Chapter 31

Bella

Two and Half Years Later

October

Drew: Hey, Bella. Long time no speak. I hope this is still your number. Not sure if you’ve heard, but the Rattlesnakes are playing a game out in London soon, and am I right in believing that you still live there? I’ve got tickets and I thought it would be cool for you to come. Let me know if you can make it. Drew.

“Bella, are you reading that text again?” Perry, my flat mate says exasperated. When I look up, she rolls her eyes. “You’ve read it a thousand times; I guarantee there’s no hidden message behind it.” She waltzes over to my seat and hauls me up so I’m standing at the glass. “Now, will you please explain to me what the hell is going on?” Her eyes widen as she watches the football players stand to attention on the field, waiting for a punt return. Laughing to herself, she flicks her silky black hair over her shoulder so she can get a better view. “Those men look utterly fantastic in their leggings.”

Clueless. She’s absolutely clueless to what’s going on, and I laugh because I remember the days when I wished I was that clueless about football. Now, being here in the atmosphere, it has made me kind of miss it.

Perry’s hand rests against the glass as she stares down at the players in awe while making a noise that can only be described as a growl. I discreetly look over my shoulder to see if we’re blocking anyone’s view with our antics, but thankfully, everyone else in the box is by the food, trying to talk business. Being in the corporate sponsors box has its benefits, I guess. “Mhmm, I’d like to see what’s under number forty-two’s helmet,” Perry wiggles her eyebrows at me as her fingers caress the glass. It’s weird, but not the strangest thing I’ve seen her do. That will forever be the time she nursed an ailing bird back to health in our flat for a week.

I groan and shake my head. “How have I put up with you for so long?”

“Umm, I’ll believe it’s my incredible personality and my even more incredibly cheap rent.” She has a point. If it weren’t for a chance meeting at Costa Coffee two and a half years ago, I might not have stayed in London. After three weeks of unsuccessfully looking for a place to stay besides my hotel, I was tired and fed up. Soaked from head-to-toe because I’d forgotten my umbrella, I was sitting in Costa on the verge of tears, feeling like a failure. I’d been here less than a month and I was nearly broke because I was spending all my money on hotels since my school didn’t offer accommodation and I naively thought it would be easy to find a place in London. I was berating myself because of course I fucked up at the first hurdle. I couldn’t do anything without my father’s help and this trip was proof of that.

I still remember the lurching feeling in my stomach as I glared at my phone because I was one button press away from admitting defeat and calling my father to ask for help to get back to Florida. But just as my finger was hovering over the screen, a giant coffee was pushed in my direction, and Perry was standing beside me with a smile. She asked if she could sit on the other side of my table since the place was packed and it was the only seat left. I said yes, and we ended up talking until the place closed before she invited me back to her enormous Knightsbridge flat for some dinner. When she found out why I was so upset, she offered me a room at a surprisingly cheap rate, and I couldn’t refuse. It all felt a little too much like divine intervention for me to say no.

The crowd cheer and I peer down at the field, hopeful that it’s for Drew, but still not entirely sure. There are too many players on the field, and I missed the last call. The crowd aren’t much help here either because although this is technically considered a home game for the snakes, there are fans of all the teams across the league since it’s only one of three games played in the U.K., making it hard to know who everyone is rooting for.

“Is that him?” Perry points to the jumbotron excitedly, and I frown, noting the guy has a rat tail and braid in his beard. When I look at her with confusion, she just cackles. “Seriously, when is your sexy ex going to take his helmet off?”

“He already has. Several times, actually, but you’ll just have to wait until they show him on screen. Win or lose, they’ll definitely interview him at the end.” Not that he had to worry about losing. They were two touchdowns up at this point.

Perry grunts, and moves to the leather seat behind her, slumping in it dramatically. I stifle a laugh because even in her dressed down gear; she looks far too quintessentially British to fit in amongst the beer belly’s and jerseys, but I’m happy for the company.

