She slapped him playfully on the cheek. “If that’s meant to be an incentive, it sucks. I thought you wanted to win.”
Alex released her hand, only so he could grasp her waist to pull her even closer.
She’d pointed out their audience, so she had to surmise he didn’t mind letting his family—or hers—see them like this.
“Fine. Score this touchdown and I’ll take you over my knee tonight and spank that cute ass of yours.”
The budding hope she’d been trying to keep a lid on escaped, and suddenly, she didn’t just have a rose, she had a whole damn bouquet.
Alex released her, and as she turned away, he slapped her ass, true teammate style.
“Let’s do this,” he called out to the rest of their team.
The ball was snapped, and Charley darted toward the end of the yard designated as their end zone. Reggie was hot on her heels, but she was younger and faster. She turned just as Alex threw the ball. Reggie managed to get his fingertips on it, the football wobbling precariously.
For a second, Charley thought he might intercept it, but she was able to grab it before he could.
“Woooooooo!” she yelled, spiking the football. Josh and Mr. Stone reached her in seconds, high-fiving her and each other, hooting loudly.
Alex sprinted across the yard, picked her up, and spun her around until she was dizzy.
“Put me down, you crazy lunatic,” she said, laughing.
“Not sure why you’re celebrating,” Reggie, the sore loser, grumbled. “Said right from the start the teams were uneven. You and Charley should never be on the same team. It’s not fair.”
Alex rolled his eyes. “Not sure what you’re bitching about. We took Josh. If that’s not a handicap…”
Josh lifted his hands out and shot Alex a WTF look. “Um. I’m standing right here.”
Charley laughed.
Bella had dated Josh for nearly a year, and what the guy lacked in athletic ability, he definitely made up for in personality.
Bella’s family loved him, though it was clear that given their druthers, they would have added another “teammate” to the clan rather than a comedian.
“We’re doing a rematch after dinner. And this time,” Reggie pointed at her, “Charley’s on my team.”
Alex shook his head, wrapping his arm around her shoulders in a proprietary way. “Arm wrestle you for her.”
Reggie scoffed, then muttered, “Competitive fucker,” as he walked away.
Everyone else ambled away as well, heading for the cooler to grab either a beer or bottle of water.
Charley started to follow, but Alex tightened his grip on her, holding her in place.
“I feel like I’m not getting enough credit for that stellar throw. Couldn’t help but notice all the cheers were for you.”
Alex had ego to spare and she’d made it her mission back in elementary school to never feed the beast.
“Excuse me? Your brother almost picked it off. The only reason we won was because I saved us from your shitty toss.”
“Oh, sweetheart,” Alex said, turning her in his arms until they were pressed breast to chest. “You are going to pay for that.”
“Might be a good time to let you know that the only way you could hurt me is to withhold sex. And we both know you won’t go that far.”
Alex laughed loudly, then started tickling her. “Dammit. I’m getting tired of losing to you.”
She tried to escape him, but her feet got tangled up in his and she started to fall backwards. Alex reached out, going down with her, twisting at the last minute so that she fell on top of him.
Going vertical to horizontal didn’t impact his attack.
Instead, it seemed to reenergize him, and he drove his wicked fingers into her side, as she laughed uncontrollably and tried to fight him off.
“Get a room!” Reggie yelled from the picnic table.
“Alex,” she protested.
“Say uncle,” Alex demanded.
Charley refused to relent, so he doubled his efforts, until she was gasping for air through her laughter.
“Uncle,” he insisted.
She held on a few seconds more, but it was obvious escape was impossible.
“Uncle,” she murmured before adding, “Asshole,” just to make herself feel better.
Alex stopped tickling her, grinning. “You’re adorable.”
After nearly a week with Alex, she was getting used to and spoiled by his compliments.
Adorable was not a word that had ever been used in regards to her—she’d come out of the womb too tall, too gangly, too rough.
She shook her head, even as she smiled, pleased. “God, I love you.”
The words fell out unbidden, and she instantly regretted them when Alex’s face—his whole body—froze.
Shit.
One second became five, then ten.
“I…” she started, uncertain how to mitigate the damage she’d just done.
Before either of them could find their voices, Bella plopped down in the grass next to them. “Reggie is piiiiiiiissed. Determined for a rematch.”
Alex sat, helping her up as well.
“Hey, Alex!” Josh yelled across the yard. “Help me grab some more beer from the garage and ice it down.”
Alex nodded. “Yeah. Back in a minute.”
Maybe it was just in her head—because panic was seriously taking over—but his voice sounded wooden to her.
Forced.
Bella had been oblivious to her state until Alex was gone and she let out a long, shaky breath.
“What’s wrong?”
“I just told Alex I loved him.”
Bella’s expression told her she wasn’t wrong to be upset. “Oh.”
“Yeah. Fucking oh. What’s wrong with me? Why would I say that?”
Bella gave her a sympathetic smile. “Because you feel it?”
Charley glared at her. “Not helpful.”
Though she’d seen Bella a few times since their return from Vegas, the two of them hadn’t been alone once—Alex always present.
“I was hoping to steal a few minutes with you today, just so I could ask you what the hell is going on between you two. While Alex is the king of hookups, you’re not. Of course, my big brother also isn’t known for six-night stands, so I’ll admit I’ve been confused. Guess I know now.”
“I’m the world’s biggest idiot. I mean…Jesus…if it wasn’t bad enough my boyfriend of three years cheats on me, then dumps me, I manage to go one further by falling for a man who’ll never love me back. What’s wrong with me?”
Bella reached out and took her hand. “There’s nothing wrong with you. Just the guys.”
“You realize one of those guys is your brother.”
She glanced toward her family.
Her oldest two brothers appeared to be engaged in a chugging contest, belching loudly and crushing the cans once they were done. “I stand by what I said.”
Leave it to Bella to find a way to make her laugh, to make her feel better. That was something she and Alex seemed to have in common. Neither one of them held back on the humor or the sweet words.
Unless, of course, it was the L word from Alex.
Then it was radio silence.
“I made a huge mess of this.”