Page 36 of Calm Before the Score

Before I can process how unbelievably sexy that is, Ryan’s mouth crashes into mine with reckless abandon. He’s kissing melike he’s starved for a taste and can’t get enough. My hands travel to his hair and grip so tight I could rip it straight out.

It’s one of those kisses where time escapes you. I break from his embrace and lock eyes with him. “We should head back to the table before anyone starts looking for us.”

Ryan groans in protest and traces my jaw with his thumbs. “I don’t want to be around anyone else but you.”

“I know.” I push him back slightly. He groans in my ear and trails after me.

Hand in hand, we walk back out to our table. After our makeout session in the bathroom, Ryan and I try our best to return casually to our friends. Liza pats my lap and shoots me a knowing wink. I’ll save the intimate details for Liza and I’s post-banquet sleepover. There’s no way she’ll let me gloss over this one. The servers pass around plates of every type of food you could imagine. I love to eat, especially carbs, and this is heaven. Ryan takes two of every plate offered. His hands haven’t left the bare area of my exposed back since we’ve returned. Having his touch eases my mind.

Liza cups her hands over her mouth and whispers in my ear, “Check out the bar.” I catch Locke staring at Liza from across the room. He’s posted at the crowded bar with Savannah. Hartley catches us staring and glances that way. He instinctively wraps one arm around her shoulder–marking his territory.

Ryan chats with some of his teammates at our table. I never feel ignored when I’m with him because his thumb gently traces the skin of my arm, never losing contact. He leaves a path of fire with each touch. Concentrating on anything besides the man next to me is nearly impossible. While Ryan talks, I focus on the huge stage in front of our tables. An older man makes his way to the podium. He pats the microphone to make sure it’s turned on.

“Time for the boring part,” Ryan says.

“What is it?”

“Awards,” he clips, stretching his neck side to side and running his hands over his face. His hands shoot to his hair and run through, leaving him a little more disheveled than before.

The older man’s voice booms through the microphone, “Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Springs U Football annual banquet. It’s always nice to see my guys cleaned up for the night with their gorgeous dates.” The crowd giggles. He continues, “It’s been one heck of a season, and it’s not over yet. I want to take a moment to recognize all of the team’s hard work and dedication to the game. It won’t be long before some of them are playing on the big screen.”

Ryan coughs, gets up without warning and leaves the ballroom. I don’t know what to do.Should I follow him? Does he need space?I don’t want to act crazy, but something seemed to make him nervous when the man took the stage.

I listen to the coach drone on and on for another twenty minutes about his team and how well they’ve done this season. Ryan hasn’t returned to the table yet, so I decide to get up and find him. I walk into the empty foyer area. A few girls chat with champagne glasses, but I don’t spot Ryan. I check the restrooms, hallways, and bar, and still can’t find him. I walk outside in a last-ditch effort to locate him. That’s when I’m hit with the sight of him sitting on the ledge of an icy blue lit-up fountain, hunched over and defeated with his elbows positioned on his knees. I step back a few inches, giving him space, and watch for a moment before I approach him.

My boyfriend is strong, but not just physically. He never shows weakness, so when he does, he tries his best to make sure others don’t see it. A beautiful image of a broken soul sits in front of the running water.Ryan must hear myheels clicking loudly against the cobblestone path, but he doesn’t make an attempt to look my way. I take a seat next to my beautifully broken boy. His eyesdon’t meet mine, but his large hand grabs my thigh to pull me in closer.

“What’s going on in that head of yours?” I rest my chin on his shoulder, unsure of his current mood.

“Nothing you need to worry yourself over."

“What made you leave the ballroom? You can trust me.” Seeing him as a shell of himself is ripping my heart out. It’s more frustrating to have no clue how to help him.

“Promise me,” he reaches over and threads out fingers together.

“Promise you what?”

“That you won’t leave.” He meets my eyes under the moonlit sky. The fountain crashes behind our backs, illuminating the courtyard in a blue haze.

“Then don’t give me a reason to.” I can’t promise him blind loyalty when he won’t trust me enough to let me into his head. When he doesn’t answer, I turn my body, completely facing him. Grabbing his face, I place my forehead against his. His breaths are ragged, and his arms shake against my thigh. Placing my hand over his chest allows me to feel his thumping heartbeat.

“I’m all in. I need you to be, too,” I whisper to the man who came into my life and wrecked everything I thought I knew about myself and what I wanted.

“You’re everything, Vi. There is no me without you anymore.”

“I’ll give you time, but I won’t wait forever.” I kiss his lips and lock my hand in his.

He nods his head in understanding, "I'd never put you through that." He twists a piece of my loose hair through his fingers. “Let’s go back in,” he stands up and guides us back to the banquet.

When we return, everyone is on the dance floor. We must have missed the awards portion of the night. I spot Hartley and Liza front and center. Liza is bent down so low, she is about to hitthe floor. Hartley is behind her dancing. His attention is fixed on his date, and I can see something different in him. Something I haven't seen in his eyes before. Their sunglasses are back on–so ridiculous. Liza dances seductively back to Hartley’s height as he throws his arms around her neck and dips her low. The music has cranked up a notch, so I can’t hear what they’re saying, but Hartley has a smile painted on his face that I haven’t seen in quite some time.

I’ll pin that thought for another day.

The song changes from a fast-paced dance to a slow-moving melody.You Found Meby The Fray begins to play through the dimly lit venue.

Ryan extends his hand out to me. “Dance with me.”

“Ryan Shane? A dancer? Who would have known?” I place my hand in his and allow him to guide me to the dance floor.

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