I shake my head. “That is for another time. Not tonight. Tonight’s about you and me.” I lean down and gently kiss her lips.
Chapter Eleven
Selene
To avoid looking at him, I rest my head on his shoulder and close my eyes. My mind keeps picturing a heartbroken Brody. I don’t want to hurt him. If he ever needs me or needs to trust me, I don’t want to let him down like I let Stacy down.
“You’re blurring the lines,” I whisper so softly, almost in hopes that he doesn’t hear me.
“What do you mean?”
“You aren’t treating me as if I’m just your friend to put it nicely.”
There’s a long pause before he responds. “What if you being my friend isn’t what I want?”
Why did he have to say that? It sparks an excitement, but also terror. I decide to focus on the latter. “Things are good right now, Brody. You’re my friend and my neighbor. Lots can go wrong there.”
“Then again,” he runs one hand up and down my back before resting it on my lower back and continues, “a lot could go right. The only difference would be going out on dates. Maybe sleepovers too, instead of fucking and leaving.”
“I’m not saying this to tease you this time, but we’ll see. It’s too much of a risk to make any kind of decision on a whim.”
Brody pulls back to force me to look at him. “Why do you have such a barrier over your heart, Selene? I know why I have one. I haven’t had a serious girlfriend since Junior’s. In fact, I’ve only had fuck buddies since then. So, what’s your story?” He watches me carefully, as if I would spill my guts right here in the middle of the dance floor.
I avoid his question like a pro. “Can’t I protect my heart for the obvious reasons? Do I have to have a story? If you think about it long enough, maybe you’ll figure it out. If I do have a story after all.” Getting involved with Brody could eventually negatively affect my love for hockey and I can’t lost that.
“Well, I guess you don’t have a story like mine, I was just wondering. The only real question I have is, do you want to have something more with me?”
The music fades, allowing for a perfect escape. “Some things shall remain a mystery. Song’s over and I would like something to drink.” I give him a small smile.
Brody allows me to lead us back to our table. We’re halfway there when he whispers from behind me, “Just so you know, I think you do.”
I ignore him and the heat that rushes through me. He pulls out my chair, so I take a seat. With the main event over, the rest of the benefit seems to pass quickly and soon, we’re getting ready to leave. Kris is the last person we say goodbye to.
“It was so nice to meet you. I hope your wife feels better soon,” I tell him.
He grins. “Thanks. I hope the Swedish Meatball is worth all your money,” he jokes.
“Kris, leave me alone,” Brody laughs. He says his goodbye and then leads me to pay my $20,000 bill. “Are you-” he starts.
“Yep,” I interrupt. It’s for a good cause and I can pay it thanks to a trust I have. There’s no way I’m going to let him pay for any of it. I write the check with a smile and then we are officially on our way back home.
Brody holds my hand in the limo. We’re silent for a bit before he says, “Thank you for coming with me. Did you have fun?”
“Yes, I did. Thank you for inviting me.”
Brody grins and turns towards me a little. “Have I told you how beautiful you look tonight?”
“Not as often as you should have.”
He laughs. “Well, you took my breath away, Selene.” Brody tugs me tight against him and whispers into my ear, his lips brushing my ear. “Don’t forget you need to remind me about the reward.”
There’s one thing for sure. The man can turn me on and sometimes it’s as simple as a look or even an innocent touch. “How could I forget? You look very handsome, Mr. Ross.”
“Why, thank you.”
We arrive in front of my house, and Brody gets out to open my door. I’ll have to text Allison soon, so she can bring Bonkers back to me. The limo pulls away and we’re halfway to my door when a car pulls up to the curb.
“Fuck,” Brody mutters.
“Who is it?” I ask, confused.
“The crazy chick at the benefit, who is also the girl who thought I was her boyfriend,” he answers, looking over his shoulder as he tries to usher me to my house. Oh. “She must have followed us here.” Brody stands in front of me, blocking her view of me, but also my view of her as she gets out of her car and storms up to us.
