Twenty-Three

Ifeel like a stalker. Maybe I sort of am? I don't know.

All I'm sure of is that I'm leaning against a cement pillar in the hotel's parking garage, waiting for a petite brunette with big hazel eyes and hair down to her waist to walk by so I can grab her and make her forget that I was recently pummeled by her ex-boyfriend.

Too much? Maybe.

But when she responded to my text that she couldn't wait to see me, I took that as an open invitation to surprise her. I mean, she already knows that we're meeting here, except she thinks I'm waiting by Ronnie's Jeep. We can't afford to get caught, though, and this at least keeps me from standing out in the open. Heaven knows I can't be seen at an away game I never attended as myself.

My phone pings with a text from Chantelle.

Peanut

On my way. See you in like three minutes.

Can't wait.

Keeping to the shadows, I slow my breathing and try to settle my pulse. It's hard when I know I'll get to spend some alone time with her. It's all I've wanted for days, but keeping two schedules leaves me with little extra time and barely any extra energy.

Yet my body fills with adrenaline at the thought of getting to hold her, to feel her in my arms after days of going without. Not even my sore jaw or bruised face could taint my eagerness right now.

Footsteps sound to my right, mimicking her gait. I wait until she passes me before I make my move. With her back to me, I reach out, lightly gripping her wrist, and tug her back. She responds by slamming her fists into my shoulder, right next to a bruise Jones gave me. "Get off me!"

I release her with a strangled groan, holding up my hands before she strikes me again. "Hey, calm down. It's just me."

She pauses, then rushes forward and wraps her arms around my neck. "Uh, you idiot, you scared me to death!"

"I'm sorry," I say with a pained chuckle. "Trying to surprise you for this secret little rendezvous was obviously not the way to go."

"Not in a strange city at night!" She slaps my chest and tilts her head back to glare at me. "You're such a dumb blond sometimes."

I bring her closer with what probably looks like a sappy smile. "Clearly a fool in love."

As soon as the words leave my mouth, I realize what I've just said. Chantelle's features are too shadowed to read any of the nuances I know are there, but I note the way her eyebrows knit closer together.

"Did you just…"

Before she can ask me a question I'll be forced to answer, I bend down and meld my lips to hers. She squeaks in surprise but presses closer, and I stumble back against the pillar behind us.

I don't want to avoid telling her the truth—which is that I'm falling faster for her than I ever thought possible—but I also couldn't stand not having her in my arms a second longer.

"We should get to Ronnie's Jeep," she breathes, kissing the side of my mouth. "Before someone sees."

I grab her hand and we make a run for it. According to Chantelle, Ronnie forgot to lock her vehicle, so we're able to slip inside quietly once we find it. I appreciate her friend's support, even if we are sneaking around. The second we're alone in the backseat, I reach for her. With my hands on her hips, I settle her in my lap and slowly run my lips along the sensitive skin below her jaw.

"Please," she whimpers. "Kiss me."

I chuckle against her skin, slowly making my way back to her mouth. "So bossy."

Instead of our kisses being rushed and frenzied, I take my time savoring her. Even if it's way too soon to say words like love, I want her to know how serious this thing is between us. Want her to experience all the deep, profound things she makes me feel.

So when I gently cup her face and place a kiss on one corner of her sassy mouth, I don't stop there. I let my lips whisper over her cheek to her ear, then back down her neck.

"Jude," she rasps in a voice like gravel wrapped in silk.

"Do you want me to stop?" I pull back, letting my fingers slip through her hair.

With one decisive shake of her head, she draws me back in and places a slow, tantalizing kiss on my lips. "I was so worried about you."

I settle my hands in the dip between her shoulders and neck and breathe out a laugh. "Sure you weren't disgusted that I lost the upper hand in a fight?"

Giving me a scolding look, she toys with the ends of my hair. "Lex is a dirty fighter, and everyone knows it. I just wish you wouldn't have engaged with him."

"He deserved it. I got in one good punch, at least."

The fire in her eyes tells me she's not impressed. "You could've gotten seriously hurt." One delicate fingertip grazes the cut on my jaw. "You're lucky to walk away with just this."

"And you," I remind her. "I mean, he doesn't know that. But I walked away with the best thing he ever had. To me, that's way more devastating a blow than any punch I could've landed."

She smiles up at me and snuggles closer. "Forshtay, that might be the nicest thing anyone's ever said to me."

I kiss her forehead, then wrap my arms around her and hold her close. "Well, get used to it. Because I intend to shower you with pretty words, if only to silence those intrusive thoughts of yours."

She stiffens and pulls out of my arms.

"Did I say something wrong?"

"No," she assures me. "But your comment just brought to mind what happened with me and Ronnie tonight. I…uh…told her about my writing."

I raise an eyebrow, trying to read her expression. "How did she take it?"

Her lips quirk into a small smile. "Not as bad as I thought she would. But she was disappointed and rightfully so." With a long sigh, she admits, "I think it's time to come clean to my parents too."

I run my hands down her arms. "I know that'll be hard for you."

"Yeah, but I'm tired of hiding this from them. I always have to stay one step ahead, planning out what I'll say or do so they don't catch on. It's like I'm playing some part in an elaborate stage play. And now there's you. And we're having to hide all this." She motions between the two of us. "It's exhausting, honestly. I don't want to do it anymore."

My hands drop as her words settle in. "Believe me, I know."

Her hazel gaze searches mine. "Maybe it's time you stopped playing a part too."

She's not wrong, but I'm not doing this for me. It's for him, for Gwen…for my parents. "I want to. I'm ready to go back to being just me. This is exhausting too, you know." Defensiveness rises inside me, even though I try to quell it.

"I'm not telling you what to do, Jude," she whispers, resting her hands on my shoulders. "I just don't want us to have to hide this anymore." She pauses. "You were right the other night when you said we have something really great here. It's too special to hide from those we love."

Any defense mechanism that formed at her earlier suggestion dissipates. Because she's right. I don't want to keep doing this. Hiding in the shadows just to see her. Lying to her dad, lying to the team. It's wrong, and it has to end. I know now that being with Chantelle is worth whatever consequences come from ending this charade.

"This will be my last game."

She blinks, startled. "Really?"

I nod. "I'm going to tell Joel he's either got to come back and play or fess up to Coach and admit that he can't. You're right—this can't keep going for another week or two. I'm beyond drained from it all."

She leans in, resting her head against my chest. "We'll get through this together, okay?"

I hold her close and breathe her in. "Promise?"

I open my mouth to do just that when the car door behind her flies open…and a stunned Archer Sullivan stares back at us.