Winning the Player

by Leesa Bow

  The interior of my old Barina warmed me like an electric blanket, so I closed my eyes and lowered my car seat to enjoy a peaceful moment while waiting for Maddy to arrive. I checked the time, almost three; it wasn’t like her to be late. My phone beeped with an incoming message and Maddy’s name flashed across the screen. I expected her to apologise and say she’d be here in five.

  Sorry! I’m held up at uni and won’t make it today. I’ve sent Hunter a text and asked him to meet you instead.

  It wasn’t that I didn’t want to see Hunter, because I did—every minute of the day—and we had a dinner date later that evening. His training commitments had kept us apart, so to compensate we sent a ridiculous amount of texts to each other. We were still in the honeymoon phase and everything seemed romantic, so I didn’t want to ruin it with embarrassment. I imagined that sweating, huffing and puffing up a hill, and tripping over loose stones hardly fell into the starry-eyed category, and we were a long way off the comfortable-with-each-other stage.

  I started to text her back when someone knocked on my window. I looked up to Hunter wearing a black T-shirt and track pants. I wound down my window, ready to inform him I’d changed my mind.

  ‘We’d better hurry. Don’t want to be stranded up there in the dark.’ He grinned.

  ‘We don’t have to do this. I can just go home and shower and get ready for dinner.’

  A smile played over his lips. ‘I can do that, too,’ he said, causing my cheeks to warm.

  ‘I never meant —’ My door opened and he took my hand.

  ‘Come on, Aubs. Let’s do this. It’ll be good for your knee.’

  Exactly. That’s why I’d arranged to do it with Maddy. ‘Sure,’ I said, resigned.

  He pulled me up out of my seat and straight into his arms with a kiss. ‘I’ve missed you,’ he said against my lips.

  Hope kindled inside me that we could be good together, that there was more to him than what I’d first perceived—an arrogant sexy-as-hell footballer.

  The way he stared tempted me to cancel the walk and make out with him in the car, but he blinked and his expression changed. ‘Grab your keys and lock the door or we’ll never make it to dinner.’

  We headed along a trail, my hand inside his warmer and considerably larger one, and as much as it opened my heart it wasn’t practical to continue up the hill holding hands knowing I’d struggle physically.

  ‘Which path do you want to take?’ Hunter asked when the dirt trail forked.

  I shrugged. ‘I’ve never walked from here. It was originally Maddy’s idea.’

  ‘Well, I suggest we go left as it’s the shortest. Around forty minutes up and twenty down. The other two take a couple of hours to hike and I don’t think we have that much time.’

  ‘Left it is.’

  He released my hand and put his arm around my waist, surprising me by pulling me into him. ‘That’s unless you want to camp out in the dark?’

  I shook my head. ‘No.’ He arched his brow. ‘Well, not here,’ I added.

  ‘Later,’ he said.

  How the hell was I meant to stay focused around Hunter? He pushed a strand of hair that had escaped my ponytail behind my ear. ‘I haven’t stopped thinking about you.’

  ‘You’re pretty unforgettable yourself,’ I admitted. ‘But if you keep distracting me it’ll be dark before we know it.’

  He chuckled, and since he’d confirmed what path to take I took the lead.

  When we approached a slippery section of the slope Hunter placed his hand on the small of my back. He followed me the entire way up the hill, allowing me to set the pace and rest when I requested. At least I wasn’t as embarrassed by my huffing and puffing with him behind me. And if I wasn’t completely comfortable with the idea of my rear being in his face the entire uphill journey, I sensed he didn’t have the same opinion.

  Hunter’s phone beeped and he stopped to read a message. ‘I just have to make a call,’ he said from behind.

  ‘Sure. I’ll keep going.’ I felt confident he’d catch up in no time.

  After ten minutes I stopped and glanced down the trail. I pulled out my phone and checked the time. We’d been walking for half an hour, but instead of continuing on I turned around to find Hunter.

  The walk down was easier on my knee, but the slippery ground challenged my balance. The fern-lined path was overflowing with wildflowers this time of year, which I’d hardly noticed on the way up with Hunter around me. Yellow and purple flowers dotted green shrubbery and the view was pretty enough for a picture. I took out my iPhone and just as I clicked Hunter appeared on the trail.

