Page 17 of Touchdown Under the Mistletoe
It sounds like a weak silver lining, even to my own ears, but what can I do? Cry? I’m doing my very best to avoid that scenario.
We start the long walk back while we sip our hot chocolates. Before long, the Christmas market and Christmas music give way to cozy streets and front yards adorned with beautifully decorated Christmas trees. The residents of Maplewood Springs always bring the cheer.
“Want to talk about it?” Beau asks after about ten minutes of walking.
“Talk about what?”
“About whatever’s going on between you and Travis.”
I nearly choke on my hot chocolate. “Nothing is going on between Travis and me.”
“Riley. I’ve known you my entire life. I’ve also known Travis since we were kids. And I’m not blind.”
“I don’t know what you think you saw, but I—”
“I saw the way he was looking at you on that ice rink. The way you were looking at him,” Beau interrupts. “And I saw his face when someone mentioned Sienna at dinner last night. Something’s not right there.”
My heart stutters. “What do you mean?”
“I mean, I’ve seen Travis in love before. Remember Mollie Stevens in junior year? He couldn’t shut up about her. Talked about her constantly, got this dopey smile whenever someone mentioned her name.”
I try not to flinch. I remember Mollie all too well. I hated her because Travis had a crush on her. In hindsight, that was petty. Mollie was a nice girl, but I couldn’t help being jealous of her.
“I remember,” I say.
“He doesn’t talk about Sienna like he talked about Mollie. He barely mentions her at all, and when he does, it’s like he’s checking off a box and spouts generic phrases like how she’s great and talented. I don’t know, I just think it’s all extremely weird,” Beau says.
“Even if that’s true, it doesn’t matter. He’s clearly in a relationship, whether it’s a good or a bad one. And he’s leaving in a few days. Besides, whatever I imagined was happening between us today was all in my head, because normal people don’t run away from their friends for no reason.”
“We’ll get to the bottom of this, Sis. I won’t let him hurt you, even though he’s my best friend.”
I smile. “What are you going to do? Tackle the strong NFL player?”
“If that’s what it takes, yes,” he says and puts his arm around my shoulder.
“Thanks, Beau.”
“Of course. You’re my little sister.”
We walk the rest of the way home in silence, and by the time we reach the Steelbirds’ house, I feel like a walking popsicle.
“Where’s Travis?” is the first thing Beau asks when we get inside.
Mom and Travis’s grandmother exchange a look.
“He’s upstairs. There’s been some commotion with the media,” his grandma says.
“Commotion?” I ask.
“They’re calling him a cheater,” Mom says.
My stomach drops. Does Travis have another girlfriend? Is that why he doesn’t speak about Sienna with passion?
“What do you mean?” Beau asks.
Mom pulls out her phone. “It’s all over the internet. Someone took photos at the ice rink and… well, you should see for yourself.”
She holds out her phone for us, and I grab it, the blood draining from my face.