Blowing out a breath, she checks her watch. “Well, how long is that going to take? We’ve already been up here for bloody ages. I’m not sure how long I can watch a bunch of men grunting at each other before I turn into a cave woman.”

Laughing, I adjust the Rattlesnakes jersey that Drew left for me in the box, liking the way it feels. “Don’t worry. We’re in the last quarter. It will go quick.”

Sitting next to Perry, I reach into my bag and pull out a sandwich, and she squirms in her seat which isn’t unusual for her. She has an inability to keep still when she’s bored. Just as I’m about to take a bite, Perry gasps and grabs my leg for added effect. When I glance at her, the look of disgust is splashed across her face.

“What?” I ask, ignoring her incredulous look and taking a bite from my sandwich.

“You’re having a laugh, right?” Still watching me, she shakes her head.

“I don’t know. What are you referring to?”

“The sandwich.”

“What about it?” I swallow down my food. “I got it free at work, and I didn’t want to pay the exorbitant prices at the stadium.”

She raises her brows and tips her head toward me. “You’ve got everything you could want for free over there.” She points her thumb at the large buffet with enough food to feed both football teams. “And you’re choosing to eat an egg and cress from Pret ?”

“I might as well eat it, otherwise it’s going to go to waste.”

Perry laughs, shaking her head. “I don’t think it going to waste is a problem. Your very real problem is having egg breath when you meet your now millionaire ex for the first time in over two years.” She flicks her hair over her shoulder for emphasis, laughing lightly.

Stopping mid-chew, I swallow harshly. She has a point. Drew isn’t the Drew I knew back in college. Two and a half years isn’t that long in the grand scheme of things, but so much has changed for him in that time. He’s got financial and career stability. Not to mention the plethora of celebrities he hangs out with. I’m surprised he even remembered where I lived when he texted me, because who am I now? A poor fashion student that works at a sandwich shop on Oxford Street.

I glance down at the green, grassy-looking pieces spiking out of the sandwich and drop it back into its cardboard container in disappointment. “Not just egg breath. Is there cress in my teeth?”

“Let me check.” I run my tongue over my teeth before showing her, and she gives me a thumbs up. “You’re good.” With Perry watching me, I pick up the water sitting in the drink holder to my side and take a long swig, hopeful that will get rid of any bad breath. Although, if I do see Drew today, I doubt he’ll be close enough to smell it.

Perry laughs. “That’s going to do nothing. Here, take these.” She tosses me a packet of POLO mints, and I pop a couple in my mouth before handing them back to her, but she raises her hand, shaking her head dismissively. “Don’t bother. You’re going to need them more than me.”

With a mischievous glint in her eye, she turns back to the game, and my stomach starts to knot at the implication. She seems to believe that the only reason Drew would invite me here is because he wants something to happen between us. I, on the other hand, cannot believe that for my own sanity. Because what if it’s not true? I don’t think my heart would be able to handle the implication.

When the music picks up in volume, Perry moans. “I thought you said we didn’t have long left. What’s with all the music? I didn’t realize they were going to throw in a Bailey Hill concert in the middle of this shindig.”

“It’s a commercial break, and the game only has a minute left. Have you never been to a sporting event before? They play music to hype the crowd up.”

“Please, Bella. The only sports my father would let me attend were my cousin’s Polo matches and I hated going because of the poor horses. Not to mention my cousin is a complete and utter arse, and I only tolerate him when I have to. My family isn’t built for all of this American razzle-dazzle, where a minute left in a game can drag on for hours, and you need constant stimulation of all senses otherwise a riot will ensue.” She waves her hands flippantly below. Perry didn’t give me much information on her family, but I know her upbringing was completely different from mine. Raised in the upper echelons of British society, she did things and met people I could only dream of, but it has made her somewhat disconnected from reality. Let’s just say, she wasn’t the most helpful when I was trying to acclimatize to my new culture, but I couldn’t complain. She was genuine and loyal – the only things a good friend needs to be.