  ‘Hey, I was getting worried about you.’

  He looked serious. ‘Do you mind heading back? I have to make some calls before we head out to dinner.’

  ‘Sure. Is everything okay?’

  He nodded. ‘I need to call to my manager.’

  ‘Oh. We can cancel dinner if you like?’ I didn’t want to be an obligation if he had other things on his mind.

  ‘No. I’ve been looking forward to it all day. I’m sorry to cut the walk short. I was enjoying the view.’ He reached for my hand and winked.

  My stomach cartwheeled. That damn wink did all kinds of things to me. Seeing my reaction, he chuckled, squeezed my hand and pulled me along the path.

  Hunter had booked dinner at an Italian restaurant in the city so that he could have pasta and bread to fuel his body with carbs leading up to the game. He picked me up at six. In the confines of his sports car, his freshly showered scent overpowered my thoughts. I turned up the radio and hummed along to a song, trying to focus on something other than the man beside me.

  After cruising the same street twice with no luck finding a park, he dropped me out the front of the restaurant and arranged to meet me inside. When I opened the restaurant door the first person I saw was Emily—bitch from school Emily—dressed to the nines in an LBD. Considering I hadn’t bumped into her since that first week home, my stomach nose-dived, a usual reaction to seeing her.

  Hoping she hadn’t spotted me, I stepped to the side near the wall. No such luck. Emily smiled like she’d just caught onto a joke and marched over to me.

  ‘Emily, how are you?’ I tried to sound enthused.

  She gripped the strap of an oversized bag—probably Dior—hanging over her shoulder. ‘Aubree. Nice to see you again.’ Her voice lacked delight and I guessed she wanted to rub something in my face. A tall, suited male appeared, and with her free hand she grabbed hold of his. ‘This is my boyfriend, Ryan.’

  ‘Hi, I’m Aubree,’ I said, and held out my hand.

  Ryan shook it. ‘A pleasure, Aubree,’ he said in a refined voice that took me by surprise. Although it shouldn’t have considering Emily had always batted above her average.

  Emily gazed down at my denim-clad legs and grinned. My cheeks burned at recalling her taunts at school about my boy-like appearance. ‘And you’re here with . . .?’ She looked at the empty space behind me, still smirking.

  ‘I’m waiting for someone.’ I didn’t want to say Hunter, knowing he might not show up before she left and it would make me look foolish, as though I’d made it up.

  ‘Is she running late?’ She tilted her head at me.

  I blinked twice before a wave of anger overtook me. Before I could think of something to say she added, ‘I didn’t tell you, Ryan, I knew Aubree at school. We didn’t run in the same circles though.’

  Ryan looked at her and frowned. His gaze moved back to me, but something over my shoulder caught his attention. ‘Is that Hunter Stone?’

  I breathed a sigh of relief.

  ‘He’s heading our way,’ Ryan said in a confused tone.

  I stopped myself from turning around and waving my arms madly for him to rescue me.

  ‘Oh, yes. And I forgot to mention I also know Hunter,’ Emily added. ‘I went to school with his cousin.’

  ‘You did?’ Ryan looked at Emily and she was smiling sweetly towards Hunter.

  Emily sideste
pped me and stopped.

  ‘There you are,’ Hunter said, and draped his arm across my shoulder. ‘Is our table not ready?’ He glanced up and noticed Emily. ‘Hi,’ he said bluntly, and turned back to me.

  Emily’s gaze darted from Hunter to me twice. Her lips parted.

  ‘I was just saying hello to Emily,’ I said, not knowing why I suddenly felt sorry for her. I wanted to say, Yes he’s with me, bitch! But the mean-girl style was her way not mine. And the way her face sagged I felt embarrassed for her, and Ryan. ‘This is Ryan,’ I intervened. ‘Emily’s boyfriend.’

  Hunter shook his hand. ‘Nice to meet you, mate, but Aubs and I are already late for dinner.’ He turned his back and ushered me into the main room. A waitress appeared and batted her eyelids, almost drooling, and referred to him as Mr Stone. She seated us by a window and after taking our drinks order she gave me a quick once-over before scurrying away.

