The Boyfriend Bracket

by Kate Evangelista

  “I thought that was because of Cam,” he said, self-deprecating.

  “And the third thing,” she said, not breaking eye contact with those intense gray eyes. “You are loyal and reliable. Anytime Nana needs you, you’re there. Cam calls you at midnight to sneak out, you show up.”

  “You know about those?”

  She twisted her lips. “There’s very little I don’t know about you, William Montgomery.”

  “Oh?”

  Taking the challenge in his tone, she squared her shoulders. “Real talk?”

  He nodded, studying her like she was the most beautiful piece of art. Stella let go of feeling self-conscious and went with the truth.

  “I’ve had a crush on you since I understood what having a crush meant. I even asked my mom to explain the meaning of the word to me.”

  Will’s eyes widened. “What?”

  “Sure, you and Cam always made fun of my braids, and the braces and the glasses, but in my mind, you were always the guy. My first crush.”

  “Are you serious?” He paused, catching himself. “I mean, do you mean it? You like me too?”

  Before Stella could even finish nodding, she was swept up into Will’s arms. He twirled them around and around until she was laughing. Just like in the movies. When he put her down, she was breathless and flushed. He was too.

  Franklin and his date danced over to them, and he said, “Lemon just stormed out of the gym.”

  “Mission accomplished,” Will said with a silly grin.

  In Stella’s mind, those words had a whole different meaning.

  * * *

  WILL HELD STELLA’S hand the entire drive home. To remain on Cam’s and her mom’s good side, they’d decided sticking to curfew was for the best even if Will never wanted the night to end. Stella had confessed to liking him back and for far longer. He was both happy and humbled by the revelation. His heart grew two sizes too big. The night couldn’t get any better.

  When they arrived at her house, he helped her out of his truck by placing his hands on her waist and lifting her to the ground. The smile she gave him was heart-stopping. He took her hand and brought it up to his lips, kissing her knuckles. After he succeeded in lifting a blush on her cheeks, he walked her to the front door.

  She turned to face him and said, “Tonight was a total dream come true.”

  As if reading his mind, she’d taken the words right out of his mouth. “I honestly don’t want it to end. Seeing you in that dress. Dancing and laughing with you. Hanging out with your friends. All of it was pretty amazing.”

  Even in the dim porch light, her blush was enchanting. He cupped her cheek and ran his thumb over her cheekbone where the color was most prominent. She leaned into the touch, looking up at him with those doe eyes. There was total trust there that he vowed never to break.

  His gaze wandered to her lips. They parted as if to say something. Everything in Will begged him to bend down the few inches that separated them and kiss her. It was all he could think about since the second he’d seen her coming down the stairs that night. And from the way she looked at him, it was pretty obvious she wouldn’t say no to a kiss good night. But her mom was a door away. And they had been incredibly lucky to have been given this chance by Cam to be together, whether he knew it or not. Will didn’t want to push it.

  So, against what his heart wanted, Will listened to his better judgment and dropped his hand. Then he took a step back. Concern replaced the desire on Stella’s beautiful face.

  “I should go.” Will hiked a thumb over his shoulder.

  Stella blinked in confusion. “Oh … okay.”

  “I’ll text you,” he said as he began walking back to his truck.

  “Oh, okay,” she repeated, but with a different intonation. Annoyance, maybe?

  Will got into his truck and started the engine with the intention of driving away. He should have kissed her. He should have pressed her up against the door. He should have kissed her like he wasn’t scared at all. What was he doing?

  Making up his mind, he turned off the engine, got out of the truck, and ran through the yard.

  Stella must have been watching him through the window because before he reached her front door, she was already out on the porch. She opened her arms and he ran straight into them. He lifted her up just as their lips met. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders, standing on her tiptoes.

  The kiss was everything he’d expected and a whole lot more. It was like electricity was exchanged between them. She was soft. And sweet. She smelled of vanilla and honey. The feel of her against him brought every nerve in his body to life. She became the flame to his spark. Her touch connected them on a level Will had never experienced with anyone before. Then she parted her lips. Will was right on the edge and ready to fall. Magic was real, and it was being kissed by Stella Patterson.