I roll my eyes, lolling my head to take her in. “It’s not hours. We’ll be out of the stadium and heading home in the next thirty minutes, max.”

“We?” She raises an amused brow.

“Yes, we. I’m not exactly going to ditch you after I invited you here.”

“But what about Mr. Perfect? Don’t you want to see him?”

Isn’t that a loaded question? Do I want to see Drew McCallister after so long? Of course I want to. Just seeing him out on the field makes it feel like I’m having a heart attack, and he’s at least one hundred feet away, but do I want to see him in person and shatter the facade that he might still be in love with me like I am him?

That, I’m not so sure of. I can’t help but think after everything he’s been through, he’s changed, and he might have found someone better suited. Someone that saw his worth the minute they met him. Not a girl who was too clouded in dealing with her own daddy issues to see that she was in love with the loyal quarterback.

“You can’t leave without at least saying hello. He clearly wants to see you.”

I purse my lips and shake my head. “Doubt it. The guy dates models now. Why would he want anything to do with a girl who sews her own clothes and lives off the chicken caesar bacon baguette from work?”

She blinks a few times before sighing in exasperation. “Oh, I don’t know, maybe it’s the fact that he texted you after not talking for a couple of years and asking you to come and watch him play. Sounds like someone might want to at least catch up.”

“That’s because I’m the only person he knows in London.”

“Or you’re the only person he wants to see.”

Before I can answer, the stadium lights up with fireworks and brings my attention back to the field. Perry jumps back in surprise, screaming so dramatically that I cringe and apologize to the other members of the box, but no one seems to mind. In fact, they all just smile at Perry as though they are used to this from her. I didn’t think anyone knew her when we walked in, but now, seeing their reaction has kind of made me think differently.

“What on earth is going on? I can’t handle the sensory overload of these events. I can’t believe people come to this for entertainment.” Perry’s half-heartedly covering her ears now, and her lip is visibly snarling as she looks down that the field with discontent.

“Good thing you don’t have to anymore, then.” I smile, my heart feeling full when I see the jumbotron. “Games over. The Rattlesnakes won.” Pointing at the screen, I say, “And that’s Drew. He’s about to be interviewed.”

Perry squeals as she grabs my arm. “That’s Drew?!” I nod, smiling softly as I try to fake nonchalance, but I’ve got to admit, seeing my ex is making butterflies bubble in my stomach all over again. Perry is saying something, but I’m too engrossed with studying my ex to take in her words. Besides the hair and stubble, he hasn’t changed one bit. Same deep eyes, same friendly smile, same gooey feeling in my heart. Why did I ever leave him?

Perry whistles, and then looks at me with a glint in her eyes. “He looks way hotter than in his google photos?”

Turning my head sharply, I stare at her with wide eyes. “Wait. You googled him?”

“Of course I did. You can’t tell me that you used to date a celebrity and not expect me to look him up. There’s a very real chance that I might know him.” Ah, yes. When I mentioned Perry was raised in the upper echelons of British society, I meant to say she’s some kind of aristocrat. Although she’s never gone into detail, and I don’t ask. She always maintains that the reason she asked me to live with her was because she liked the fact that I was a clueless American and had no idea who she was. Still don’t. Unlike her, I like to value people’s privacy, and I haven't bothered to look her up. There’s only one person I’ve stalked online before, and he’s below, beaming at another woman because he just won his game.

“Celebrity is a loose term for an American Football Player in the U.K., don’t you think?”

“We had an American Football player compete on Strictly once. Hadn’t a clue who he was but goes to show you that we Brits have a very loose definition of the word ‘celebrity.’ We let our Health Secretary compete on I’m a Celebrity, for Pete's sake.”

“Uh-huh.”

“But anyway, he’s much better looking than google would suggest. Can’t believe you shagged him, if I’m honest. He’s a babe.” She’s speaking so loudly that I hush her and turn to make sure it’s just us in Drew’s family box. If Jacob, or worse, Drew’s mom, walked in hearing that, I would die of embarrassment. The only respite I have is that I know Jacob is currently playing for the Charlotte Crossbills in North Carolina, so he most certainly won’t be here.