  I glanced around the room and was taken aback by the expressions on other diners’ faces. Were they judging me? Immediately, I regretted not spending more time on my appearance.

  Hunter closed the menu. ‘I’m having the usual,’ he said in a casual tone, completely oblivious to the attention we were receiving.

  ‘And that is?’ I opened up the menu and assessed my options.

  ‘Spaghetti marinara.’

  ‘Make it two,’ I said, and bit my lip. I placed the menu to the side of the table.

  ‘Are you okay?’ Hunter’s brow creased as he scratched the side of his face.

  ‘People are staring.’ I wiped my palms on my jeans.

  He shrugged. ‘They normally do.’

  ‘And it doesn’t bother you?’

  ‘Sometimes. You get used to it. I try to block it out. The owner looks after me here.’ I nodded. ‘Whenever I’m hassled he steps in. I generally don’t mind until I’m given advice by some stranger on how to play the game.’

  ‘Can I ask you something personal?’

  He nodded.

  ‘Did you have a thing with Emily?’ I fiddled with the cutlery. I couldn’t look at him but I needed to know. The pained look of disappointment on her face had stuck with me because it went beyond the surprise of seeing Hunter with me.

  ‘Emily? No. Why?’ I lifted my eyes to meet his. ‘What has she got to do with any of this?’ He narrowed his eyes at me.

  ‘So you never slept with her?’

  Hunter leaned back in his chair, putting space between us. ‘Do you want the name of every girl I’ve slept with, Aubree?’

  Yes. ‘No.’ But he’d already answered my question. My brain raced ahead, thinking of the future. If I ever saw Hunter with a new girlfriend, would I be as sad as Emily? Just because I didn’t like her didn’t mean I couldn’t feel for her. Hunter twirled the knife between his fingers. I met his gaze. ‘Did she mean anything to you?’ Part of me wanted him to say yes because if it were me then I’d want him to.

  He dropped the knife and leaned forward over the table. ‘I’m not getting into this’ He hesitated. ‘What’s changed from five minutes ago?’

  It wasn’t about Emily it was about me. ‘I want to mean something to you,’ I confessed.

  He reached across the table and grabbed my hand. ‘You do. You’re here with me now and that’s all that matters.’

  ‘I want to show you something,’ Hunter said after dinner, when we were inside his Audi. ‘A quick detour before I take you home.’

  ‘As long as you’re not some psycho pretending to show me something and then knocking me off and leaving my body on the side of the road?’

  Hunter glanced sideways at me and grinned. His fingers tapped the steering wheel in beat to a melody playing softly through the interior. ‘Let me think. A pyscho . . . You’ve called me worse names, and knocking you off . . . well, I’ve considered doing things to you —’

  ‘Stop it,’ I admonished.

  Hunter chuckled and sped up, taking the road leading to the freeway.

  ‘Mount Lofty?’ I asked curiously. Surely he didn’t want to hike in the dark.

  He smiled that smile that warmed my heart before reaching for my hand, holding it inside his while easily handling the car with the other.

  ‘Trust me, you’ll like the surprise.’ His thumb circled a pattern on the back of my hand. This side of Hunter I adored and it was moments like these that kindled a need to be with him, to lower my guard and trust him. ‘The exit’s just ahead,’ he said, although I hadn’t noticed how fast we’d made it up the hill. He veered the car left, taking the road to a lookout. ‘Are you still coming to the game on Saturday?’

  Saturday? My thoughts were frozen here and now, in the car with him, let alone Saturday and football.

  ‘Um, sure. What time do you play?’

  ‘Four. Is it okay if I pick you up at twelve?’ He turned the car around and turned off the ignition. I pulled my gaze away from his beautiful face to the dazzling lights below. Adelaide at night sprawled before us, glittering magically.

  ‘Wow.’ And before I could say anything else Hunter kissed me.

  My body responded, my stomach coiling and uncoiling as warmth spread through me. I relished the taste of Hunter, delicious . . . desirable . . .

  ‘Come back to mine,’ he whispered, feathering kisses along my neck.

  ‘I can’t. I have work in the morning.’

  ‘I can drive you. I promise not to make you late.’

  God knows I wanted to. ‘I have no clothes.’

  With one finger he lifted my chin and our eyes met. ‘I’m thinking you won’t be needing them.’

