Secrets & Surrender: Part One (7 page)

I decided to ignore him. It was no use trying to please him.

The game was close at 21-17. Our team had the ball and there were only ten seconds left on the clock.

There was only one person that I really wanted to impress: the one person who I knew would be worth the effort. I didn’t know what was holding her back from agreeing to go on a simple date with me. It was only a date.

I guess if I wanted her to know how serious I was about taking her out, I’d have to show her and show her big time.

When the huddle broke up, I looked over to where Mandi sat. Her head was ducked against Cassie’s shoulders as if she was afraid to look. I waved at Cassie, gesturing her to get Mandi’s attention.

Cassie nudged Mandi, and then pointed back to me.

When she looked up, I patted my chest twice and then pointed right at her.

“This one is for you,” I said, knowing that she couldn’t hear or see what I was saying. Despite that, I saw her bounce up and down excitedly, tugging on Cassie’s arm.

My chest warmed. Message received.

As soon as the center snapped the ball, I stepped back, ready to make the play. I was about to throw a pass when a blur of white flew at me. Without a second thought, I dashed down the field, nearly missing being tackled. The play was not going as expected. I couldn’t find anyone to pass the ball to. No one was free. So I went for it.

I pumped my legs as hard as I could, imagining Mandi screaming out my name with each step I took. Then from the corner of my eye, I saw a sea of white jerseys closing in around me until I couldn’t see a thing.

This was it. They were going to tackle me, and I’d cost us the game, just like everyone expected.

“Go, Marcelli!” Mandi’s voice squealed above the crowd.

Everyone except Mandi.

I had no idea if it was pure luck, my skillful moves, or the extra spurt of newly found energy, but whatever it was, I somehow managed to shoot through the swarm of players and rocket toward the end zone.

Faster and faster I ran, feeling the players a heartbeat away.

Forty yards.

Thirty yards.

Each step pounded into the turf, sounding out Mandi’s name.

Man-di. Man-di. Man-di.

Ten yards.

TOUCHDOWN!

The buzzer rang, and the crowd thundered. I sank to my knees, exhausted and gazing up at the scoreboard. I did it. I actually did it. We won!

The cheerleaders and students spilled onto the field. The football stadium was a sea of red and white as the crowd waved their Cougar towels in the air in celebration. I scanned the crowd through hazy eyes, blinking away the sweat that poured down my face. I’d never felt so alive as I did at that moment: people chanting my name, cheerleaders squealing and waving their pompoms as they eyed me with admiration, the guys on the team patting me on the back and then lifting me onto their shoulders as they carried me across the field. It was amazing, yet all I could think about was Mandi.

Taking off my helmet, I let out a breath of relief when the cool air hit my heated face. When I finally spotted her, I couldn’t help but grin. She was so sexy...the way she stood there with her red Koppe High t-shirt tied into a knot, making the shirt tight around her body, showing off her delicious curves.

After telling the guys to put me down, I called out to Bianca, who was with her friends, talking excitedly.

I jogged over in her direction. As I got closer, the cheerleaders giggled.

“Bianca, you’re soooo lucky. Nic is so hot!” one of the cheerleaders gushed.

“Eww! He’s my brother.”

“He’s not my brother,” another cheerleader whispered hastily. “Hi, Nic. Good game.”

“Thanks, uh...”

“Heather.” Thick eyelashes that framed blue eyes batted as she said her name. “Are you going to the celebration party at Koppe Bridge?”

“Yeah. Bianca, I need you to do something for me.” Heather pouted when I hauled Bianca away from the group.

“And why should I do you a favor?” She placed a pompom on her hip.

“Because I’m your brother and you love me?” I grinned.

“Uh, yeah, you’re going to have to do better than that.”

“Okay. If you can get Mandi to go to the party, you can go too. How about that for a bribe?”

“Really?” Her brown eyes sparked to life.

“Yep. She’s with Cassie over there.” Using my helmet, I pointed in their direction. “But if she turns you down, the deal’s off.”

“She won’t say ‘no’ to me.” Bianca dashed to the stands, waving frantically at Mandi. There was no way Mandi was going to turn Bianca down now. Mandi may be able to put up that wall of hers when I turned on the charm, but Bianca was a force to be reckoned with. No one could turn down that sad baby face she made when she wanted something.

