Game On

by Britney Bell

  Oh, chivalry is not dead.

  This is not a romance novel, Gaia. Get that out of your head.

  As before, we sit in silence, and his leg still presses against mine, almost like it’s there to reassure me that what just went down in the hall really did happen. Another hour passes, and it’s time to head back to Luca’s. We all say goodbye to Blaze as we walk out together, but split ways to head in two separate directions. I truly wish I was leaving with him so we can see where that hallway passion could possibly lead.

  As quickly as it started, our trip comes to an end. It’s one trip I was reluctant to come on, but it turned into an exciting adventure, with a whole lot of heat thrown in.

  ***

  Nine months pass after the soccer match in Milan, and that makes it nine months since that unforgettable kiss. Yes, I have been counting.

  I count as I secretly watch Blaze play every game alongside my brother. I count each time I have a conversation with Luca, and I want to ask how his friend is doing. But I don’t.

  I mean, how would I bring it up?

  So, Luca, how’s your sex-on-a-stick best friend doing? Yeah, the one who kissed me in the hall, just out of sight of you and our entire family to a point of being a wanton fiend.

  The one who burned the memory of his body into my head so deep that I can’t dig it out and throw it away, even if I wanted to.

  The one who I dream about, the one whose name leaves my lips when the memories turn to fantasies, and I scream for him during the lonely silence of night.

  Yeah, I won’t be having that little chat with Luca. Not happening. I will just carry on as if nothing ever happened.

  Out here on my patio, with my morning coffee, I’ve been lost in thought most of the morning, but I need to quit daydreaming and get the shop open already. I opened The Bells of Venice two years ago when a neighbor mentioned to me that she wanted to retire and sell her little trinket souvenir shop. The idea of combining her existing shop with my love for reading and books seemed too perfect to pass up. From then on, I put my head down and went to work, building it into a business that thrives. Based on the store’s name, my biggest selling item is a custom-made bell that I have a local artist decorate. The artist will paint anything and everything portraying Venice onto the different sizes of little white porcelain. They may vary in size and color, but they all capture the city I love so very much. Even with the popularity of the bells, book sells are a close second in revenue and create a lot of foot traffic, since I sell new books in addition to buying and selling used books also.

  I wonder if Blaze is a reader.

  Clearly, the night of the kiss has messed with my head. It’s difficult to focus on the fact I have bills to pay when all I can think about is Blaze.

  Honestly, I have never really been interested in any of Luca’s friends, and I do not know much about Blaze either. So, stalling again, I do what anyone would do to check someone out, turn on my computer, enter Blaze’s name in the search engine’s search bar and open a deep investigation via cyber world. There really isn’t much there. He doesn’t have any social media accounts that I can find, and all the press about him playing is limited to his stats and the history of the few different rosters that he’s been on.

  Maybe what he briefly mentioned to me that night at the table, him being the quiet one of his family, is true. Which is also confirmed from his lack of information on social media. He would not have had a reason to lie to me, but checking him out myself has raised my infatuation level up a few more notches.

  Enough. Get to work. Stop obsessing over a man that you can never have.

  Obviously, he’s busy with his life of soccer, and I have my life here, on this tiny island that I love.

  With that thought sitting heavy on my heart, I make it out of my house and to the store. I have a new order of Christmas bells coming in today, and I have to set them up with all my other holiday-themed books in the display window.

  The American Thanksgiving vacation has brought more tourists to town, than there has been in months; it’s clear that the holiday shopping season has begun in full force. My store is suddenly flooded with tourists and locals wandering the few aisles, all of them looking for that perfect gift for their friends and loved ones.

  The hustle and bustle of work spins my world, and the hours turn into days, the days into weeks. I eventually lose all sense of time, but I absolutely love it. The flow of people to and from my store, finding exactly what they are searching for, is a rush to my soul. I imagine that every bell or book leaving the double doors is off on a new adventure to create a story of its own. I honestly think sometimes that if these items could talk, they would write their own bestselling novel.

