Page 6

CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?

BELLA

A year and one month ago

July

I stare out the kitchen window, the tightness in my gut making me grip the counter. I should be upstairs, getting ready for dinner with Audrey, but it’s the last thing I want to do.

What the hell is wrong with me? This Bella is far too reminiscent of the woman I was when I was with Jake. Whiny and insecure.

I lick my dry lips and force myself to shuffle down the hall to our bedroom.

“Bella?”

Startled, I stop and whip around, finding Xander on the couch.

“Hey. What are you doing here?” I ask, blinking away the haze I’ve been floating in.

“Really?” He barks out a laugh. His hair is damp, like he’s just gotten out of the shower. “I’ve been home for a while. I called for you a few times. When you didn’t answer, I thought maybe you went out.”

“I was in the kitchen.” Grimacing, I plop down onto the couch beside him. “Sorry.”

“You’re adorable,” he murmurs, nuzzling into my neck. “How was your day?”

“It was okay.” I shrug. “Got some work done for Ben, but he didn’t love it, so I’ll have to redo some of it on Tuesday.”

“What didn’t he like?” Xander hooks an arm around me and tugs me into his side. His woodsy scent fills my nostrils, sliding under my skin. My mood instantly improves.

“He’s organizing a big event. He asked me to prepare a commercial offer, including facility rental and food.

The usual—or so I thought. Turns out the client already booked a venue…

” I trail off, my chest constricting. “When Ben called to give me an earful about it, he pissed me off so much I hung up on him. I don’t want to listen to his yelling. I don’t deserve it.”

“It’s not your fault,” he says quietly, his nose in my hair. “Did Ben apologize?”

“Kinda, but I don’t really want to talk to him, and I’m not ready to forgive him yet.

He’s under a lot of stress, trying to plan ‘the perfect, most memorable’ wedding for him and Tom.

He’s constantly changing his design ideas based on what he sees at our clients’ events.

Then, because of all the changes, he and Tom get snippy with one another, and that frustration bleeds into Ben’s conversations with me too.

I’m pretty tolerant, and the first couple of times, I let it roll off my back, but if his temper keeps flaring up like this, I don’t know. ”

“Do you want me to talk to him?”

Stomach sinking, I reel back and survey Xander.

He’s watching me with an expectant look on his face, his head tilted to the side.

Rather than snap at him like Ben’s been doing to me, I force myself to smile and shake my head.

This is between my cousin and me. I made it clear: If he pulls this shit again, he’ll need to look for my replacement.

“Okay, I’ll back off. But if something like that happens again, or if someone upsets you, please tell me.”

The intensity in his eyes sends a shiver down my spine. He’s not just talking about Ben.

“Listen,” I hedge, “I love you, and I really appreciate all you do for me. But there are some battles I need to fight on my own.” And your sister made it clear that if you’re involved, it’ll only get worse.

“I have to stand my ground and defend myself. You might think I can’t handle it, but I can, and I’ll prove it to you, but you have to let me. ”

His jaw ticks, those blue-green eyes swimming with concern. “I’m afraid Miller will approach you because he feels safe after that smear campaign against us. If he does, I want to be there to back you up. He needs to stay away. You shouldn’t have to deal with him alone.”

I frown. “I wasn’t talking about Jake.” And if there’s ever a situation where I’m forced to interact with my ex, Xander will be my first call.

“No?” He studies my face. The crease between his brows is deep.

“I meant Audrey,” I confess with a sigh. “Don’t get involved, please. Don’t meddle. I can make things right with her myself.”

His body goes rigid, and his eyes go wide. “Wait, is there something I don’t know?”

A lump lodges in my throat, making it nearly impossible to swallow.

I haven’t seen his sister since that night in April.

When Xander hangs out with her, it’s typically the two of them alone.

If it weren’t for her invitation to dinner tonight, I don’t think I’d see her again until the first preseason game in August. That would’ve been perfectly fine with me. I haven’t missed her.

“No.” I didn’t mention anything to Xander about her behavior that night, and I don’t want to say anything now. “You and I both know she’s not my number one fan, but I’m determined to make things better.”

“If I’m going to set boundaries for my sister, I need to know what she’s doing.

” He inches closer, staring into my very soul.

He’d do anything for me, but I can’t rely on him to fight my battles.

I don’t want to have to rely on him. I want to stand on my own two feet.

He might think he’s doing the right thing, but in reality, it’s a disservice.

“I can deal with Audrey myself.” I soften my expression but keep my posture sure, confident. I want us to be equals. I want to be strong like him. Strong for him, but most importantly for me. “She liked me at first, right? I’m sure I can win her over again.”

“You will. I have no doubt.” He cups my face. “If something she says or does makes you uncomfortable, please tell me. Okay?”

He isn’t listening, dammit.

“Okay,” I say. The word is forced, my tone flat, but he doesn’t notice.