“Keep it down. I’d rather the whole stadium didn’t know.”

“You sure? Because if I did the dirty with a guy like that, I’d be shouting it from the rooftops.” She cackles, leaning her entire face against the glass so that she can get a better view. She is so embarrassing sometimes.

“It was a long time ago.”

“Not long enough for him to forget you, though. That’s why we’re here, isn’t it?” She walks to the back of the private box, gets a bottle of water, and takes a swig. “He’s trying to rekindle things?” She throws me a cheeky smile and waggles her eyebrows. “Oh, but please, if you do decide to shag him tonight, could you do it in his hotel room? Our walls are so old, they’re thinner than an After Eight, and I’d rather not be reminded of what I’m missing out on.”

Ignoring her, I turn my attention from the jumbotron to the field below, looking for Drew in and amongst the players. “We’re not going to shag tonight. I’m pretty sure he’s got a girlfriend.” I swallow, thinking about Sam Taylor’s beautiful blonde hair and blue eyes, cursing myself that I was never good looking enough to make it as a model. “So he’s only invited me here as a kind gesture.” Or worse, a guilt invite because we were supposed to wait for each other, and I guess we didn’t.

That’s not entirely his fault, though. We texted daily the first six months I was here with the messages always skirting on the wrong side of appropriate, but I never felt bad about it. I liked being able to talk to him and feel connected, even though we were thousands of miles away. Things only started to get complicated when he was picked late in the first round of the draft. He didn’t have much time to talk after that because he was either training, doing press conferences, or photo shoots. It was hard being in different time zones and still grappling with the idea that we were ‘just friends.’ I didn’t know what the boundaries were or how much texting was too much. I completely stopped texting back when pictures of him and Sam hit the internet. I felt stupid and embarrassed that I thought a guy like him would want to still be with me. Sam was everything I was, but better. She’s strong, independent, and has her own career. What’s there not to like? Deep down, I knew I couldn’t compete with her, so I didn’t bother trying. I let Drew go, and as much as it broke my heart, I thought it was for the best.

Perry comes up behind me and pats my shoulder. “You keep telling yourself that. If he had a girlfriend or thought you were as crazy of an ex as you’ve made out, he wouldn’t still be talking to you two years later, let alone inviting you to see him.”

“Besides that text, we haven’t talked in a while.” I purse my lips together, not able to get out the truth behind that statement. I should have said, I haven’t texted him back in a while, because although I stopped responding, he did try to keep the contact going. He’d still text me every now and again to see how I was doing, but as my replies took longer and longer, he quickly went from texting once a day to every couple of weeks, to nothing.

“You think he’s dating Sam Taylor, don’t you?” Perry raises her brow in challenge.

“Wait, how did you know about her?”

She shrugs. “I told you. I googled him, and yeah there were pictures of them walking out of a restaurant together, but that was it, and it was like over a year ago. I heard she was only looking to make some other guy jealous, so I hope that’s not the woman you think he’s dating.”

“It doesn’t matter if they’re together now, or not. He’s dating other people, which means he’s over me.” And wasn’t pining over me the way I was him, because although I tried to date other guys here, none of them made my heart beat the way Drew’s did. He had this innate ability to ignite a fire in my bones without knowing.

“So, what? Is that it then? It’s the end of the game. Do we just go home now and pretend we were never here?” Perry picks at her fingers, having already lost interest. Drew finished his interview, and I was too busy in my own delusional thoughts to know where he went.

“That’s a good question.” Checking my phone, I don’t see any messages from him, but he’s only just left the field. It would be stupid of me to think that I’m the first person he wants to talk to after a win, but there’s a tiny morsel of hope that wishes it to be true. “I think I might wait around here for a few minutes. See if he comes up. Please don’t feel you need to wait for me. I understand if you want to go home.”