  “Now that’s the way to say good night,” Will said, trying to catch his breath.

  “I wouldn’t have forgiven you if you drove away,” Stella replied, breathless and slightly dazed.

  Will continued holding her in his arms while her fingers tangled in his hair. He’d never known a single kiss could change a man. He pressed his forehead against hers.

  “I think you just broke me for all other girls,” he whispered, their exhaled breaths mingling.

  “That good, huh?” she teased.

  “I can’t feel my legs anymore.”

  They laughed. It was a fantastic sound to Will’s ears. Nothing could be more perfect than that moment. Their first kiss.

  EIGHT

  NO TREATS, JUST TRICKS

  Stella hummed as she ran the hem of the skirt of her costume through her sewing machine. Franklin was on the floor, sewing beads on a vest. Halloween was right around the corner, and she was in charge of their costumes that year. They alternated from year to year, and it was her turn. She didn’t mind. She loved making costumes. This year she was going as a fallen angel, and Franklin was going as the Mad Hatter. The Johnny Depp version, of course.

  It had been a week since homecoming, and every time her phone buzzed, her heart skipped a beat. No matter what she was doing, she would stop, pick up her phone, and check her messages. Most of the time they were from Will. They had been texting nonstop since that amazing kiss at her front door. Sometimes it was a simple exchange of hellos. Other times Will would send her a funny meme, and she would send one back in response.

  This time, when her phone buzzed, Franklin beat her to it. He grabbed it out of her hand.

  “Hey!” She reached for the phone and he danced away, punching in her access code. In that moment she hated having given him those four digits.

  “I knew it!” he said, as if discovering a new way to sew a pleat. “No wonder you’ve been putting off the next dates on the bracket. You’ve been texting with Will!”

  Stella jumped to her feet from her sewing machine and grabbed the phone back. “So what? They’re just friendly texts.”

  “Like that ‘friendly’ kiss?” He placed his hands on his hips.

  She paused, blushing at the memory. “There was nothing friendly about that kiss.”

  “So are you two official now?”

  “We haven’t talked about it.”

  All the bluster in Franklin’s expression deflated. “Look, I’m not trying to meddle here, but I’m scared that you’re going back to your old pining ways with him.”

  “It’s different this time.” But as she spoke, her words sounded hollow to her ears. “Something changed between us at homecoming. I think this really is it.”

  Franklin must have seen the doubt creep into her expression, because he gathered her into a tight hug. “Just continue to keep your options open, that’s all. Go on those dates. Mike and Hector are waiting for you to set something up.”

  Stella let out a long breath and soaked in the comfort Franklin was giving her. “All right. I’ll text Mike. Maybe we can have coffee after we finish here.”

  “That’s all I’m
asking.”

  * * *

  AFTER TWO WEEKS and a couple awkward coffee dates with Mike and Hector—on separate occasions, of course—Stella found herself sitting on Nana’s porch swing with Will. She was more confused than ever. Franklin kept encouraging her to continue with the bracket, but every time she read a text from Will, all her attention shifted to him.

  “That’s the thing I miss,” Will was saying.

  “What?” Stella blinked as if waking up from a dream. “What do you miss?”

  “Nana’s cooking,” he said with a laugh. “You weren’t listening, were you?”

  She sat up straighter, which pressed her shoulder against Will’s arm. An electric zing went through her body, like every time they’d touched that night. She was so aware of him. Like every cell in her body was at attention when he was within a yard of her.

  “Sorry.” She twisted so she faced him. “I guess I was just distracted by something. Tell me again. I promise I’m focused.”

  Their eyes locked. He reached up and cupped her cheek with his palm, running the pad of his thumb over her cheekbone. It was a simple touch, but Stella felt it all over. Then he leaned in. Like magnets calling to each other, she felt the pull of him. But the second her lips touched his, an aching sense of wrongness made Stella turn away so his lips grazed her cheek instead.