It only took only a few seconds before Bianca was squealing again and yelling, “She said ‘yes’!”

I looked to Mandi, who had her arms folded across her chest, shaking her head as if she couldn’t believe I’d stooped so low to use my sister like that. I grinned. I could feel a little guilty about it, but I didn’t. I wanted to celebrate tonight, and it wouldn’t be the same without her. She’d come to the game for me. Even if she didn’t want to admit it, I knew she had. It was that thought alone that gave me the confidence I needed to win. Because deep inside, I felt like I had to win
this
game on
this
night, not for Father, not for the team, maybe not even for her. But for me.

“S
tay with your friends, Bianca, and don’t drink anything unless I give it to you.”

I parked the car in what appeared to be out in the middle of nowhere. Even with directions to the location, it was difficult to find in the dark with only the faint light of the moon. When the gravel road disappeared, I was sure we were lost until I saw several headlights in the distance.

“Seriously? It’s just the kids from school.”

It was more than that. Now that I’d proven myself to the guys on the team, they’d told me about some of the so-called traditions of the Koppe Bridge parties. As we dressed in the locker room, each guy made their claim on which girl they had planned on hooking up with tonight. I knew exactly what they meant by “hooking up.”

I had sat with a fake smile plastered on my face as they each threw out a name, wondering why I’d even wanted to win their trust in the first place. Now that I had it, I didn’t know if I wanted to be on the inside of their little group. I heard some familiar names, nice girls that I knew weren’t the type to hook up with those morons. I didn’t say anything and just played along, relieved that no one had mentioned Mandi or Cassie. I silently hoped that the guys at Koppe were the same as the guys at my last school and that locker room talk was just that, all talk. Though I knew by Monday morning some of them were going to be making up stories about their hook ups—whether they were real or not.

It wasn’t until someone mentioned Seth Baker that I became really concerned. Apparently, he had hooked up with two girls at the same time last year, and Dillon had slipped a little something into the girls’ drinks to loosen them up to the idea of a threesome. Some tradition. I should’ve said something. The guys studied me, gauging my reaction. With Dillon out of the picture, I was the new “big guy” in school now. And all I did was sit there with a stupid fake grin on my face, trying not to throw up. It wasn’t my proudest moment.

“Just do what I say, Bianca.”

“Whatever.” She rolled her eyes and flung the car door open.

“Well, that’s gratitude for you.”

She paused, studying me for a moment. “Nic, you’re such a guy.”

“Okay?” She said the strangest things sometimes.

“Look, I’m gonna give you some advice because your totally clueless when it comes to girls.”

“I don’t have girl problems.” She raised an eyebrow. “Okay, maybe this one time. But I’ve never had a problem getting a date before.”

“That’s because you’re—ugh, I can’t believe I’m saying this—you’re kinda cute.”

“You think I’m hot?” I waggled my brows.

“Ugh! Knock it off, Nic.” She shoved me playfully. “I’m trying to help you here. Girls know that guys that look like you don’t take girls seriously. I mean, not serious enough to go out with on more than a couple of dates. And most guys like you only take out girls to bang them.”

“I’m not like that. And you shouldn’t be talking about things like that.”

“Seriously, Nic. I’m not a vir—”

“Stop! I don’t want to hear it.” Note to self: Never take your sister to another party again.

“Fine. And I know you don’t treat girls like that, but Mandi doesn’t know that. All she sees is some guy who likes to flirt around with all the pretty girls.”

“I don’t flirt.”

She stared at me, blinking.

“Okay, maybe just a little,” I admitted. “But it’s harmless. Nothing serious.”

“Well, she doesn’t know that. If you want Mandi to take you seriously, you need to show her that you’re serious. Stop being fake with all your,” her voice dropped an octave imitating mine, “look at me I’m so cool.”

“I don’t sound like that...do I?”

“Ugh, Nic.” She slapped my arm, laughing. “The point is just be real with her.”

I looked into her eyes. She was being sincere. This was a part of her that I wish our parents could see. How did she become so wise so fast?

“Oh my God. Heather is like totally rockin’ those cowboy boots. I so need Father to buy me a pair.” She jumped out of the car.

I spoke too soon. Bianca went from wise woman giving sage advice to valley girl in two seconds flat.