  The air turns colder, and before I know it, there’s one week left until Christmas. Mom calls to make Christmas lunch plans, and she requests that I bring the panettone. Apparently, I make this Italian sweet bread even better than she can. I don’t believe it, but if it helps her out, I’ll certainly bare the responsibility, even if I am at the shop until midnight most nights just to keep myself afloat. Despite how exhausted I am from the long hours at work, I’m thrilled to have a successful business and the opportunity to spend the holidays with my family.

  Chapter 4

  Blaze

  Practice over the coming weeks is routine, and Coach finally releases us later with well wishes for a merry Christmas. He also tells us to get the hell out of there because he has plans and expects us to have a good couple of days off. The team thankfully has a few days to relax until we play a home game the day after Christmas. Unfortunately, I have never been away from my family for so long that I can’t even make a quick flight home to spend some time with them over the holidays, and I am really disappointed about spending the holiday alone. The plan for the small break is to stay at my apartment, eat a microwave dinner, and watch Netflix. My first and only stop is the grocery store, to pick up the necessary supplies for me to be able to make it through this not-so jolly holiday.

  As the boredom begins to set in, I wonder if I get my hands on a turkey microwave dinner, if it will give me the sense of a home cooked Christmas meal.

  Yeah, probably not. Undoubtedly, there’s not much excitement happening here at all. “Hey, Blaze,” Luca yells at me while he runs across the field.

  I turn back toward him, waiting for him to catch up, as I head into the locker room. “What’s up?”

  “Do you have plans for these couple of days off?”

  “Ha! If you consider Netflix and a frozen boxed dinner plans, then, yes, I have plans.”

  “No way in hell are you eating that shit for Christmas lunch. Come home with me, to my parents’.”

  The dark-haired beauty, who plays the leading role in my nightly relaxation, immediately comes to mind. Can I be around her, and her family, when all I will be thinking about is the way she kisses and the way I’ve imagined her naked? I would love to see her again and maybe steal another amazing kiss... or more... even though, messing around with my best friend’s little sister is a very bad idea.

  “Thanks for the invite. Yes, I would love to come. How about I meet you there? I think I’ll take a train up tomorrow and stay in a hotel overnight. I may even check out Venice’s Christmas Market for my mom’s gift, and if it’s okay, I’ll catch a ride back to Milan with you Christmas night. That way, we’ll be back before the game.”

  “Sounds like a plan. I’ll text you the address and what time to be there for Christmas lunch.”

  “Hey, thanks again for the invite. I really appreciate it.” And I mean it, Luca is a great friend.

  I spend the evening ordering a first-class train ticket, securing a hotel room online, and packing to be ready to leave on the train first thing in the morning.

  My excitement kicks up thinking about the idea of doing something other than eat, sleep, and breathe soccer for a few days.

  The next morning’s commute has amazing views as the sun rises over the hills, illuminating the br
eath-taking countryside. Not knowing the language makes it a little challenging to get around at first, but I’m picking up Italian fairly quickly, and I make it onto the ferry headed to Venice with ease.

  The closer I get to Venice though, the more interesting the views. The water is dotted with Santa suits. I don’t really understand what they are doing, but it’s pretty cool to watch boats filled with six Santas synchronize their rowing to gain speed through the water. It’s hypnotizing to watch, even if they are dressed like jolly Saint Nicholas.

  At the dock, I get off the ferry and head in the direction my phone’s GPS suggests to find the hotel. There, I check in and run through the map to head out and see as many sights as I can before meeting Luca’s family tomorrow. As I mentioned to Luca before, I’ve heard the Christmas shopping here is wonderful, and I still need to get my mom her last gift and ship it home. I have always tried to get her a little something extra to say thanks for all that she’s ever done for me.