  “What’s wrong?” he asked, pulling back.

  She sighed in frustration. “I don’t know what’s going on between us.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “This.” She gestured at the both of them. “I felt something change between us at homecoming.”

  He held her hand in both of his. “I did too.”

  “Then what are we? Because right now we’re text buddies who kiss on occasion.”

  “Slappy, don’t be that way.”

  Unable to stand his touch in that moment, she pulled away. “Just so you know, I’m still going on my bracket dates.”

  “What?” His posture went rigid. “Why? I thought that was all over.”

  “Because I don’t know. Are we dating?” There, she’d said it. He knew she wasn’t the type to mince words and beat around the bush. Franklin was right. Stella didn’t want to catch herself in a pining spiral over Will again. He needed to let her off the hook if they weren’t happening.

  Will leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. He rubbed his clasped hands together. Stella waited. She needed to. No matter how long it took. She promised herself she wasn’t walking away until whatever was between them was settled.

  Finally, reluctantly, he said, “Do you know why I helped Cam scare away your boyfriends?”

  She held her breath. This wasn’t exactly where she thought their conversation was headed. “The bro code.”

  He shook his head. “It was because I was afraid that you’d fall in love with one of those idiots and I would never get my chance.”

  “But you never did anything about it, though. Up until homecoming I never knew that you had feelings for me.”

  “That’s because I never thought I was good enough to date you.”

  Something inside Stella’s chest pinched. She raised her hand to lay it flat on Will’s back but hesitated at the last second. She clutched her hands together on her lap instead. How was she supposed to respond? She understood where he was coming from. Cam made it pretty damn clear that no guy was good enough for her. Unfortunately, it seemed like Will believed her brother’s brand of bullshit.

  * * *

  STELLA FACED HERSELF in the mirror, pulling on the lace gloves that matched her fallen angel costume. The wings lay on her bed with the mask. Those she would put on last. It was Halloween night, and she had a date with Hector. He was the winner of the semifinals of his side of the bracket. They were supposed to meet at the house of a classmate, who was throwing the biggest party of the year.

  “Do I have enough glitter on my face?” she asked when Franklin stomped into her room. “Well, don’t you look handsome, Mr. Mad Hatter.”

  Frowning, he threw his cane onto the bed. “My date canceled. I refuse to go to the party dateless.”

  “Oh, thank God.” She picked up her phone. “I’ll let Hector know I’m canceling too.”

  “You don’t have to do that,” he said, but it was clear from his tone that he didn’t mean his words. “It’s your favorite holiday, and you’re nearing the finals of the bracket.”

  She pressed Send. “Right now, what matters is we’re together tonight. How about some pints of ice cream and a horror movie marathon?”

  “Ones where the hot guy dies a gruesome death?”

  “Slasher movies it is!”

  Franklin smiled at her. “You’re a good friend.”

  * * *

  TO SAY WILL was confused was an understatement. A week ago, when he and Stella had parted ways, it hadn’t exactly been on good terms. He’d told her he didn’t think he was good enough to date her. She hadn’t said anything. Yet when he’d sent her a text the next day, she’d responded. She had even sent him a picture of herself in her Halloween costume with a caption saying she was staying in. She was a sexy fallen angel, and Will hated that he couldn’t get away to visit her. He had a major paper due.

  “Are you even listening to me?” Cam asked from his bed.

  Will winced. He had completely forgotten that he wasn’t alone. “Sorry. I spaced out.”

  Cam tossed a baseball in the air over his head and caught it with his glove. “The Halloween party at Kappa Kappa Gamma. Where’s your head at?”

  Will went with the truth. “Just checking on Stella.”

  “How’s my sister? I’m worried she’s going out tonight, being Halloween and all. She loves today.”

  “She’s not going anywhere.”

  “How do you know?”

