Page 25 of Sneaking Around with the Player
“Man, I missed this place.” Felix rests his elbows on the bar.
“I was just saying the same thing to Holly. What has it been? Two years since we were here?”
“Yeah.” He nods. “I think so. The year before I left for college.”
The bartender comes over to take our order. I get a hot chocolate and Felix gets coffee. We linger at the bar as we take the first sips. Warmth spreads through me as I drink the hot liquid.
“I’m sorry we ruined your plans to hang at the cabin and have a chill weekend, but it’s cool to see you.” He nudges me with an elbow. “I see you almost every week, but it never feels like we have time to talk.”
“Yeah,” I agree. “And it’s not so bad having you guys around.”
One side of his mouth lifts in a smile. “How’s diving going? That idiot ex-boyfriend come groveling back yet?”
“Diving is good, and definitely not. He’s still dating that girl on my team.”
“Ouch.” Felix’s face twists with his displeasure. “I’m sorry. That has to suck.”
“Actually, not really. Not anymore. I told you I met someone.”
“The guy from the airport?” His brows lift. “You’re still texting? I figured that was already over.”
Nodding, I push down the apprehension that’s kept me from telling Felix a lot of the details. “He’s really cool. I think you’d like him.”
His head tilts to the side. “I don’t know, Stell. What do you really know about this guy? He could be a total loser.”
“No. Maybe at first I would have believed that, but we’ve talked too many times for him to be hiding a psycho alter ego.”
“Where’s he go to college again?”
I run my finger over the rim of my mug. “Colorado. He’s a history major and a gamer. He’s into watching speedrunning. You guys have a lot in common, I think.”
I feel like I’m championing a bit too hard, telling Felix all the things I know about Beau that will convince my brother to give him a chance, but leaving out the one big thing that could ruin everything.
“His college sucks, but otherwise, he sounds all right.”
I roll my eyes. “You think every college sucks besides Valley.”
“Nah, that’s not true.” His head bounces side to side. “Okay, it’s a little true. But Colorado’s football team is one of the worst. Those guys play dirty. Ask Garrison. He missed most of the season thanks to that fucker, Beau Ricci.”
The hairs on the back of my neck rise.
“Beau Ricci?” His name comes out in a whisper. I fight to keep my voice calm and even as I add, “What happened?”
“The guy is a total prick. That’s what.” Felix shakes his head. “You remember that game when Garrison got hurt?”
I can’t find my voice, so I nod.
“That was him. That was Ricci.”
Felix’s words stick with me all day. I don’t want to believe them, but, admittedly, it’s having some effect on me because I haven’t responded to any of Beau’s texts since this morning.
There’s another party at our cabin tonight. Felix invited some guys that live local to drive up for the night, and Emmett and Lucas told the girls they met at the resort earlier today. Word spread fast and our living room is packed full of people, most of whom I don’t know.
Beau: Hope you’re having a good time.
He attached a photo from the Cardinals game he’s at. He ditched his glasses and has on a red beanie pulled down low over his ears.
Me: Sorry, long day. We went skiing and now the cabin is filled with people I don’t know. I’m about to hide in my bedroom and watch a Christmas movie.
