Page 18 of Touchdown Under the Mistletoe
This particular headline reads:NFL Star Travis Steelbird Caught Cheating. Mystery Woman Spotted Getting Cozy With Athlete While Girlfriend Sienna Montgomery Films in L.A.
Below it are photos. So many photos. Travis kneeling in front of me and tying my laces, looking up at me with that heart-melting smile of his. His arms wrapped around my waist to keep me from slipping on the ice and breaking a leg. The two of us looking at each other like… like…
Oh, God.
A horrible mixture of guilt and shame bubbles up. Because they’re not wrong, are they? We weren’t just innocently ice skating. Or maybe we were, technically, but it was different for me. I did look at him like he hung the moon, even though I know he can never be mine. But is that so bad? It was a private moment. No one was ever supposed to find out I have feelings for Travis. And now the entire internet thinks I’m some homewrecker who went after someone else’s boyfriend.
“That’s Riley,” Beau says, leaning over my shoulder to look at the screen. “Those are pictures of Riley and Travis.”
“I know, and the comments are awful. People are saying terrible things. About both of you, Riley. Sienna’s fans are especially upset.”
I scroll through the comments and feel myself getting sick. Every nasty word hurts as much as I imagine getting punched in the stomach does.
“Cheating days before Christmas? Wow, that’s low.”
“This girl needs to learn to keep her hands off someone else’s boyfriend.”
“So desperate for attention. You can see it all over her face.”
“Only a loser would pull a pathetic stunt like this.”
“She wishes she could be half as gorgeous as Sienna Montgomery.”
“You can tell she’s totally crushing on him. It’s laughable. He’d never go for someone mediocre like her unless it was a quick fling.”
The comments are nothing short of a nightmare.
Beau pulls the phone from my hands. “Stop reading all that nonsense, Riley. Don’t let it get to you.”
I wish I could, but it’s too late. The words are already burned into my brain, playing on repeat. It’s not even just the comments that make me feel sick. It’s the realization that Travis is reading the same words right now, probably wishing he’d never stepped foot on the ice with me. Resenting my having driven a wedge in his relationship with Sienna. Wondering how to fix this so that he doesn’t lose her.
He must hate that this happened. Hate being tied to me like this. And honestly, I can’t blame him.
“I’m going to go lie down for a bit,” I say, but quickly change my mind.
Travis is up there. I can’t go into that room anymore. Not now.
“You know what? The weather is still nice out. I might get some air instead,” I say.
“Riley, wait a minute,” Mom says, but I’m already slipping my coat on.
“I’m fine, really. Just want to go for a walk,” I lie and hurry outside.
I shove my hands in my pockets and head down the road toward the visitor center at the edge of town, where all the local hiking trails start. Not that it’s wise to go hiking now, but I need a destination instead of walking around aimlessly.
Plus, it’s probably deserted at this hour, and I need a place where the whole world doesn’t think I’ve ruined someone else’s relationship and Christmas.
Chapter Eight
Travis
Dinner isn’t until eight, which gives me enough time to sneak out before anyone notices I’m gone. I grab my coat from the wall hook by the back door without alerting a soul. Maddox and Aspen are still at the Christmas market. Beau’s in his room. Grandma is probably napping, and Aunt Annie, Uncle William, and my parents are too busy playing Scrabble.
I open the back door and wince as the wooden porch steps creak under my boots. I wait for a few beats, but nothing happens. So far, so good. I just need to make it past the motion light that triggers if you move too far to the right.
I’ve made it three whole steps before a voice cuts through the darkness and makes me jump out of my skin.
“Where are you sneaking off to, young man?”
