Page 113 of Tight Ends & Tiaras
SIENNA
The next night,I’m feeling hopeful Ben and I can get some momentum after our conversation yesterday.
Maggie is watching Lily while he and I run out to grab some dinner. It’s not a lot of time, but I want to make the most of it. I’m wondering if Ben would like to sneak off to the park to talk or mess around. I adore Lily, but having a kid around constantly makes it tough when you’re trying to get close to your boyfriend.
He and I are standing in line at the takeout window of Tumbleweed, waiting to order burgers, when I glance over my shoulder and my plans for a fun evening with him take a dive.
“Oh, shit,” I whisper. “Incoming.”
I’ve been dreading this moment. I turn back toward the line, hoping Cal doesn’t see us. A second later, Ben drapes his arm around my shoulders as he mumbles in my ear. “Take a deep breath. Everything’s okay. I got you.”
I nod, hating that my heart is racing and I’m mildly nauseated.
“If it isn’t the little lovebirds,” Cal says snidely as he and Derek sidle up to us.
“Go to hell, asshole.” The words leave my mouth on autopilot. I know there are smarter things I should say to him, questions I should ask, but my mind goes blank. The only coherent thought I have is how grateful I am that I’m with Ben.
Cal feigns sadness. “Is that any way to greet me after all those orgasms I gave you? After I plowed you week after week? I’m a hot commodity, you know. I didn’t have to fuck you.”
God, I hate him so much.
Derek shakes his head and tries to grab Cal, but he shrugs him off.
Ben’s jaw is granite when he steps up to Cal. They’re nose to nose when he grits out, “Motherfucker, say one more word about her, and I’ll kick your ass again.”
Cal smirks. “Bet I can guess her favorite position.”
Mortified, I tug on Ben’s shirt because the last thing he needs is to fight Cal.
“Assholes, this is stupid,” Derek says. “Coach will kick you off the team if y’all brawl out in public.”
“Let’s go.” Cal takes a step back but opens his arms wide. “Right here. Right now. Winner gets to ride Sienna.”
Ben strikes so fast, I barely see it. I basically blink, and Ben has him pinned to the brick wall of the restaurant with his arm pressed to Cal’s throat.
“I’m gonna tell you one last time, you dumb asshole. Leave her. The hell. Alone.”
All of a sudden, I realize that people in the takeout line are watching them. One has his phone out. I grab Ben’s arm and try to yank him back. “Let’s go. Before you get in trouble.”
When Ben shoves off him, Cal yells, “Fucker, you have no idea who you’re messing with.”
Derek ignores him and snipes at the bystander who seems to be recording. “You post that shit and our season is over. Is that what you want?”
Since the town is fanatical about the team, he has a decent shot of getting that person to heed his warning.
Derek drags Cal away, and Ben and I skip the burgers and head home.
He’s deathly silent on the drive. When we get back to the house, he pays Magnolia and checks on Lily, who’s in bed.
I rub my arms because I’m freezing and my hands won’t stop shaking.
When he emerges from Lily’s room, he pulls me to his chest. “It’s the adrenaline.”
“What?”
“The adrenaline. Why you’re shaking.”
I nod against him, hating how choked up I feel. There I was, trying to break down whatever strange barriers Ben’s been putting up lately, and Cal goes and ruins everything. I can’t imagine what Ben must think about me now. I’d lose it if Janelle talked about Ben that way.
