A lump rises in my throat, no longer holding back the feeling that we belonged together, that I messed things up so badly. But can we really try again? “We’re seeing each other already. At the rink,” I croak.
“Not like that. I mean a date, a chance to have more real conversations.”
With half panic, half something dangerously close to hope, I wonder if it might work this time. “Eli?—”
“Think about it,” he says softly. “No pressure.”
I nod because my voice won’t cooperate.
We finish our drinks and walk back across the street toward his car. When we reach it, Eli hesitates, then lifts a hand, his knuckles grazing my cheek.
“Goodnight, Stella.”
He leans in. His lips brush mine ever so softly for one brief, and devastatingly heart-melting kiss.
“Goodnight,” I manage, pulse racing so fast, I fly up the stairs. At the top, I wave as he drives away, my lips still tingling, my stomach flipping somersaults.
We survived the truth of the past. Maybe. Wanting more with him is the part that scares me.
CHAPTER 10
SIN BIN SECRET
ELI
I would have thought finally knowingthe truth about our past breakup would set my mind at ease. Maybe on the surface it does, but the reality is sleep avoids me like a bitch, everything swarming through my mind.
Her father is in federal prison? I go cold thinking of how the timeline of the arrest mirrored our breakup. It’s hard to wrap my head around a secret so big she managed to keep it from me.
She never once brought him up. I never even met her parents the entire time we dated, which, over about four months while away at college, both of us far from home, wasn’t unheard of. They didn’t factor into any of our discussions. I guess I figured we’d eventually meet both sets of parents as our relationship progressed. I only knew that we both came from families of similar low-income backgrounds.
While she shrank deeper into the crater her family scandal caused back in Chicago, I was so self-centered I didn’t notice how much she needed to lean on me. She was either an excellent actress and liar, or I was the biggest asshole on earth.
She turned to Jerrod instead? Letting him into her inner world and talking her into leaving me? It explains so much, and fucking hurts. Can I even trust her now that I know the truth? Would she hide anything from me again?
Something about his involvement in our breakup eats away at me, though. He was always jealous of me, and must have been so pleased to see me cast away by her. He didn’t waste any time getting back together with her, making sure I saw them on campus. And years later I see her again, hearing she ended up pregnant by him? The bastard probably planned it out like a revenge plot against me.
Fucking asshole—and then he goes and cheats on her. My blood boils; he’s lucky I don’t find his ass and make him my personal body bag. Okay, maybe I’m reading too much into this. The guy was just being a friend to her, and they simply picked up the pieces where they left off before I ever came into the picture. But no. I prefer to think of him as a conniving bastard.
Of course, I didn’t let on to any of these thoughts as I left Stella after the coffee shop a few nights ago. She needs to know she can open up to me anytime; it would have done no good to get even more upset about any of this in front of her.
I blow out air and get out of bed, the entire complicated mess driving me crazy. I change into my running shorts. A brisk jog this morning would do me good. In typical Denver weather, the forecast calls for our first snow next week over Halloween weekend, so I’ll take advantage of these last fall days.
I don’t report to the team until later. We have a game tonight, and it’s a special one. I gave free tickets as my gift to the entire Wishes Granted group of families, complete with a luxury travelbus transporting them all from Boulder to the arena. I can’t wait to see Stella and Aiden rooting for me in the stands.
Before I hit the road, I call Renae to make sure all the important details for tonight are handled. No surprise, she picks up on the first ring.
“Just checking that you have everything ready for the game tonight,” I saunter to the kitchen to make my pre-workout shake.
“Tickets distributed. Gift bags delivered. All under control.”
“Good. Thanks,” I clip.
“But you sound different. What’s wrong?”
I blow out air. “Nothing. Fuck, everything.”
“Tell me. I can’t help you unless I know the facts, sir.”
