Page 32 of Sneaking Around with the Player
Voices and the sound of footsteps coming out the front door interrupt us. Reluctantly, I pull back but keep my arms around her. She sneaks a peek inside, and I suddenly feel like an ass for showing up and taking her away from a party she’s obviously been enjoying.
“Maybe we should just go inside,” I say as a man and woman head out to the parking lot, looking positively giddy.
“I don’t think that would be a very good idea.”
“All right, then.” I take her hand. “I should go and let you enjoy the party.”
“No. Don’t go. You drove all the way here.”
“I know how much you were looking forward to this and spending time with your brother and sister. It’s fine. You’ll be back in Scottsdale tomorrow, and we’ll see each other soon.”
She hesitates, but ultimately nods. “All right. Yeah. That’ll give me time to figure out how we’re going to explain you to my brother.”
I grab my coat and we start for my vehicle. “I’m glad I got to see you tonight. By the way, I was right. Red was definitely the right call.”
Smiling, she steps closer and wraps her fingers around my bicep. Her head tilts to the side and brushes against my shoulder. Disappointment settles on my chest. This didn’t go down how I planned, but it was totally worth the drive to see her.
We’re almost to my vehicle, and I’m dreading saying goodbye, when a deep voice calls out behind us. “Stella?”
Trepidation trickles down my spine as she grips my arm a little tighter.
“Ah, shit,” I mutter. I wouldn’t have thought I’d be able to pick out Felix Walter’s voice without seeing his face, but the concerned edge to his tone is undeniably Stella’s brother.
“It’s okay,” she whispers softly, and gives my bicep a reassuring squeeze. We freeze and she looks over her shoulder slowly before turning to face him.
Blowing out a breath, I turn and stand beside her.
“What’s going on?” Felix asks. His gaze darts between us and I can tell the second he recognizes me. His jaw flexes and his eyes widen.
Three of his teammates hover behind him. They’re talking, a couple of girls standing with them, all of them oblivious to me. Castle is the first to put the situation together. He moves to stand beside his QB.
“Is everything okay?” Emmett asks.
“I don’t know,” Felix says and takes another step toward us. “Stella, what’s going on? Why are you standing next to Beau Ricci?”
The way my name rolls off his tongue, even I don’t like myself right now.
“You piece of shit.” Garrison Hamilton gets a wild look in his eye seconds before he rushes me, which is impressive for a guy wearing a boot. I pull Stella behind me and move closer to the madman coming at me, holding out a hand to stop him, which, of course, doesn’t. He swings. I dodge at the last second, but he still manages to clip me.
I taste blood. Stella gasps behind me. I have no idea what is about to go down, so I put more distance between me and Stella to keep her safe.
“Stop it!” she yells when it looks like Garrison is coming back for another shot. She moves to my side, and he rethinks his attack.
I scan the area, weighing my options if they all come at me. Two more people join the commotion. I recognize both of them, but only know one. Theo Bradford. Valley U’s star running back and Holly, Stella’s twin.
Stella told me they were identical, but it’s still trippy to see another version of my girl. This is not how I expected to meet her.
“Stella.” Felix’s icy tone cuts through the tension. I’m actually impressed with his ability to keep his cool. His teammates look like they want to murder me. “What the hell is going on?”
“Beau is the guy I’ve been talking to. We met at the airport. Neither of us knew the connection at first,” she says it all at once, like it can explain away any wrongdoing on my part.
“I have been dying to run into you off the field, Ricci.” Garrison stalks around us. I don’t like how close he’s getting to Stella, but I don’t know how to get her out of this situation. “Let’s do this. Me and you.”
“I didn’t come here for a fight,” I say, loud enough for them all to hear me.
“Too bad.”
Garrison lunges at me again. This time, I’m prepared. I sidestep, drawing him away from Stella. Then grab his T-shirt and hold him away from me.
