Page 26 of Sneaking Around with the Player
Beau: What’s your favorite Christmas movie?
Me: Home Alone 2. You?
Beau: I don’t think I’ve seen that one all the way through.
Me: *GASP* You think you know a person.
Beau: I’ll add it to the queue this break. I like A Christmas Story.
Me: You’ll shoot your eye out!
He replies with a GIF from the movie. My lips pull into a smile as I stare down at the screen. It’s so easy between us. I’m giddy just talking about our favorite holiday movies. I feel like we could really have something, and I refuse to give that up over some stupid football rivalry. Felix has to be wrong about him.
Me: I want to see you over break.
Beau: Same.
Me: Then let’s do it.
The dots start and stop.
Beau: Are you sure?
Me: Positive.
Beau
Ispend the weekend helping my dad with my mom’s she-shed and hitting up local parties. On Wednesday night, almost a week since I’ve been home, I find myself sitting at another house partying, killing an evening while Stella is busy.
“Congrats on the season, man.” Lonnie, a buddy and teammate from high school, lifts his beer. “I’m really happy for you. Things seem like they’re going well.”
“Yeah, they are. What’s new with you?” We’re sitting in his parents’ basement. A small party has formed, mostly old teammates that are home for the holidays from their respective colleges or jobs, a few other classmates, and some people I don’t recognize.
“Nothing, really. Aside from classes, I’m working a few hours on campus, and the rest of the time I’m chilling. It’s amazing how much more free time I have without football.” He chuckles and adds, “I miss it, though, running out onto the field, that rush of adrenaline, the girls. It’s a lot easier to pick up chicks in a jersey, I’ll tell you that. I bet you are cleaning up at college.”
“Eh.” I make a non-committal gesture. Before I met Stella? Absolutely.
He looks downright appalled.
“I’m talking to someone. A girl at another school.”
“That’s awesome. The mighty Beau Ricci has fallen. Now I understand why we had a record-breaking year for rainfall. Girls from Arizona to Colorado were crying tears of sadness.”
I nod, some unfamiliar emotion swirling in my stomach.
“Or not?”
“No, it is. It’s complicated. Do you remember Felix Walters?”
“Of course. QB at Newburg High.”
“It’s his sister, Stella.”
“No way.” His eyes widen. “That’s crazy. I hated Newburg.”
“We all did.”
He snorts. “I guess those rivalries were kind of dumb. What’s Walters like off the field? He cool?”