“Be where I can see you!” I yelled out to her as she headed straight to a trashcan where her cheerleader friends were hanging out.

I groaned. Trashcan punch. I was really going to have to keep an eye on her.

I scanned the dimly lit area. Dots of greens, blues, and reds bounced around in the dark from the glow sticks everyone was wearing around their necks. Then I spotted Mandi talking with Cassie. I brushed my hair back nervously as I headed toward her.

“Glow stick, Nic?” A tall redhead I recognized from my English class named Susan held out a red glow stick. “Stick. Nic. It rhymes.” She giggled as if it were the funniest thing she’d ever heard. Then, leaning in, she brushed herself against me. A fruity and sour smell of what was probably the trashcan punch hit my face. “I bet your stick is longer than this stick. Wanna show me?”

“Nice rhyme.” I took the glow stick from her, ignoring her innuendo.

“I have more.” Susan placed her hand on my chest. My eyes shot to Mandi, hoping she couldn’t see. I think Bianca was right about me because my first instinct was to ask Susan, “More of what?”

I didn’t know what to do. If I pushed Susan away, I’d probably hurt her feelings. But if Mandi saw her feeling me up, there was no way I’d be able to explain it, at least not in a way she’d believe. Then again, Susan was so wasted, she probably wouldn’t remember.

“There you are, Susan.” Tricia appeared, peeling the girl off me. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”

“Thank you.” I mouthed as she guided a stumbling Susan away.

“Good luck.” Tricia smiled, glancing over at Mandi.

Putting the glow stick around my neck, I made my way over to Mandi. My stomach rolled as I got closer.

What the hell? Why was I nervous? It’s not like I hadn’t seen or asked Mandi out on a daily basis.

You can do this, Marcelli.

Taking a deep breath, I said, “Hello, beautiful. Are you enjoying our ‘not-a-date’ so far?”

She twirled around, her stunning dark eyes growing wide as they locked with mine.

Damn!

My heart slammed against my chest. She was even more stunning up close. She was always pretty when I saw her in class, but tonight it was different. I couldn’t put my finger on what she did to make herself look like the sexy knockout standing in front of me. My eyes drank in the smooth skin and high cheekbones and slowly drifted to her full lips. It took everything I had not to jerk her into my arms and kiss those delicious lips.

I took a cautious step back, mesmerized by the loose silky strand of hair that hit gently against her cheek as the wind blew.

“I...uh...I...”

“That was an awesome game, Nic. You’re really good,” Cassie jumped in when Mandi turned her dark eyes away from me.

Hope leaped into my chest. I was making her nervous. That had to be a good sign.

“Thanks. I didn’t know what to expect. I heard Texas teams were pretty good.”

“They’re the best.” Cassie took a sip of her drink. She seemed distracted as she spoke. I gazed in the direction she was looking and saw a guy wearing a cowboy hat sitting on the back of a truck with Lynette Baker. He had on a blue glow stick and didn’t seem to be happy about Lynnette’s hand roaming all over him. And I thought girls from New York were bold. Texas girls sure weren’t shy about what they wanted.

I glanced back at Mandi. She wasn’t shy either, but she sure was acting like it. Somehow, I had to break down that wall she put up whenever I was around.

“What’s that in your hands?” I asked Cassie as she continued to stare at the cowboy.

“Yes!” she cried.

“What?”

“Oh, sorry about that.” Her face grew pink. “They’re feathers that attach to Mandi’s headband.”

Before she could hand them back to Mandi, I snatched the feathers and band. Turning on the full charm that the Marcelli men were famous for, I said, “Allow me.”

My eyes locked with Mandi’s as my hands hovered over her head. The moment I touched her, she sucked in a breath. I forced myself to keep cool when a jolt of electricity surged through me as my fingers slid along the smooth skin of her forehead, adjusting the band. As I weaved the band’s feathers into her dark tresses, I got lost in the touch of her silky hair.

I should’ve stopped. I couldn’t help myself. She was letting me touch her, and I wanted more. I dug my fingers deeper into her hair, cupping my hand around her head, caressing her. Dark pools gazed into my eyes, and red lips parted slightly as her breathing quickened.

I gazed at her intently, wishing that she could read my mind as I thought of the words I longed to tell her: Be with me. Tell me you want to be with me as much as I want to be with you. Please don’t turn away from me.