Page 52 of Sneaking Around with the Player
“Happy birthday,” I say to him.
He gives a quick chin lift. “Thanks. You two should stay outside or you can hang in my room. Garrison isn’t here, but other guys on the team are, and the more they drink, the less certain I am they won’t try to start something.”
“I appreciate it.” I was shocked to get a text from him earlier tonight, inviting me to come down tonight for Stella. Even more shocked that it wasn’t a trap. Although, I guess this could be phase one of a very elaborate plan.
Felix nods. My girl’s gaze keeps darting between her brother and me as she tries to piece together what’s happening.
“You did this?” she asks Felix. “You invited him?”
He doesn’t answer, but she rushes him anyway and hugs him around the neck. “Thank you.”
“Three minutes!”
Felix takes a step back, gives me one last not-quite-murderous-but-not-exactly-friendly stare, and then joins the others counting down to the new year.
Stella practically bounds over to me. “I can’t believe you’re here.”
“Come on.” I take her hand and we go out the front door. It’s a nice, clear night, and the stars twinkle down on us.
“I’m stunned and so happy.” She beams up at me.
“Me too.”
We walk around the house, through a gate, and into the backyard. Holly and her boyfriend are standing on the far side, a few others by a keg in a red tub, but Stella and I stay off by ourselves. I’m wearing a plain white baseball hat pulled down low over my eyes, not exactly incognito, but showing up in CU gear seemed like a bad plan.
“You look amazing.” I slide my hands around her waist and clasp them behind her back.
“Holly did my hair and makeup.”
I remove one hand from her back to twist a finger around a red curl. She tips her head to lean into my touch.
“What’d your family and friends say about you leaving the night before you head back to college?”
“I changed my flight to stay a couple more days.”
Her eyes widen. “Really?”
“Yeah.” I chuckle and squeeze her to me. “You know, I want to get in another practice with Scottie, and my dad and uncles are going to watch the Cardinals game tomorrow.”
She squeals and bounces in my arms.
“What do you say? Want to go to a football game and meet my crazy family?”
“Yes! Definitely.”
“Good. We have three more days and I want to spend every minute of them with you.”
“Yes! Yes! Yes!” She kisses me with all that enthusiasm, and I give it right back. When I made my holiday travel plans months ago, I never dreamed I’d want to extend my time at home. Now I’m dreading going back.
I move one arm down to scoop her up and bring her closer. She giggles, but keeps kissing me. My chest tightens. How does one person change your life so much in such a short amount of time?
Shouts from inside indicate we’re in the final seconds of the countdown. I set Stella down and pull the sparklers out of my back pocket. “I brought these.”
With swollen, wet lips, she takes them from me with a stunned expression on her face.
“Are you okay?” I dig the lighter out of my front pocket to light the sparklers.
I step closer, flick the lighter on, and bring it to the end of one, colorful sparks lighting up the dark between us.