“Who is she?” she spits vehemently. “Why have you been ignoring me, Brody? We belong together. Don’t you understand that? She can’t be anything more than some whore. Brody, baby, please come home with me.”
Brody’s voice is hard as stone to match his tense muscles. “Leave. You have no right to be here, Jessica. I don’t want you and you’ve pushed me to contact my lawyer. I won’t tell you again. Go home and don’t come back.”
I almost feel like I’m intruding and should go inside, but I don’t want to leave Brody out here either. He was right. The girl is nuts.
“Brody,” she whines, and I hear her step closer, which causes Brody to take a step back, pushing me a step back as well.
“I mean it,” he warns. “I’ll call the police if I have to.”
Her voice converts from pleading to rage. “Are you seriously going to pick her over me? We were seeing each other for months! I can’t believe you!”
Brody reaches behind him, finds my waist, and squeezes it. “Call the police.”
I reach for my cell and the girl huffs.
“Fine! I’m leaving. No need to overreact, Brody.”
I peer around Brody’s shoulder to watch her turn and leave. That seemed too easy. He turns to face me, obviously stressed.
“Let’s get you inside.” So I turn around, unlock my door, and I step through the entry. Brody doesn’t follow. “I need to call my lawyer, but I’ll come back as soon as I get that done, okay?”
“Okay.” I nod. “I’ll stay up. Don’t worry too much, Brody.”
He shakes his head. “It’s time to worry.” He leans forward, kisses me softly, and then walks to his place.
I lock the door with a deep breath. Hopefully, she’ll leave him alone from now on. I’d hate for him to have to deal with that. I send Allison a text. She should be here and gone by the time Brody comes back over. I was hoping to have Brody take my dress off, but Jessica ruined that for us. Making my way upstairs to my room, I turn on the radio to some soothing music as I dress into yoga pants and an old Indiana Mustangs t-shirt. I take my time washing off all my makeup and putting my clothes up.
When I come down the stairs, there’s a rapid banging on my door.
“Selene?!” I hear Allison’s frantic voice. I rush over to open the door. Bonkers jumps out of her arms and into the house. Allison wraps me in a hug. “Oh, thank God! I was worried.”
“Worried?” I question, completely confused.
“Yes! After I saw your car, I got worried. What the fuck happened?”
“My car?” Allison pulls me outside and it’s then that I see my car. “Oh, my God,” I whisper. My tires have been slashed and ‘slut’, ‘whore’, and other choice words are painted all over it. The driver’s side window has been busted as well.
“Who the hell did you piss off, Selene?”
The paint is still wet as I run a finger over it. My car is ruined. Who knows what it’s going to cost to fix this. A glimpse of something white in the driver’s seat catches my eye. I lean in and pick up the piece of paper that was laying on top of the broken glass. In a fast, rushed handwriting, I read the note as ice freezes my blood.
This time, it’s only your car.
Stop seeing Brody or next time, I’m coming after you.
She’s threatening me? Has she been bothering Brody since he stopped sleeping with her? What else is she capable of? Will she really go further and come afte
r me now? A large part of me doesn’t want to find out.
“Selene?” Allison questions behind me again.
“I’ll be right back. Keep an eye on Bonkers,” I say without looking back at her.
Calmly, I walk over to Brody’s. I knock swiftly three times and wait. He opens the door with the phone glued to his ear. Worry flashes in his eyes, but I don’t say anything. I take his free hand, leading him outside until he can see my car, and then I hand him the note she left.
“We’ve got a new problem,” he says to who I’m assuming is his lawyer on the other end. “I’ll call you back.” He hangs up and turns to me. “Selene,” he starts remorsefully. “I’m so sorry. She won’t hurt you, I promise.”
“Don’t ever call me a stalker again,” I tell him quietly.
“Will someone tell me what the hell is going on?” Allison yells.
“I’ll handle this. Don’t worry, okay?” he tells me, ignoring her.
I nod. “Go call him back and then come over.”
