Chapter 11 #4
“Girl, get some damn clothes on. I don’t need to know that much about you,” Lily bellows.
Brooke flips Lily off and slams her door again.
“Wow, what a sweetie. If she wasn’t the princess of darkness, we might have been friends,” states Lily.
I roll my eyes. Bradley called her “B.” That’s a pretty familiar way of addressing someone you only slept with once.
I turn to Bradley, point to the door, and tell him I’ll see him at my intervention tonight.
Because I know my family and there will be an intervention.
The thing that my family doesn’t realize is that nothing will change the fact that Bradley and I are finished. I could never take him back. Not now.
Bradley looks sincerely dejected and sad as he leaves, telling me he’ll see me at home.
I’m sure he’s just upset that he’s not getting his way.
The guy could sell ice to an Eskimo, so he’s probably confused about my resistance.
I almost feel a little sorry for him, but I’m sure he’ll rebound. He always does.
Lily decides to shower at my place so she can have a bathroom to herself for once.
I start packing up my overnight bag for home.
I’m not looking forward to the conversation tonight, but I need to get it over with.
After my bag is packed, it’s my turn in the bathroom. I shower and pack up my toiletries.
“Let’s see, which one of my graphic tees should I wear today?
I don’t want to antagonize my mom; she hates my tees,” I explain to Lily.
Graphic tees are the staple of my wardrobe—tees along with jeans and my Converse.
But my mom h-a-t-e-s them. If she had her way, there would have been a huge bonfire made entirely of my T-shirt collection.
Lily looks in my closet at all of my tees. “What about this one?” She holds up a navy blue scoop neck T-shirt that says, “Come to the Dark Side. We have cookies.”
I laugh. “Any reference to food or drink of any kind is strictly prohibited by Mrs. Matthews.”
“Okay. How ’bout this one?” “Glitter: The herpes of craft supplies.”
She and I both laugh at that one. It’s one of my favorites. Ironically, the text is made of glitter. But I have to say no.
“Okay, last try,” says Lily.
She pulls out a red V-neck tee with “Life without art is just… meh.”
Yeah, that one is safe. I slip the T-shirt on with my tan shorts. “This will be fine. Nothing I wear will really make her happy, so I might as well be comfortable. Right?”
“Right!” Lily agrees. “Okay, I’m taking off. Have a safe trip home. Call me when you get back or call if you need to talk while you’re there.”
“Yeah, I’m not looking forward to any of this, but I need to get it over with. I’ll talk to you on Monday, okay?”
“Okay. See ya.”
“And, Lily-kins? When we get back, I want to hear about you and Hanky,” I yell after her.
“Definitely! I can’t wait to tell you all the gory details.” She laughs.
I grab my bag and pick up my phone to order an Uber to take me to the car rental place. As I leave my room, I see that Brooke’s door is still closed, thank goodness. I open the front door quietly and tiptoe out into the hallway and come face to chest with an enormous guy.
“Alex?” I say, surprised.
“Stella, you left without saying goodbye. I had to stop and think what I’d said to you before my shower to make you take off like that. I still can’t figure it out,” he says sadly.
“Oh, I’m sorry, Alex. I didn’t want to make you late for the game. I don’t want to distract you from football or from school. I would feel terrible if I had anything to do with—”
“Pix, you misunderstood my meaning when I said that. You are not a distraction for me. You make everything better.”
“But you need to focus if you want to go to the NFL.”
He chuckles. “I’m not a Neanderthal, sweetheart. I can focus on multiple things at once.” He smirks while reaching out to wrap his arm behind my back. “Besides, it’s nice to think of something beautiful, soft, and sexy.”
I roll my eyes because his words are sweet, but they make me nervous. “Well, I—”
“Listen, Pix. Yes, I love football, but I know there’s more to life than that.”
“You do?”
“I do.” Leaning down, he kisses me softly. “I’ve gotta say, though, I can’t wait for you to see me play.”
“Oh? Why’s that?”
“So you’ll finally admit that you’re with Alex Emerson––Football God.”
I snort out a laugh. “All right. If you say so.”
“And…” He pulls me closer. “If anything, you make me more determined than ever to strive for the NFL. I want to make you proud to be with me,” he says, resting his hands on my hips.
He wants to make me proud? “I have no doubt you’ll make it.”
“I’ll miss you this weekend, Pix,” he whispers sweetly.
“I’ll miss you too, but I’ll be sure to watch the game today with my dad.
He’s a rabid fan, and he’ll be tuned into the Big 10 Network.
If I have questions, he can answer them for me.
” When he asks when I’ll be back, I tell him about my parents’ annual Labor Day barbecue and that I won’t be back until Sunday night.
“This barbecue is a Matthew’s family tradition. ”
“I wish I could go with you. I’d like to make sure dumbass stays far, far away from you.”
I laugh. “He’s not going to do anything. He was already here this morning.”
“What? Did he touch you?” Alex asks angrily.
Shaking my head, I pat his forearm. “It’s okay. I sent him away.”
“Okay, good. Hey, be careful driving. I hate to think of you driving all that way there and back alone.”
“I’ll be fine. It’s not far, and I know how to drive.”
“I’m sure you do, but I can’t help worrying.”
“I’ll be safe, Dad. No texting and driving and all that. I know the drill.”
Alex growls, “I am not your dad,” bringing his hands around to my ass.
“Oh, I know that.” I smile as he leans down to kiss me softly while squeezing my bottom with his big hands. His touch makes my nipples come alive. They rub against his chest as he kisses me, and that sensation alone makes me want to climb him like a dang tree. Oh, hell’s bells. What have I become?
“I’ll text you tonight.” He smiles and winks, knowing what he’s doing to me.
“Have a great game today!” I squeak, trying to seem composed.
“If I know you’re watching me, I know I’ll have a great game.”
“I’ll be watching.”
With a quick kiss, Alex turns to go. I stare after him as he jogs to the stairs with his gym bag in hand like I’ve never seen a hot guy before. “I hope he’s not late because of me.”