Chapter 14
Chapter Fourteen
SIENNA
What is it called when you shared a hotter than hell kiss with a guy you genuinely liked and then he ran away afterwards?
"Embarrassing," I muttered to Louise as we stepped out of the town car and walked over to River's familiar figure lurking outside the arena. I'd never been to the stadium August was playing at but it was a bigger venue than I'd expected, especially for a charity game.
"I'm sure he was just overwhelmed."
I raised one brow but opted not to say anything more as we drew close enough to River that he'd be able to overhear us.
"Did you wear it?" Louise whispered directly into my ear as River offered a clipped greeting and led us away from the main entrance and instead through a side door guarded by a stern looking security guard.
"Lots of muscle for a charity game," I noted, deliberately ignoring Louise when she poked me in the side.
River nodded absently, checking his phone as we walked up concrete steps that made every sound echo. "Got to make sure everything stays friendly, this is for a good cause so bad press is the last thing the club needs."
"We're happy to show our support." Louise smiled sweetly and something about it seemed smug.
River must have thought so too because he squinted at Louise before nodding slowly.
"Show me," Louise hissed as soon as River's back was turned.
Her hands reached for the buttons on my coat and I slapped her fingers away, both of us freezing like naughty kids when River looked back at us from the top of the stairs.
"This is the private box in the stands. It has its own security, but isn't so far removed from the action that people won't know you're here."
I nodded, tugging my sleeve out of Louise's grip as I continued up and through the door River held open.
Of course it was important for me to be visible, it was the whole point of me attending to hold up my end of the bargain for August. It definitely had nothing to do with the scorching kiss I'd shared with him the night before.
The air was cool on our faces as we took our seats in the mostly-empty booth.
A heater had been placed on our left and we sat close to it as I reluctantly took off my coat.
Why had I let Louise talk me into wearing this again?
It had seemed like a good idea at the time, she’d made several good points over text about team spirit and publicity, and maybe I’d been caught up on that kiss with August, but I’d had the jersey couriered over to me before I could second guess just how ridiculous I’d feel. He wasn’t even really my boyfriend.
Her mouth dropped open and a cackle escaped when she took in the jersey and the number eleven boldly imprinted on it. "Oh my god. I can't believe you actually wore it. Let’s get a photo."
"You told me to,” I protested and regretted it when my raised voice drew eyes. I sat a little straighter, waving to a couple of young kids who recognized me and called my name, and then posed for the selfie Louise took.
River reappeared while Louise messed around with filters on my phone, escorting more VIPs into our box, and chortled when he caught sight of the jersey. "August is going to lose his mind when he sees that."
My face flamed red and I was surprised the heat didn't create steam against the cool air.
River probably meant that August would think the jersey was ridiculous.
Despite that, I couldn't help picturing the desperation on August's face last night when he'd growled fuck it into my mouth and made my panties combust.
I laughed slightly hysterically, unsure what to say, and promptly shut my mouth with a click when Louise and River looked at me like I was unhinged.
Another group entered the box, taking the attention off of me as a large family with three younger kids found seats.
The youngest, a little girl with blonde pigtails, popped her mouth open when she saw me sitting down at the front.
She was missing two front teeth and her blue eyes were comically wide as she stage-whispered my name to her mom.
I smiled and waved, and she squealed so loudly that my ears rang but I didn't protest when she dragged her family to the front row with me and Louise.
The little girl sat down beside me and stuck out one tiny, chubby hand for me to shake. "Hi!" She was so excited that she bounced in her seat, her hair practically vibrating. "I'm Eliza."
"That's a nice name. I'm Sienna."
"I know," she chirped back. "You're my second favourite singer."
"Eliza!" The woman to the girl's right blushed. "That's rude."
I laughed. "Second favourite is quite an honour. Who's number one?"
"Um, Dolly."
"Dolly Parton," the woman chipped in again. "Sorry if she's bugging you," she continued a little more quietly so her daughter wouldn't hear.
"Not at all. You guys football fans?"
"Nope," Eliza said cheerily, emphasising the 'p'. "Mommy says it's a silly game that boys care about more than spending time with their family."
