Page 15 of Sneaking Around with the Player
Realization dawns. I can see it the second it happens. All the sass and playfulness that I’ve come to expect from Stella is gone. “You know Felix.”
“Yeah. We’ve been playing against each other since we were kids.”
I hate the hurt in her voice when she says, “You acted like you had no idea who I was.”
“I didn’t at first. Not until you told me your name. I hoped it was a weird coincidence, but after you ran to your flight, I looked you up.”
“That was days ago. Why didn’t you tell me? I feel like such an idiot.”
“I should have told you. I wanted to, but then I thought it might make things weird. I’m sorry.”
“I don’t care that you play football.”
“Okay.”
“I’m serious. Who cares?”
“You might not, but your brother won’t like it. We’ve had a rivalry for years. He is not my biggest fan.”
“Look, no offense, but Felix has a lot of guys gunning to beat him. He probably doesn’t even know who you are.”
I could almost laugh, it’s so preposterous. “Oh, he knows.”
“Are you any good?”
“Yeah. I’m good.”
She gives her head a shake, making the red strands catch the light. “Are you sure? I didn’t have you pegged as a football player.”
“You want proof?”
She nods.
I stand and take the phone with me, flipping the camera to show her my bag on the floor. I scrounge around until I find a smelly practice jersey, tape, gloves, and some eye black.
“I probably have a cup in here somewhere too if you want to see that.”
“No.” She sighs. “I believe you. You’re either a football player or really committed to the lie.”
“And?”
Another big sigh puffs out her cheeks. “I don’t know.”
Stella
“Ican’t believe you used to go there for vacation every year too. We were probably there at the same time.” I cover a yawn.
“Probably,” Beau says. He’s lying in his bed in the dark, the screen of his phone providing the smallest bit of light for me to see him. We’ve been talking for three hours. Topics have included everything from class schedules to family vacations. The only thing we haven’t talked about is him being a football player. A football player my brother hates, apparently.
Holly is still out, but Beau’s roommate, who’s also a football player, came back and crashed thirty minutes ago. He has ear buds in now and his voice is quiet as he speaks. “Actually, nah, I would have tried to hit on you.”
“Or my sister,” I say, “since we look identical.”
“You look that much alike?”
“I think you maybe don’t understand howidenticaltwins work.”
“Okay, smart ass.” His mouth twists into a playful smirk. “Those dudes from the showSelling Sunsetare twins and they look different.”