“And miss out on meeting the king of quarterbacks. He is a quarterback, right?”

I scrub my hand across my face, looking at her with tired eyes. “You’re going to embarrass me, aren’t you?”

“Isn’t that what mates are for?”

When the door behind us opens, my world nearly stops. In just a white t-shirt and sweatpants, Drew confidently strides through the room, greeting the other people in the box. I take a sharp inhale because he looks even more magnificent close up, and his presence is overbearing in this small room.

I swallow, quaking in my vegan leather boots the closer he gets. I want to adjust my hair, but I don’t in fear that I’ll look too eager. Will he recognize me? I don’t think I’ve changed much since last time, but who knows.

When he’s finished with the businessmen, he confidently strides my way. “Bella,” he drawls out, opening his arms to me in invitation.

“Drew.” It feels like I’m finally breathing for the first time in years. Without thinking, I rush toward and jump into his arms. Hard muscle meets my soft skin, and every memory of every touch comes rushing back at once. It’s like the last two years never happened.

“Hello to you too.” He chuckles, squeezing me back just as hard, the tips of his fingers giving me a little press.

“I didn’t think you were coming to see me,” I whisper, taking in his smell, freely admitting to myself that it reminds me of home.

“Why not?” I don’t answer because I’m too lost in his scent. “There you go, always underestimating me again, B. Guess you don’t know how much I missed you.” My heart. Does it stop? I think it stops. My world has definitely stopped, so it wouldn’t be surprising if everything else ceased to function too.

Missed me? Could he really miss me as much as I missed him? I’m getting ahead of myself. Taking a breath, I say, “Congratulations on the win,” hoping the change of subject will offer me time to calm down and be realistic. It’s been a long time since we’ve seen each other, and maybe he's just happy to see me because we’re old friends.

But when he palms the back of my neck, and gently scratches, I can’t help but think it’s oddly intimate for a guy who might be just friends with me. “I’ve never lost with you watching me in the crowd.”

Still in his arms, I laugh as I pull away so I can look at him. His eyes are sparkling, and dare I say he’s got this delicious smirk on his face that spells trouble. “That’s easy since I’ve never watched you play before.”

“Not true.” He gives my hips a squeeze. “I distinctly remember two other times when we were freshman in high school and you were there. I made sure to win both games.”

He hasn’t lost his charm then. “Maybe you’re just that good a player. Aren’t you 4–1 this season?”

“Are you keeping tabs on me, Miss Summers?” I hold back my smirk, because I still feel the same undeniable thread of tension that’s always pulled me to him.

A loud, obnoxious cough brings us out of our little bubble. “Drew. It’s nice to meet you. I’m Perry.” Drew slowly and almost reluctantly drops me to the ground to shake Perry’s hand. “That’s a strong grip you’ve got there.” She smirks, giving me what she thinks is a subtle hint. Maybe I should have come on my own or brought Rich from class instead. He wouldn’t be embarrassing me right now.

“Ah, are you the roommate?” He sounds relieved, which is odd.

“Flat mate,” she corrects. “There’s no way I could share a room with that plonker. Did you know she snores louder than a steam train? I can hear it through the walls and my earplugs.”

Drew chuckles. “Funnily enough, I know your pain. Once, I could hear her snores through four walls and a hallway.”

Not one to be defeated, Perry puffs up her chest. “Oh, believe me. She’s gotten worse. I’m sure of it. I swear, the first night she slept in the flat, she was as quiet as a mouse. Thought I’d made the best decision ever by inviting her to live with me, but then by night two, I was seriously considering playing Coldplay on my headphones to drown her out. The only thing that stopped me doing it was the bout of depression that comes after playing Coldplay for longer than five minutes.”

Drew laughs, and I swallow my embarrassment because this can’t be happening. They can’t be bonding over how loud I snore. “Okay.” I step between them, pushing Perry back with a glare. “I think that’s enough talk about my sleeping habits, don’t you?”