  It doesn’t take long to get settled in at the hotel and hit the streets of Venice. I walk toward an area that seems to have lots of little shops with big windows. It’s like an outdoor mall, with thousands of Christmas lights strung from the low roofs between the buildings and across the walkways. I wander, amazed by the sight. Just a couple of stores in, one of the windows catches my eye. The window is filled with Christmas books and lots of porcelain bells painted with different scenes from Venice. My mother would love one of those.

  Opening the door to the shop, I hear a bell signal my presence to whomever is manning the store, and I step into the warmth of the small space. I immediately turn to look for the bells in the window display. The store is full of people, and I wait patiently to see all of my options. I finally get a turn and choose one decorated with beautiful buildings, highlighting the landscape of Venice. On the front of the bell, there is also a Santa gondolier driving a couple through the waters of the canals. It would be a great present for my mom. For myself, I also pick up a sci-fi book that catches my eye and begin to read it while I wait in line to check out.

  The line is so long that by the time I reach the cash register, I am already deep in the second chapter of the book. A throat clears, and I look up at the cashier, to be welcomed by the brown eyes plaguing my dreams.

  Holy fuck! No fucking way!

  “Gaia,” I say a little out of breath. Not much oxygen is getting to my head at the moment. “What are you doing here?”

  She looks at me with a strange gaze before cocking her head to the side in the sexiest of ways. The movement exposes the neck that I’ve been dreaming of getting my lips on.

  “Umm, you walked into my store,” she says. “What are you doing here?”

  “Haha, you’re right. Sorry. I’m here to actually have Christmas lunch with your family tomorrow.”

  “Did Luca tell you where my shop was?”

  “No, this is a total coincidence. I just came down a day early to get my mom an extra gift.” Gaia still eyes me with skepticism, so I continue, “You do have a really neat shop here.” Someone behind me clears a throat, and I glance back and see quite a long line. Knowing I need to hurry, an idea forms. “Hey, what time do you close here tonight?”

  “I’m supposed to close in about an hour, but I’ll be here as long as this line keeps coming.”

  “How about I help you then? I’ll stay even ‘till after you close, if you’ll be my island tour guide for the evening. How does that sound?”

  Her cheeks turn a light shade of pink, and she offers up the prettiest smile. “Sure, that would be great, but do you know how to work a register or wrap a bell to sack it up,” she replies with an adorable smile and adds a wink to let me know that she’s just giving me a hard time.

  “Perfect. Here,” I say, placing my book and bell on the counter. “Can I buy these before I start my job?”

  She chuckles, rings me up and bags my purchases, then I jump behind the register, bumping into her slightly. She looks up at me, and I softly whisper, “Hi.” Her smile sends a shiver down my spine. The feeling is something I could easily become addicted to because I want it again and again.

  Chapter 5

  Gaia

  My body is on sensory overload. Having Blaze working with me for several hours is pure torture, in the best of ways. I mentally run through all the places I can show him as soon as we can get out of here, and my mind keeps running back to making the first stop on the sightseeing tour my bedroom. I’m jumping to conclusions that he would even want me that way. Yeah, we kissed, but he probably just looks at me as his best friend’s little sister. Plus, we don’t even live in the same city. He’s only here for a short time, and then he will be gone, back to his life.

  Nonetheless, his subtle, little touches tell me a different story. When he reaches around me to grab a different size bag, he gently grabs my hips with both of his hands as he shifts behind me. He even gives me a slight squeeze each time before releasing me. Later, when he whispers in my ear that he is stepping away for a minute and will be right back, the feel of his breath on my neck makes me want to close the store and send everyone the hell out, so I can jump him right here on the sales floor.

  Get a grip, woman.

  After working straight through lunch, the crowd finally winds down a few hours later, and thankfully, I’m able to lock the doors early. It doesn’t take me too long to shut down everything, and Blaze and I are soon walking out of the door to go see the town.

  First thing’s first, the gondola ride. I lead the way away from Saint Mark’s Square to my father’s friend, Frankie. He owns a boat on the canal near my shop. I texted him earlier to see if he was available for a last-minute favor. After making a quick stop by a deli to grab us some paninis to go, we meet Frankie at his gondola, and, of course, he’s dressed like Santa. I think he probably does it more for warmth, than to be the jolly old man.