  “She texted me that Franklin’s date canceled. Apparently they’re making a night of it and staying in.”

  “How are you two suddenly texting buddies?”

  A lump formed in Will’s throat. How to respond?

  “I gave her my number before I dropped her off at home on homecoming. I check on her just to see if she’s doing okay. You know, with the bullying and all,” Will said when he was sure his voice wouldn’t crack. The image of Stella in her costume turned him on so much, he was surprised he still had blood in his brain.

  “Hey, thanks, bro. You’re going above and beyond. I’m glad someone else is looking out for her, you know?” Cam caught the ball one more time before he sat up. “We’re going to that party.”

  “I think I’m going to pass.” Will stretched. “I’m beat and I still have that paper to write.”

  “Don’t make me use the bro code.”

  “Come on, man.”

  “You come on. You think my sister is the only one who has had it tough? I’m beat and I want to blow off some steam. We’re going to that party.”

  It was fast becoming clear to Will that Cam was a dog with a bone.

  “It’s just, it’s not like you to turn down a party and some action. I miss the old days. You’re my wingman,” Cam continued.

  Will’s chest tightened, preventing him from breathing properly. “Look, I wasn’t lying about the paper. But if going to that party really means so much to you, then we’ll go.”

  Cam stood up and slapped him on the arm, grinning. “That’s the Will I know.” He ambled to the door. “I’ll grab us some costumes.”

  * * *

  STELLA PUT ON her lace mask and asked, “Are my wings crooked?”

  “Shouldn’t they be?” Franklin asked back. “You are a fallen angel, after all.”

  She thought about it for a second. “You’re right.”

  “I usually am.” He tipped his top hat and twirled his cane.

  “You’re loving your Mad Hatter costume way too much,” Stella pointed out as she tugged up lace gloves that matched her mask.

  “An original Stella Patterson. Of course I’m loving it. Next year I’m in charge of the cost
umes.” Franklin balanced the cane behind his shoulders.

  “I’m sorry that our plans changed,” she said solemnly. “I know you wanted to hang out, just the two of us.”

  “Hey, I never turn down a party.” He winked.

  “Good.” She pressed the lock button on her car’s key fob, and the lights blinked twice. “Come on. The sorority house is that way.” She pointed down the block and moved in that direction.

  “Tell me again why we’re here?” Franklin followed her with a bounce in his step.

  “We’re saving Will from my idiot brother’s clutches. You should see his text.” Stella handed over her phone. Will’s message was already on the screen.

  “Cam wants me to go to this lame party. Sad emoji,” Franklin read aloud. “If that isn’t an obvious cry for help.”

  “You mock, but Will is helpless against my brother.”

  “Just so you know, I’m not totally sold on surprising Will in this way. You’re blowing off a date with Hector for this.”

  “I blew off Hector for you. And this is as much for me as it is for Will. I didn’t like how we left things last week.” Stella twirled a blue strand of her long wig. “Cam won’t recognize me in this, and I get to spend time with Will. Two birds, one Halloween party.”

  Franklin danced a circle around her as they approached the house with a sign up front that announced to the world the Greek letters for Kappa Kappa Gamma. “As your best friend, it’s my responsibility to be the practical one when it becomes clear your head is too clouded by dreams and expectations. Unless you and Will make it official, then nothing is real in the eyes of the discerning masses.”

  “Downer.”

  “Thank you.” He wrapped an arm around hers. “Now let’s save this soon-to-be boyfriend of yours from this lame party.”

  Stella smiled. It seemed Franklin was finally coming around to the fact that maybe, just maybe, there was really something between her and Will. Something inevitable. Like a gardener pulling out weeds to allow the flowers to grow, Stella was willing to put in the work. Now if she could only get Will on the same page.…

  The party was far from lame. Stella had to hand it to the sisters of Kappa Kappa Gamma. They’d turned their house into a murder mansion, complete with a corpse on the porch, a torture chamber for a living room, and bloodcurdling screams mixed in with the dance music.