Brody kisses my forehead, and then goes back to his house, already dialing. I walk into my house with Allison following me inside. She starts to talk, but I throw my hand up to make her stop. I’m a little shaken. The girl didn’t go after both our cars, only mine. She’s mad with Brody, but she’s obviously taking that out on me. Her note made it clear that I’m her target in whatever the hell she’s doing to try to win him back. What’s next?
To give her the short version, I explain, “Brody has a stalker. He invited me to a benefit dinner tonight and she was there, even though she shouldn’t have been. She followed us back, Brody had to run her off, and looks like she came back and did that to my car. Thanks for watching Bonkers for me.”
“Oh, wow.”
I sit on my couch and call Bonkers over to me. He licks my cheek before settling to lay in my lap. He’s the perfect comfort right now. Allison sits next to me.
“Are you okay, Selene?”
“Yeah, I guess. I don’t think I’ve really processed it yet.”
“Do you want me to pick you up and take you to work until you can get your car fixed? Shouldn’t we call the police?” she asks.
“Brody is supposed to take care of that. And yes, please, if you would.”
“Of course.” She pats my hand. “Are you two seeing each other?”
“I don’t know what we’re doing anymore.” I lean my head back on my couch, staring at my ceiling. “I’m tired, Allison. I think I’m going to bed.”
“Do you want me to stay with you?”
I shake my head. “I’ll be fine. Thanks, though.”
She gives me a hug before leaving. Taking no chance, even though it’ll only be five minutes, I hold Bonkers, lock my door, and walk over to Brody’s. Texting him won’t do any good if he’s on the phone. I’ll just let him know that I’m going to bed. He answers the door much like he did while ago. Bonkers starts wiggling in my arms, excited to see Brody.
“Hold on,” he says to his lawyer.
“I wanted to tell you that I’m going to bed. I’m tired and you might be a while.”
“It won’t be much longer. Come in.” He steps aside, so I walk in.
I let Bonkers down and sit on his couch, while Brody disappears upstairs once he motions that he’ll be right back. Bonkers gets comfy next to me as my eyes start to droop.
~
At the feel of being lifted, I startle awake.
“It’s me,” Brody soothes. “I’m taking you to my room, you’re fine. Go back to sleep.”
Immediately, I relax against him. “What time is it?”
“Late.” He lays me down, and I wake up enough to realize that I’m in his bedroom, just as he said I would be. “I’ve taken care of everything,” he adds, hovering over me. “Get some rest, Selene.” He leans down and kisses me gently.
The thought of sleeping by myself tonight scares me, so I ask, “You’re sleeping in here too, right?”
“Of course. I have to change and then I’m joining you.”
It’s then I notice he’s still wearing his clothes from earlier, his shirt half untucked and his bow tie hanging from his neck. “Hurry,” is all I say. Brody finds it in him to grin and then he’s gone to change, but I’ve fallen asleep before he can get back.
~
I wake up to Bonkers at my feet and Brody’s chest against my back as he nuzzles my neck, saying, “Selene, wakey wakey.”
Bonkers realizes we’re awake at the sound of Brody’s voice and my following giggle. He jumps over my legs to greet me. I pet him and laugh again as I question, “Wakey, wakey?”
Brody kisses the crook of my neck. “Yes, do you have a problem with that?” he teases.
“Nope. What time is it?”
He looks over his shoulder and then reports, “6:30ish. I didn’t know what time you get up for work, so I figured that was a good time.”
And that’s when it hits me. Work. Allison has to take me because my car can’t be driven thanks to this crazy girl. I didn’t feel safe last night because of what she did to my car and the note she left, all while I was home. While Brody was home. She could have been caught at any second, but she obviously didn’t care.
“Hey,” Brody starts. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. I should go. Allison’s coming to pick me up,” I answer as I start to get up.
“Selene.” He grabs me by the waist. “You don’t have to worry. My lawyer is working on restraining orders. A police report has been filed for your car, but you’ve got to go down there and sign a few things, and I’ve got someone coming to pick up your car, so they can fix it. It should be sitting at your office before you get off work.”
