Page 29 of Sneaking Around with the Player
“Okay, okay.” I wait a second more to see if Beau responds quickly. When he doesn’t, I slide my phone into my purse. “You’re right. I’ve wanted to go to this party for years.”
Garrison and James, two more of my brother’s teammates, came down for the party tonight. They’re standing with Teddy, Emmett and Felix, the five of them shuffling awkwardly next to us. It’s a lot of older couples dancing and people our age hanging at the bar. Everyone is dressed up and way more reserved than the parties the guys are used to throwing and attending. I fight a chuckle at the five of them. They look like they don’t know what to do with themselves. Except Emmett. He has a playfulness about him that makes me think he probably never feels uncomfortable.
As if proving my thought, he spins onto the dance floor and holds out his hand to me. “Dance, Stella?”
I glance at Holly. “Impressive. You can finally tell us apart.”
He holds up his hand. Something is scribbled in ink. He stares at his palm as he reads, “Holly is in green, and Stella is in red.”
“Oh my gosh.” Laughter bubbles then spills over. “That is truly pathetic.”
But a little fun is exactly what I need tonight, so I step toward him and take his hand.
He wraps an arm around my back and moves us to the beat.
“You’re not a bad dancer,” I tell him.
“I’m a great dancer.” His grip loosens and he steps back, then tugs me forward.
Holly and Teddy join us on the dance floor and the rest of the guys head to the bar. Felix stares at his best friend and sister as he walks in the back of the group.
Holly notices and pink dots her cheeks.
They must have told him.Wow. Go, Holly.
The four of us dance through two more songs. I’m smiling, but my heart isn’t really in it. I should have taken Beau up on his offer to hang out sooner. If Felix can handle his best friend hooking up with his sister, then surely me dating a guy from another team won’t be such a big deal.
The band plays the final chorus of “All I Want for Christmas” and something, or rather someone, snags my attention across the room. His black hair is messy, and he is wearing dark jeans and a black T-shirt. He’s the most casual guy in the room, but he’s still earning glances from all the women around him.
I blink rapidly to clear my vision and make sure I’m not dreaming, but he’s still there.Beauis here. He smiles when our eyes lock. I lift a hand in a small wave, half-convinced I’m just seeing things.
“Another dance?” Emmett steps back as the song changes to something more upbeat.
He starts to turn to follow my line of vision, but I grab his hand and pull him with me. “Actually, I need a drink. Let’s join the guys at the bar.”
Emmett doesn’t need any more encouraging than that. He leads us off the dance floor and I dig my phone out of my purse.
With trembling hands, I read my missed texts.
Beau: I was at a party. Now I’m doing something spontaneous and a little crazy.
A little while later, he sent another.
Beau: You look even more beautiful in person.
My fingers move over the keys at a frantic pace.
Me: OMG. You’re here?!
My head spins.
“Not you two, too,” Felix grumbles to Emmett as the two of us get closer.
“What do you say, Stell. Is that love I smell in the air for us?”
I don’t respond right away because I barely heard him.Beau is here.I glance up at my brother and his teammates. This is so not good.
“We’re just friends,” I say.