He’s too distracted by our closeness, I guess. And I have to admit, when he kisses me, I am too. My body lights up, heat pooling in my belly. My veins are so hot I want to scratch them open and let the fire out to consume us both.

“I want you,” he whispers as he tugs at the hem of my shirt.

I lift my arms and let him strip me, succumbing to my desire for him.

Hand in hand with Xander, dressed in a black dress with white polka dots, my hair spilling over my bare shoulders, I feel refreshed, confident, and beautiful. How could I not after the sex we had? The way he worshiped my body gave me the boost I so desperately needed.

I can make it through one dinner in Audrey’s company. After all, I’ve survived much worse. I refuse to give her the power to bring me down.

“Alex! Over here!” Audrey calls as we step into the restaurant.

Instinctively, I flinch. Then I immediately curse myself for my reaction. I can’t let her dictate the rules of this game.

Xander guides me to the table near the window where his sister is waiting and releases me so he can kiss her cheek. “Hey.”

She grins up at him, but when she turns to me, her expression drops. “Hello, Isabella.”

“Hi.” I keep my focus fixed on her face, doing my best to convey confidence. “How are you?”

“I’m fine. Much better now that Ryan has more free time. We’ve been busy getting the new house ready for the baby.” She rubs her belly absentmindedly. From what Xander has said, she’s due at the end of September.

He pulls out the chair across from Audrey and gestures for me to sit, then takes the one between us.

“Happy to hear that.”

“What about you?” Audrey looks from me to Xander.

“Everything’s good,” he replies easily, picking up the menu. “What have you been up to?”

“Nothing, really. I miss my friends in Miami, but I’m adjusting.

I had a life there, a happy one.” With a one-shoulder shrug, Audrey picks up her glass.

“But things are getting better already. Jess and I try to meet for lunch or dinner a few times a week. Ryan has a more regular schedule here than he had in Miami. Plus, our parents are here, and you .”

“And me,” he repeats after her.

The server, a young guy with a buzz cut and a nice smile, appears. His gaze drifts to Xander every few seconds as we order, his neck reddening.

Eventually, he clears his throat and clutches his order pad. “Last season was incredible, man! You were incredible! Winning the Super Bowl your first season with the Warriors? It was everything the city wanted, and more. You’re the best!”

A grin tugs at the corners of Xander’s mouth. “Thank you. Your support means more than you know. We’re nothing without our fans.”

“Of course, sir.” The young guy nods, his cheeks turning an adorable shade of pink. “Well, I better go get these orders in. Your food will be out real soon.”

As the server turns on his heel and scurries away from the table, I lock eyes with Xander. The way his gaze glimmers with joy makes my heart so full.

I hated Jake’s popularity, all the attention he got, all the nosy people and paparazzi, but with Xander, I appreciate it.

I love when people admire him, probably because he’s always humble and gracious about it.

I enjoy reading articles about him and his success on the field.

I don’t mind the paparazzi, and I don’t care about the comments on social media.

I am his, and he is mine. The rest doesn’t mean a thing.

An hour into dinner, I find I’m actually enjoying myself. Audrey is being kind—no backhanded compliments or subtle jabs. Instead, she cracks jokes and tells us stories about her life in Miami. Hopefully, it will stay like this.

“You mentioned you wanted to tell me something.” Xander leans back, a glass of whiskey in his hand.

“Yeah, I did.” Audrey straightens in her seat, her eyes sparkling. “My baby shower is in four weeks.”

With a hum, he dips his chin. “I remember.”

“I thought about organizing it myself, but I want everything to be perfect, so I decided to hire a professional.”

“Are you hiring Ben?” He takes a sip of his drink.

“Who?” She frowns.

I shift in my seat. My stomach dips, and not in a good way. I’m a hundred percent sure she knows who Ben is.

“Bella’s cousin. He has his own event company; Bella works for him. You know that.”

Audrey waves a dismissive hand. “So you’re saying I should hire him because I’d be doing your girlfriend a favor?”

My mood plummets as the tension around us does the opposite, skyrocketing until it’s so dense it’s hard to breathe.

“I want the best of the best. I’ve already made a choice, and I’m thrilled with it. In all honesty,” she says, her focus fixed solely on her brother, her expression imperious, “I think you’ll be happy too once you see who I hired.”

“I’ll be happy if it’s Ben.” He squints. “I love the guy, and it would give you and Bella a chance to work together. She prepares commercial offers, orders decorations, music?—”

“It’s Stacey!” Audrey blurts, her eyes dancing. “Can you believe it?”

Stacey as in Xander’s college girlfriend? As in the only girl he ever truly dated before me?

Nausea washes over me. A hot, slimy energy finding its way under my skin.

His expression is suddenly unreadable. I haven’t seen him like this, ever. He’s stunned speechless, and that only makes me more uneasy.

Shit. It’s obvious Audrey wants me gone, but I never could’ve imagined she’d use Xander’s ex to try and chase me off.