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This vibe in here is a welcome change. The club isn’t officially open, but we’re not turning away anyone who passes by and wants to come in and watch the game. The stack of pizzas that were delivered half an hour ago are going quickly. Instead of loud music, skin shows and the jeers of men, there’s laughter and the sound of a football game in progress.
Andrei set up the monster of a screen on the stage and I’m having trouble taking my eyes off the sight of Conner in bold high definition. He’s brilliant. Confident. A born leader on the field.
But the thud of my heart has nothing to do with admiration for his athletic skills.
I miss him.
I want him.
I love him.
Conner knew something about me that I had yet to admit.
I have no desire to go through life without love. Whether there’s a fight on the horizon with my cousins, or whether an unknown battle hasn’t taken shape yet, I want to be with him. We’re better together, both of us.
That day in Dani’s backyard, Conner asked me not to make him wait too long. He’s been completely patient while I focused on Lita. It’s now his turn to be rewarded. He deserves to hear everything, even the parts I’ve protected him from.
Romance and fate and love and commitment were written off as goals for other people. I convinced myself I wanted none of it. Conner Wiseman changed everything. He’s my prince, my knight, my everything.
I won’t make him wait any longer.
Lita snaps her fingers. “Know what I want? A beer.” She’s been having a great time, rosy-cheeked and gobbling up one slice of pizza after another while being treated like a celebrity by the girls. She looks at me like she’s waiting for permission.
I can’t exactly tell her no. She’s long past the legal age of twenty-one. Fiona, sitting across from me, mashes her lips into a sympathetic expression. She understands that things aren’t so clear cut when it comes to Lita, who is technically an adult but without the appropriate life experience.
“Coming right up,” I tell my sister and rise from the chair. One beer won’t do her any harm and I’ll water it down.
Bruce sees me heading for the bar and starts to move from his table where he’s sharing a pizza with his wife but I wave him away. The staff doesn’t have to be here. This is a party and I want them to relax and have fun.
The pile of green Cyclones team t-shirts I purchased have been put to good use. Right now the place doesn’t resemble a strip club. It looks more like a college town sports bar. Lita giggles as Destiny, one of the dancers, French braids her hair in two identical plaits.
On the big screen, there’s a colossal howl of delight from the crowd and everyone here in the building joins in. I turn around to see the Cyclones have scored another touchdown. Conner jogs over and appreciatively slaps the back of the receiver who caught the ball in the end zone. The camera pans for a close up when he flips his helmet off on his way to the sidelines. The sight of that boy’s smile takes my breath away. Always has, even when I resisted.
The excited voice of the announcer sings his praises. “Wiseman is at the height of his abilities and arguably the best quarterback in the game right now. Even this early in the season it’s not unreasonable to say that the Cyclones will be the team to beat this year…”
I’ll be there in person for his next game. As much as I’m enjoying this laid back atmosphere, I wish I was watching live, screaming until my throat is raw every time number twenty-nine steps onto the field. I bet Conner could hear me even above the racket of fifty thousand fans. I can be loud as fuck when I want to be.
On impulse, I pull my phone from my back pocket and dash off a text.
Can I see you tonight?
The phone is on its way back to my pocket when I regret the question.
It’s just not good enough, gives no hint of all the churning emotions that need to be put into words so he understands just how much he means to me.
I miss you.
He won’t see the messages for hours but he will see them eventually.
Tonight I’ll tell him the rest in person.
A shadow falls over the open entryway just as I finish filling Lita’s glass. We’ve had a few wanderers stroll in today, locals who happened to be walking by and were curious about why the doors were open. They are welcome to come in and watch the game as long as they cause no trouble.
However, when I look up and see Sophie, a piece of my good mood fades. My cousin’s wife has gone from being an object of pity to a real pain in the ass. She picks fights and alienates the staff and lately I just don’t have the energy to deal with her. The final straw was when she threw a wild tantrum and lashed out at Fiona.
As I watch her sashay through the door, I brace for another surprise in case her shitty husband is with her, but it appears she has come alone. Sophie scans the room with a sulky attitude and spots me at the bar.
Because I’m in no mood for a scene, I offer her a friendly wave. Call it an olive branch, to repair the fact that I told her not to come back until she learns how to behave like a fucking adult.