She smiles, flicking her gaze over my shoulder to Drew. “Sorry, Drew. I did promise Bella that I would be on my best behavior. But I can’t help myself when I’m around all this muscle.” She waves a flippant hand over his chest. “Granted, you’re not as big as this rugby boy I used to date, but it’s still impressive.”

Checking my wrist, pretending there’s a watch on it, I look straight at her. “Oh, look at the time. Didn’t you say you were meeting friends for drinks after the game? Wouldn’t want you to miss out on those.”

Looking between Drew and me, her smug smile fades as she realizes I want her out. I wouldn’t normally kick her out like this, but there have been plenty of times she’s politely asked me to leave the flat for a few hours so she can have some alone time with whatever guy she happens to be dating. “Ah, you know what? You’re right. Sorry to cut this meeting short, but I’ve got to meet my cousin Johnny before he makes the worst mistake of his life and marries the biggest headache my family has ever met.” She lets out a hesitant chuckle and takes a few steps back. “It was lovely meeting you, Drew. Maybe I’ll see you again when you come back next year for a game.”

“Definitely. My team has signed on for at least another five years of games here. I’ll make sure to save you a ticket.” Without even trying, I can see he’s won over Perry and I’m left wondering if he was always this charming and I’d just never noticed it before.

“Well, it’s settled then. I’ll see you here in a year. Bella, I’ll see you back home tonight… maybe tomorrow. Who knows?” Perry winks at me before she struts out of the room. The now empty room because everyone else left after greeting Drew.

Still staring at the door, I feel a shiver run up my spine because we’re finally alone, but I still seem too much of a chickenshit to turn around. Drew clears his throat, and when I slowly turn to look at him, I suck in a breath because he’s watching me intently. “So that’s Perry?” he asks with amusement.

“Yup, that’s Perry.”

“She seems nice.” He’s holding back the laughter now as he steps towards me.

“She is. What’s so funny?”

He scratches his chin. “Ahh. I don’t know why, but I thought Perry was a guy.”

“Oh.” I push my head back, dumbfounded. “But I told you I live with her.”

He shakes his head in an amused motion. “Yeah, you said you were bringing your flat mate, Perry. I assumed it was your artsy, live-in boyfriend.”

“Sorry to disappoint.”

“Quite the opposite, actually.” There’s that smirk again, and my stomach flips because I’m wondering if his expectations about tonight match mine.

“Did you want to maybe get out of the stadium? I know this great pub that’s just a few stops away on the Bakerloo Line. It’s three floors, so we’d be able to find a quiet spot.”

Scratching his chin, he looks down at the field, then at me. “Normally, I’d say I’d love to, but I’ve got to be back at the hotel by two a.m., and I’m concerned I won’t be able to leave the stadium without being recognized. I know it’s not the U.S., but it was a full crowd tonight, and my face was on the screen enough for it to be imprinted in their minds.”

I blink, feeling stupid for suggesting it. “Of course.” Drew’s famous now amongst NFL circles and all the fans in England are out celebrating. I should have thought about that. “How long is the VIP bar open here? Maybe we could stay and talk?”

He looks a little somber. “I think it closes in a few minutes. They want the stadium cleared.”. I’d invite him back to my flat, but we’d have the same issues getting there. I don’t know what to do. Disappointment courses through my veins, because it feels like this could be it.

As if Drew can read my mind, he takes my hand to get my attention. “Look, don’t take this the wrong way, but why don’t you come back to my hotel? The team has arranged transportation, and there’s a bar in the hotel that’s open twenty-four seven. We could hang out there and talk as long as we want. Uninterrupted.”

The last word sends a little thrill to my core. Uninterrupted time with Drew? I didn’t need to think about it. “Sure. I’d like that.”

Wrapping his arm around my shoulder, he leads me out of the room. “Great. Then follow me, Belly.” I groan, pushing him in the chest but laugh at his antics because strangely, it feels like we’re picking up right where we left off.