The woman, clearly the mom the girl was talking about given the heat in her cheeks, spluttered. "Eliza—"
My laugh couldn't be choked down that time and I grinned at Eliza and her very-embarrassed mom. "I don't know much about football either."
"Why are you here then?" Eliza frowned but was momentarily distracted when the Tigers came out onto the pitch. Field? Honestly, I didn't know.
"Because that player there," I said, pointing down at the group of men as the crowd cheered, "is my boyfriend. Number eleven."
"Is he handsome?"
I grinned. "Very."
"That's good then," she said, like anything else would have been unreasonable. "And you borrowed his t-shirt?"
"It's called a jersey," the little boy she'd arrived with said, rolling his eyes.
"It is," I agreed and thanked the guy passing around snacks, accepting a popcorn that was both sweet and salty and offering the bag to Louise.
The kids started bickering and I tuned them out, instead peering down at the players below as they waved up at the stands. There was a kind of static in the air, the excitement before a game, but it was tempered by laughter and small hands waving frantically at their favorite team members.
My eyes found number eleven easily. He was tall and broad, like the other football players, but August had a presence on the field that held me captive even from my seat in the stands.
His face was shielded by a helmet but I knew he’d seen me, even if his teammates hadn’t been pointing and clapping him on the back at the sight of me wearing his number.
After he’d run away yesterday, I just thought he was lucky I hadn’t opted for number sixteen instead. Brock might be a jerk, according to August, but he was definitely something to look at.
The other team had made its way out onto the field too and the players shook hands before waving up at the crowd again.
I could only assume this game was so friendly because this was to raise money for a local children’s hospital.
I'd already made my donation — a large one at that — now I was just hoping I could enjoy the match.
A whistle blew and I jumped at the shrill sound.
Music came over the speakers as the players sprang into action.
I watched, rapt, as August’s team grabbed the ball first and began to run, passing it back and forth before it was intercepted by the other team.
There were a few collisions, but on the whole it seemed to be a clean game.
“Do you think they’re holding back?” I muttered to Louise and she hummed.
“Maybe. Nobody wants to get injured in a pre-season charity game and risk not being able to play when the league starts up again.”
The match continued on and eventually my attention wandered, paying less attention to what was happening and instead just watching August. He’d kissed me, so I figured I was allowed to look at him.
To admire the way the muscles in his thighs rippled when he lunged, every movement a tightly controlled show of graceful strength that seemed impossible with his large form.
Music broke out and I blinked. “What’s that?”
“Half-time,” River said, walking towards us as the door swung shut behind him. “You having fun?”
I nodded, though I wasn’t sure fun was the right word. Drooling over his brother? Yes. Marvelling at the intricacies of this sport? Not so much.
“Listen, I know the deal was for you to make an appearance here, but once word got out—”
I stiffened. Please don’t ask me to sing. Please don’t ask me to sing.
“There are some kids who wanted to meet you, maybe take a photo. Would that be okay? They’ll come up here and then we’ll escort them back to their seats.”
My breath of relief made my shoulders sag and I knew River hadn’t missed the reaction. It wouldn’t have been the first time I’d been invited to an event and then cornered into performing, and with everything up in the air with the studio… climbing on stage was the last thing I wanted right now.
“Of course, I’d love to meet them.”
River smiled, his blue eyes warm for once. “Great. I’ll let security know to bring them up.”
“Um, Sienna?” The voice was high pitched and a pudgy-fingered hand tapped my arm gently. “If the other children are getting a photo, could I have one too?”
I smiled and gestured for Eliza’s mom to grab her phone. “Of course! What about you?” I asked her brother and his eyes went wide before he nodded silently.
We stood and faced their mom, smiling for the camera as I wrapped my arms around the sibling’s shoulders.
“Thank you!” Eliza squealed and threw her tiny arms around my waist while her mom chastised her. I laughed, tweaking one of her pigtails and glancing up when her brother gasped.
“It’s Ashford.”
“Is he the one who’s your boyfriend?” Eliza whispered not-so quietly as three players walked into the box, a trail of kids behind them.
This definitely didn’t seem like typical half-time behaviour, so I could only assume it was another part of the charity event.