. I watch Frank walking with Everleigh and notice how she’s listening to every word he says, which I know he appreciates because he loves an audience. And speaking of an audience, I notice that there are a lot of people joining us as we walk through campus. And that they’re trying to ask us questions.
“Hey! Who’s the girl?” someone asks, and I know exactly who he’s referring to. The team’s fellow students and fans are used to seeing me around the guys. Everyone knows I’m Coop’s sister, but they don’t recognize Everleigh, and they’re curious.
Increasing my pace, I come up on Everleigh’s right side and hook my arm through hers. “She’s my friend.”
“Oh, come on. I heard she lives with Cooper and Valente,” someone else says, their tone almost taunting.
Everleigh and I share a look, her gaze filled with worry. She’s not used to this sort of attention, and what exactly are they trying to imply, anyway? That Nico and my brother have some sort of throuple relationship going on with Ever?
Please.
“She’s our roommate,” Coop says, and I can tell by the sound of his voice that he’s irritated. “Nothing more, nothing less.”
The crowd explodes after that, people shouting questions at the guys one after another, their voices getting higher and higher. Concerned, I let go of Everleigh’s arm and go over to Gavin. “You should call security,” I tell him.
He doesn’t even hesitate and has his phone to his ear in seconds, making a few quietly said commands before he glances over at me. “Done.”
“We need security,” Nico says as he runs past us to insert himself in between Frank and Everleigh.
“Already on it,” Gavin says. “They’ll be here soon.”
He sends me a reassuring smile, and like the dumbstruck woman I am, I smile back, grateful that he listens to me.
The bar is packed, but they reserved a bunch of tables for the team like they always do, and that’s where we’re currently sitting. There are only a few women celebrating with the guys tonight. A couple of girlfriends. Everleigh. Me.
I’m sitting right next to Gavin because he slid into the booth seat beside me when the server brought us to the tables, his thigh pressed firmly against mine. An almost painful reminder that distracts me. I can’t concentrate on what people are saying because I’m too wrapped up in the sensation of his very bulky and very firm thigh nestled right next to mine. How he leans into me when he speaks to the guy sitting on the other side of me. I don’t even remember that guy’s name, though his face is familiar. And at this point, I can’t be bothered to try to figure it out.
Instead, I remain where I’m seated and revel in being this close to Gavin. His delicious scent, the warmth of his body, the deep rumble of his voice. The way he speaks to his teammates, always giving them so much credit while they go over the highlights of the game as they’re always wont to do. They enjoy reliving their glory moments, and I don’t blame them. It was a great game, and especially for the seniors on the team; this is their last season. They want it to be epic—the very best games they’ve ever played.
The thought of Gavin graduating leaves me melancholy, and I wallow in my sad feelings for a moment, until that little nagging reminder deep inside my brain tells me I need to get over it and enjoy this time with him rather than think about the future and how he’ll be gone.
“Want another drink?” Gavin asks, and I smile at him, nodding. He lifts his hand, signaling the server who’s at the other table taking orders, and once she walks over, he puts on the Maddox charm.
The smile he levels upon the woman could slay a thousand dragons dead, and of course she falls for it. I watch the tension bleed from the stiff lines of her shoulders, and her entire expression goes soft. “Whatcha need, QB?”
He rattles off a few requests, and I realize he must’ve asked everyone at the table if they wanted something else. He even orders two large plates of nachos, which have my stomach growling just at the thought of them.
Once the server is gone, he leans against the back of the booth seat, his shoulder brushing against mine. “I was starving. Nachos aren’t the best choice, but fuck it.”
“Yes. Fuck it.” I giggle. Oops. I think I’m buzzin’.
He appears amused at my little giggle. “Someone’s probably had too much to drink.”
“Do not cut me off, Gavin Maddox. I probably just need something to eat. Like nachos.” I had popcorn and ate a hot dog during halftime at the game, but that was hours ago. I’m definitely hungry.
“I would never.” He rests his hand against his chest, that fond smile on his face doing things to my insides. Like twisting them into knots. “You know what I like about you, Sienna?”
I sit up straighter at the sincerity in his voice—and, of course, at the words he said. “What?”
“How loyal you are. You’re always there for Coop.”
“He’s always there for me.” Don’t get me wrong—we argue. We’ve even gone through stages when we seriously disliked each other, but that’s all in the past. Now I consider my brother one of my best friends.
One of my best friends who I keep a few secrets from, but we won’t focus on that at the moment.
“And you’re always here for the team too. We appreciate you.” He pauses. “I appreciate you.”
A lump lodges in my throat, making it difficult to speak. Taking a deep breath, I lean into him, pressing my shoulder against his. “Thank you, Gavin.”
He wraps his arm around my shoulders and drops a kiss to my temple, making me freeze. Making him freeze too. Did he really just do that? Did anyone see him? Us? I’ve never witnessed him be affectionate toward any woman before, and that was completely out of character for him.
Not that I mind. It’s what I want. What I crave more than anything, and I press myself into him as much as I dare, knowing this moment is going to end far too quickly.
He slowly removes his arm from my shoulders and shifts away from me, though he can’t go far. I’m not offended. And truly? He appears rattled, and I get it. That was mind blowing, what he just did. And how natural it felt between us.
Eventually the server brings us our drinks and nachos, and I stuff my face, not even caring if I look like a pig. Everyone is gorging themselves on food, and it doesn’t really matter. I sip my drink, trying to pace myself. I’m feeling good, but I don’t need to get trashed. I notice Gavin has stopped drinking and switched to water.
Hmm.
By the time it’s past midnight, most of the crowd at our tables has dissipated, though the bar is busier than ever. I see a few of the players among the people still here, even my brother, but Gavin remains seated by me. Quiet. Downright contemplative. I’m mostly silent, too, enjoying being with him and even a little sad that these moments are slipping away from me. One by one, game by game, until the season is over and there will be no reason for us to see each other beyond a friendly Hi or Bye in passing.
It’s devastating to think about, which shocks me. We’ve gotten close in a short amount of time after mostly avoiding each other for two years. I wonder if he feels the same way ...
“You good?”
I glance up to find Gavin watching me carefully. There is no one else in the booth seat with us, yet we’re still planted right next to each other. “A little tired,” I admit, unsure of what to say.
“Want to get out of here?” he asks, his voice a low, sexy rumble.
I lean in closer, certain I misheard him. “Excuse me?”
“I asked if you wanted to leave.” He looks deep into my eyes, as if he can see into the depths of my soul. “With me.”
I blink at him, thrown by the question. “You want to leave with me?”
Gavin shakes his head, averting his gaze and staring off into the distance. “Don’t question it too much, Sienna. I might take it all back.”
That is the only prompt I need to hear. I scoot out of the booth and stand. “Let’s go.”