“Mijo,” she mutters, and I can’t help but laugh.
“Speak of the devil,” Slim chuckles, at the sound of Diablo’s bike outside.
The afternoon turns into evening, and the food is nearly gone. Everyone is full and sated, content after good food and company. Out of nowhere there’s a loud knock on the gate and we look around, wondering who it could be considering that everyone is here. Walrus makes his way over and opens it, taking a moment to talk to the person on the other side, before opening it fully to let them in.
My heart literally feels as though it stops when Stephen steps through, looking incredible in jeans and a white T-shirt, which is showing off his physique in the best way.
“Mom, Mom, look!” Jake shouts, pointing at him. “It’s Stephen Choi!”
“Who’s Stephen Choi?” Daisy asks. “And how many times do I have to tell you it’s rude to point.”
“He’s the new wide receiver for the Warriors, Mom!”
I feel everyone’s eyes on me… they’re starting to put two and two together, knowing he’s friends with Jamie and Max, but now he’s here. I don’t know how I manage because my legs feel like jello, but I stand and move towards him.
“Stephen? What are you doing here?”
“I needed to see you,” he says.
His eyes look determined, confident, and it pisses me off. I’ve wanted to reach out to him for weeks, but I haven’t because I didn’t want to interfere with his life or distract him from football. But he has the nerve to just show up here, in front of my family and friends, not even a message to say hello first.
“Well did you ever think that maybe I don’t want to see you?”
“Baby?” he whispers, confusion crossing his face.
“I’m not your baby,” I say, “we’re not together anymore, Stephen. Or have you forgotten? Maybe I’ve moved on, maybe I’m someone else’s baby now.”
I know it’s petty, but I’m really pissed off that he just showed up here with no warning. His eyes darken and he steps into me, cupping my face in his hands, he leans in and kisses me.
Fuck. I forgot how good kissing him feels, but I make myself stand strong, not engaging with him, keeping my hands by my side, however much I want to literally climb into his arms.
He pulls back from the kiss and looks me straight in the eyes. “Don’t ever say something like that to me again. I told you, you’re mine.”
I push him off me, which is not easy to do considering his size, but I do my best.
“I’ve already told you I don’t want to be your secret; I deserve someone who wants to be with me openly.”
“Donovan,” he says, pulling me towards him by my shirt, wrapping his arm around my waist and holding my body close. He nods his head at the crowd that’s all watching us, their faces a blend of shock and intrigue. “I just kissed you in front of all of your biker friends, does it look like I want to keep you a secret?”
He kisses me again, claiming my mouth with his, and this time I have no restraint. I can’t process what he’s telling me, but right now I just want to kiss him. My arms wrap around his neck as he holds me tight, making it very clear to everyone who’s watching that I’m his.
Cheers and shouts erupt from my brother and his friends. I can’t believe they’re seeing me kiss another guy, just a few months ago this felt like an impossible dream. Embarrassment creeps through me, I’ve never been in this situation before and the thought of all of them watching me kiss someone is too much. I pull back, feeling myself blush.
“Aren’t you gonna introduce us?” Diablo asks, the smug expression on his face causing Beth to hit him.
We walk closer to where everyone is sitting, mainly towards my mom and brother.
“Um… this is Stephen. He was my roommate back at Winbrook.”
I glance over at him and he’s shaking his head at the descriptor, but good; now he knows how it feels. I want nothing more than to introduce him to my friends and family as my boyfriend; but until I know why he’s here, what am I supposed to say?
“Stephen,” my mom says, coming to shake his hand. “I’m Sofía, Donovan’s mother; it’s lovely to meet you. I’ve heard a lot about you, although now I’m thinking that a lot of details were left out.”
She raises her brows at me which only makes me blush harder.
“It’s great to finally meet you too, I’m sorry it hasn’t happened sooner,” Stephen says. “Things have been complicated with football, but I’m here now.” He gives me a pointed look when he says that, as though I’m supposed to understand exactly what that means.
As Beth introduces herself to Stephen, my brother leans into me and says quietly, “I know I offered to beat him up for you, but the guy is fucking huge. You could have told me he was a pro-football player.”