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  The following night I received a text from Connor.

  Hey, I’ve bought tickets to the movies. Wanna meet at 7? Same place.

  Shit.

  Other than having four hours’ sleep last night, tiredness was not the only reason I wanted to decline. I texted back.

  Sorry, Connor, something has come up. Talk soon.

  Since my association with Hunter didn’t have a label, I didn’t feel confident saying, I’m in a relationship with your brother, because I wasn’t even sure if Hunter and I were a couple.

  Seconds later Connor responded.

  Hell, I’ve already purchased tickets with a Coke and popcorn special. Any chance you can get out of your commitment?

  For some stupid Aubree-is-a-softie reason I was ridden with guilt, and it was impolite to brush off Connor without an explanation. After all, we were friends. I could explain the I’m-kind-of-with-Hunter relationship and let him know I was no longer available for friendly dates. Considering Hunter was at training and later committed to a team meeting, I had no other plans for the evening.

  Okay, but I need to tell you something. See you at 7 ☺

  I hit send. With a quick check in the mirror I decided not to worry about makeup or fixing my hair, as it was only Connor.

  ‘Bye, Mum, I’m heading to the movies. Be back in a few hours,’ I yelled as I walked out the door, not giving her time to respond.

  I jumped in my Barina, revved the motor once, before taking off down the road. I turned up the radio and listened to love songs, imagining the lyrics were for Hunter and me. Then I remembered Connor and made a mental plan of what I could say, how I would say it and when was the best time to inform him about Hunter. A dark thought played at the back of my mind: Maddy had mentioned history between the two brothers. I dismissed it, determined that tonight would be the last of my socialising with Connor and it would no longer be a problem.

  When I walked into the foyer at the cinema, Connor caught my eye, waiting at the usual spot by a post. He looked hot—but not as sexy as Hunter—wearing tight jeans, a light-blue sweater and a jacket slung over his shoulder. His face lit up when he noticed me walking towards him.

  ‘Hey.’ I wrapped one arm around his back and patted him with my hand in a friendly gesture. Connor reciprocated. One-armed hugs indicated friends, not best friends and certainly not lovers.

  Connor handed me
my ticket and a voucher for popcorn. ‘Candy bar.’ He grinned, revealing the dimples in his cheeks.

  ‘Thank you, I’m going to have to repay you,’ I hesitated, ‘in some way.’

  After filling a bucket of popcorn and the largest cup of Coke, we headed inside. In my head I counted the gym sessions needed to burn all the kilojoules I was about to consume.

  ‘What are we seeing?’

  ‘It’s a surprise.’ He smirked. ‘But it’s comedy.’

  ‘I can handle comedy.’ I imagined it better than staying at home.

  ‘Show me comedy.’ Connor held up his iPhone to take a selfie. He shoved a handful of popcorn in his mouth and smiled, some puffed kernels falling from his lips. I giggled and followed his lead while he clicked away on his phone. We pulled faces while laughing with mouthfuls of salty popcorn.

  ‘Turn off your phone,’ I reminded Connor when the lights darkened.

  ‘You don’t have to walk me to my car,’ I insisted at the end of the movie. I pushed my hands into my jacket pockets, away from Connor’s reach.

  ‘I’m not arguing with you, Aubs. I don’t like undercover car parks. It’s really not a problem.’

  It seemed the perfect time to mention Hunter and not risk another kiss. Before I could say anything, Connor recited a scene in the movie that cracked me up.

  I stopped laughing and caught my breath. ‘There’s something I should tell you.’ I paused as we walked through the exit doors towards my car. ‘Unfortunately, our cinema dates will have to end.’

  Connor stared straight ahead. ‘What the fuck?’

  I didn’t expect him to react in such a shocked manner. ‘Please don’t get me wrong, I really enjoyed —’

  His brow furrowed. ‘Not now, Aubree. It’s my brother.’

  I followed his gaze to my car, where a silver Audi was parked beside it. I froze when the door opened and a long, denim-clad leg appeared. Hunter stepped out of the car and marched in our direction his face dark, with no hint of a smile. Connor took a step forward to meet him, my legs refused to move. My stomach rose to my throat, thinking this would not end well.