Page 48 of Sneaking Around with the Player
I second-guess myself with every step closer. The party is huge. We could probably avoid each other with a little luck, but this is my girlfriend’s brother. If I don’t make peace with him, how is it ever going to work? I know deep in my gut that it won’t.
At five feet away, I cross my fingers that this doesn’t turn out like the last time.
Teddy nudges him as I get close, and Felix turns toward me. I watch as his face morphs from happy and relaxed to pissed right the hell off.
“Hey,” I say. “Can we talk?”
“I don’t have anything to say to you, Ricci.” His gaze briefly skims to place his sister, and he lifts his hand to wave to her, a ghost of a smile replacing the glare he was just giving me. He starts to turn back around but Teddy juts his chin in my direction and they do some sort of silent communicating.
Taking two steps away from the group, he says, “You have thirty seconds.”
I follow, intentionally leaving space between us. “I like Stella. A lot.”
His jaw flexes.
“I’m not playing her or using her to piss you off. I genuinely care about her. Can’t we squash this shit between us?”
“This shit?” He takes one small step closer. “You hurt one of my teammates. You’re reckless and careless, and that’s just on the field. I’ve known you a long time, a lot longer than Stella has. Your reputation off the field isn’t exactly stellar either, Ricci.”
“I’m not denying any of that. I’ve made mistakes. I’m not perfect, but you don’t know me. Not really.”
Maybe he’s right. No, he’s definitely right. I don’t deserve Stella, but I want her all the same.
“I know enough.” He sidesteps to leave.
“I’m in love with her,” I say, heart pounding with words I haven’t said to anyone before. I don’t know when it happened; maybe I was in love with her all along, and it just took spending time with her in person to realize it, but I’m absolutely certain.
He faces me, brows lifted in surprise.
“I am in love with your sister, man,” I repeat, in case he needs to hear it again. “So, hit me or whatever you want. I need to make things right between us for her.”
His jaw works side to side, like he’s mulling over my words, but he doesn’t say anything before he turns and leaves me there, still uncertain where we stand.
“I’m sorry about tonight,” Stella says as we sit in my dad’s car outside of her house.
“Nah, don’t be. I’m glad we got to hang.”
After I talked to Felix, we tried to make the most of the night and stay at the party, but neither of us was really feeling it.
She shifts closer and rests an arm around my neck, her fingers playing with my hair. “I had a really good vacation with you.”
“Yeah, same.” My throat feels tight as I swallow. Felix’s orange corvette is in the driveway. I should be concentrating on saying goodbye to my girl, but my mind is conflicted.
Felix is never going to approve of me. I get that now. I don’t know what I’m going to do about it, but I get it. Eventually, she’ll get tired of defending me or resent not being able to have us all together without drama. In the end, I know she’ll choose Felix. And if she doesn’t, she’ll regret it.
“Are you okay?” she asks.
“Just tired.”
“Me too. I better go.” She leans forward and kisses me, then hits me with a smile before she gets out of the vehicle. “Call me in the morning. Maybe Holly and I can swing by on our way back to Valley.”
“Okay.” I fake a convincing enough smile that she shuts the door and waves as I pull away.
As I drive off, I can’t help but think that maybe this is where things should end. I can’t be that guy that forces her to choose between me and her family. She deserves more than that.
Stella
The next day, I drive back to Valley alone. Holly decided to ride with Teddy, and they left early this morning. I predict this semester I’m going to see a lot less of my twin in our shared dorm room.