I move out of his hold and stand to face him, my hands propped on my hips. “Well, I am worried. I was home. You were home and she still came back to vandalize my car. My car, Brody. Yours wasn’t touched. She threatened me, not you. So forgive me if I’m worried that your stalker has made me her target and she knows where I live. I locked my door last night just to walk here. That’s absurd, especially when I wasn’t planning to be gone for more than five minutes.” I take a deep breath. “Thank you for taking care of my car. I should go.”
As I’m leaving his room, I hear him getting up to follow me. “Selene, wait.” I don’t. “If you don’t feel safe, I can hire someone to sit outside the house and be on the look out for her. The last thing I want for is you to feel unsafe at your own home. Will you wait a damn second?”
I turn around abruptly and he almost runs into me. He cups my face with his hands.
“She’s not dumb enough to come back here. Not once she gets those papers. Please don’t worry. I’m sorry you’re having to deal with it.”
All of my fight leaves me. Being angry with Brody isn’t the right thing to do. I lean forward and kiss him as I place my arms around his waist. “Sorry. I don’t mean to be upset with you. I really do need to go, though. Thank you for letting me sleep over. I’ll call you later.”
He stares at me, watching to determine if I’m being honest or not. “If you need me, call me. It doesn’t matter what I’m doing, I’ll stop. Don’t hesitate.”
“Okay. I won’t.”
Brody dips his head to kiss me, almost making me forget about work altogether. Reluctantly, I pull away, call Bonkers, and leave to get ready.
Chapter Twelve
Brody
I watch Selene walk to her house. I stare at her car, and for the first time in my life, I want to scream in frustration. I can’t believe Jessica did this. Doesn’t she get it that I don’t want to be with her? Why even go after Selene?
I go back into my house and slam the door. I drop onto my couch and stare up at my ceiling. Last night was a mess and great at the same time. I could have danced with Selene all night long. Even though I put my feelings out there, she didn’t completely shoot me down. Now, I’m not sure, all because of Jessica.
I call my twin brother. I need to vent.
“It’s a little ea
rly, bro.” He sounds half asleep, even though he should be up already.
“Bradley, I need someone to talk to.” He’s the only person that knows me best in this world. It’s not just the fact we’re brothers, he truly is a great person.
“I’m up. Talk.” I can hear him shuffling around, getting out of bed.
I begin telling him everything that is going. I go into details about Jessica and all her craziness. Then I tell him all about Selene and our relationship. I express every feeling imaginable. The anger I feel for Jessica and the deep likeness I have for Selene.
“Brody, I don’t think I’ve heard you go on about a girl like this in a long time. You really like Selene, don’t you?”
“I do. I like her a lot, Bradley, and I don’t know what to do.”
“Give her time. Don’t push her. There is obviously something that she isn’t ready for, so be there for her as a friend.”
“You’re right. I’m just hoping that Jessica hasn’t ruined everything for me.”
“Let the police and lawyers handle her. You keep up with Selene if that’s what you want.”
I do want that. I want Selene. Holding her in my arms last night is something I want to do every night. It’s been so long since I’ve cared this much about someone.
“Thanks, Bradley. I meant it. You’re coming soon, right?”
“Yep. I’ll be there next week. Apparently, you need me more than I thought.” He chuckles.
“Ass.”
“Love you too, brother.”
“Love you,” and I hang up.
I sit there for another moment thinking about what he said. I shouldn’t push her. I’m not going to push. I look at the time, knowing I need to be on the team plane in a couple of hours. I think about the fact the Selene doesn’t have a car because of me. How is she going to get around while I’m out of town the next few days? I come up with an idea.
First person I call is my coach. I explain to him that Jessica has gone bat-ass crazy on me, and I need to handle things before heading on the road. Coach understands, and they will announce that I will miss tonight’s game. I tell him that I will try to make it to the next one.
A Hockey Player's Proposal (Oh Captain, My Captain #2) Page 8