  Frankie sets us off, and we cover up with a blanket and dive into our picnic dinner. A few, quiet minutes later, he takes us across the Canal Grande to see the unique triangle building of Punta della Dogana. It’s stunning against the pink sky. As the sun sets further, Frankie lazily makes his way down the water streets to show us the beautiful bridges Venice is most known for, and they are roped with a rainbow of Christmas bulbs. In the background, shops, hotels, and homes mingle together, sparkling with their own decorations, making this a wonderful place to live. Lastly, we pass slowly by La Fenice Opera House, where we can hear them singing Christmas carols. Pair the thousands of twinkling lights with the heartwarming music, and the scene is breathtaking.

  Blaze reaches for my hand, pulls it to his lips and kisses the back of it gently. When he backs his lips away, he places our hands under the blanket, my fingers resting on his thigh with his palm covering them to keep me warm. He looks down at me and smiles for a brief moment, then shifts closer and looks back at the sight before us.

  Spending Christmas Eve with Blaze has been the best Christmas holiday, but it raises the question of what will happen after lunch tomorrow.

  Will whatever this is between us continue? As fast as the thought hits me, I push it away.

  Just live in the here and now, I remind myself.

  Frankie steers us back to Saint Mark’s Square, and we depart from the boat and thank him for the wonderful ride. As we pass through the square’s center, we see the giant Christmas tree made of lights, and walk by the long line of people trying to get into Saint Mark's Basilica for Christmas Eve Mass.

  There is no way I can go to mass with Blaze, not with these impure thoughts running through my head. I would much rather confess them to Blaze, than ever confess them to a priest. I think he senses my hesitation because he stops us in the middle of the walk.

  “Thank you for all of this. It has been a wonderful day. Call me selfish, but I am not ready to say goodbye to you yet. Will you come back to my hotel with me? We can hang out and get to know each other.”

  Oh.

  Of course, I’d like to get to
know Blaze better, especially with our bodies.

  God, I’m like a raging horn dog. See, I told you - impure thoughts. I’m sure my face is bright red right now. How embarrassing. I guess it takes me too long to answer because Blaze starts rambling. “It’s okay. If you’re not comfortable with my hotel, we can go to a coffee shop or somewhere. I just thought we could get out of the cold and kick our shoes off to warm our toes. I don’t know about you, but my feet are freezing.”

  “Sorry, Blaze. No...”

  “Okay, coffee shop it is,” he replies in a rush. “Just lead the way.”

  “No, that’s not what I meant. I’m sorry, my brain spaced out there for a moment,” I say, trying to smooth over the disappointment I can see in his eyes. “I meant to say, no, it would not make me uncomfortable to spend time with you at your hotel. That actually sounds really nice.”

  “Great. Here, let me pull up the GPS. It can lead us in the right direction. I’m really turned around, and have no clue as to where it is,” he says with a chuckle and runs his hand through his hair.

  I laugh with him and lean in close to see if I can help. He’s staying at a small, but nice hotel, within walking distance of where we are now. We make our way there just a couple of minutes later.

  When we arrive, Blaze leads me straight up to his room. I’m excited to spend more time with him, yet I am definitely also nervous to see where this goes. If anything is to happen, will it be just like my dreams, or will it be a letdown? I seriously doubt the latter.

  Chapter 6

  Blaze

  I fully intend to just talk tonight, try to get to know Gaia more. I only know a little from her brother, but who is Gaia Giovati really? She intrigues me. I want to know what books she likes to read, what foods are her favorites, what foods she hates. What she likes to do in her spare time, what her favorite color is. What side of the bed she likes to sleep on, what her pjs look like, what she is wearing under that blue sweater and sexy as hell jeans that make her ass look like perfection. I could keep going, but I won’t. Just getting to know her is going to be a lot harder than I thought, if it’s not damn near impossible.