Page 82 of Puck Love

He flinches and attempts to head back inside, but I step in front ofhim.

“Just leave, Grant. Please?” Stellasays.

“But my equipment isinside.”

“And I’m sure you’ll be back bright and early tomorrow to get it.” Lana smiles, and I like to think I’m pretty tough, but the woman is downrightscary.

“Fucking hell,” Grant mutters as he stomps down the drive. “They don’t pay me enough for thisshit.”

When he’s gone, Stella turns to me. “What are you doinghere?”

“I came to seeyou.”

“Why?”

I reach out and touch her face, but she pulls away. Without makeup on, I can see how bad the bruise is.I’m going to kill that motherfucker. “I didn’t know he hit you. I never would have sent you away with him if Ihad.”

“Yeah, well, the hitting isnew.”

“Listen,” I say, staring at Eli and Lana in the hope that they’ll get the hint and give us some alone time. Apparently, they’re both dense as fuck. “I said some fucked up things, and I’msorry.”

“Van,” shesays.

“I care about you, Stella. Alot”

She shakes her head. “Don’t. . .”

“I’ve never said that to anyone, but Ido.”

“It’s true. He hasn’t,” Elisays.

I glare at my best friend. “Can you please fuckoff?”

“Right, sorry,” he says and steps away a few paces. A car roars down the road and comes to a screeching halt in front of Stella’s house. “Oh, look. The girls didn’t leave us afterall.”

“Girls?” Stella glances at the Jeep and then accusingly back at me. “Who arethey?”

“It’s a longstory.”

“They helped us find you,” Eli says with an animated expression. I glower at him and he turns awayagain.

Stella looks confused. “What?”

“It doesn’t matter. They don’t matter. Listen, I watched your interview. Twice, actually. I was an idiot to let you leave with him. I’ve been going out of my mind since you left. I don’t care about that asshole. I don’t give a shit that you lied to me. I just . . .” I run a hand through my hair in frustration. “I want you, country. I want my snuggle bunnyback.”

“Jesus,” Elimutters.

“Dude, shut the fuckup.”

“Sorry. I’m just saying you’re never going to get her back with crap like that.” Eli gives me a meaningful look and shoves his hands in hispockets.

“Well, what the fuck would yousay?”

“There is not enough liquor in the world to deal with idiot athletes at this time of night,” Lana says.Jesus, she’s a fuckingballbuster.

Eli smirks and the two share a tense and strangely charged moment, and then he turns his attention back to me and Stella. “I’d probably tell her that you’ve been moping like a little bitch ever since sheleft.”

I make a pffting sound. “I do not mope. Stella,I—”