Page 103 of A Quarterback for Christmas

I straighten my shoulders and harden my jaw. “Okay, I guess I’ll see you in a few hours.”

Turning on my heel, I cringe at how stilted and awkward that whole exchange was, but it wasn’t like it could go any other way. My ex, if I can call her that, is here, and she wants to talk, so I guess that’s what we’re going to do.

I played like crap today, but who could blame me? Bella Summers, the girl who flipped my life upside down, was watching me from the bleachers. The girl I wanted to get over and never think about again came waltzing back into my life as though nothing happened.

Am I that much of a masochist that I would let her break me again?

It doesn’t help that every time I look at her, all I see are her big doe eyes and puffy lips, constantly reminding me how much I loved kissing her.

My hands are clasped on the table as I twiddle my thumbs. We haven’t said so much as a few pleasantries since I picked herup from the bleachers and took the short walk to a bar just off campus.

Her feet accidently touch mine under the table, and I immediately lean back, ensuring my bulky body is completely devoid of her touch.

Taking a long swig of my water, Bella fingers the rim of her soda can and watches it with sadness. “Why are you here, B?” I ask it in the softest, nicest way possible, but it still feels confrontational.

“You didn’t say goodbye.” It’s a short statement that rips me to the core. Tilting my head, I study her frown. “When you left, you didn’t tell me. I know we weren’t on the best terms, but you treated me like I meant nothing at all to you, and I...I...I didn’t like it.”

When she gets the words out, I drop my gaze to the table. How do I explain why? “I’m sorry. Leaving St. Michael’s was all so rushed. Coach thought leaving without a fuss would help diffuse the situation.”

“And you thought leaving me behind would help it, too? You changed your number. You ghosted me.” Her eyes grow wide with realization. “Oh my God. That was the plan all along, wasn’t it? I’m such an idiot for coming here. You wanted a clean break, and here I am, acting like a clingy ex-girlfriend.”

When the word girlfriend drops out of her mouth, I don’t know what to think. I’d been waiting for her to admit we were together for the longest time, and now she does it when it’s too late.

As I take her hands, I feel them shaking, so I softly rub my thumb against her skin. “It’s not like that at all, B. You should know that. I knew I had to leave you. I didn’t want to draw it out. It wasn’t so simple as just leaving you and never looking back.”

“It never is with us, is it?”

“Is that why you came to LA?” I ask skeptically. “To let me know you were upset that I didn’t tell you I was leaving? Because that seems like a pretty drastic and expensive move,” I joke, trying to lighten the mood. I hurt her, but she hurt me too.

“It was on my way.”

“To?”

“London.” Biting down on her lip, she slips her hands away from mine, placing them under the table. “After you left, I did some serious soul-searching. St. Michael’s wasn’t the same without you there, and I didn’t like that you took all the blame for what happened. So, I told them.”

“Told who, what?”

“I told the Dean of students and my dad the truth. That I lured you in there, and you had no idea what was happening.”

“Bella-” She raises her hand, stopping me in my wake.

“I had to do it, Drew. It wasn’t right for me to stay there after what I did. Especially since Brianna took most of the heat for it.”

I wince, remembering the phone call I got from her when I landed.

“She’s fine now,” Bella assures. “The whole thing has long been forgotten, and she’s dating some guy on the wrestling team. He’s like seven feet tall and has muscles bigger than John Cena, so no one messes with her.”

“Good.”

“Thought you’d be happy about that.” There’s a bitterness in her tone that I’m used to hearing when we’re talking about Brianna, but I’m surprised it’s still there. “Do you guys still talk?”

I shake my head. “Nah. Not much left to say.”

She tips her chin, pursing her lips.

“Is that why you came here? To tell me you were angry I didn’t say goodbye and ask me about Brianna?”

She cracks an awkward smile, which is something she’s been doing a lot of on this impromptu visit. “Ah, not exactly.” She strokes her braid, trying to diffuse any simmering tension.

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