After leaving Boon’s, I feel off, and I know I can’t be alone yet. My mind is still firing off about all that I admitted to my friends. Noelle will be super proud of my growth. Though, I did keep a lot locked down. I’m honestly overthinking the situation. Boon and Aiden don’t judge me; they support me—I know this, but still, I’m nervous and my mind won’t shut off. Add in the fact that I haven’t eaten, and I find myself walking to Brooks House instead of going up to my house. I’m craving some steak pasta and a heavy dose of Stella Brooks. I know Aiden would have some words of wisdom, he may even try to get me to come to his house instead, but I need to see her. Just to remind myself that she’d run from my demons.
When I enter, I wave at the hostess, who, honestly, would let me take her home now, but she isn’t the one I want. Not that she isn’t gorgeous, she is, but no one is Stella.
“Hey, Wes!”
“Hey, Natalie. How’s it going?”
“Good. Heading to the bar?”
“Yup. Is there seating?”
“There is. Have a good dinner.”
“Thanks,” I say with a nod before heading toward the bar. Brooks House is a super-classy joint. During the day, it’s more laid-back, but at night, it’s the ultimate night spot. It’s dimly lit, with only candlelight on the tables. The bar area is brighter, with the huge bar in the middle and seating around it. The whole place is popping with people, it’s loud, and there is a violinist playing on the stage. I reach my spot at the bar and look around for Stella. I don’t see her at first as I sit, but just as I put my feet on the rail, she pops up behind all the liquor, lifting a box of something before putting it on the bar. She must have felt my presence, because her eyes snap to mine. She smiles at first, but then her eyes widen as her brows draw in.
“Jesus, tell me the other guy looks worse!”
I chuckle as she comes over with a glass to fill with Dr. Pepper, placing it in front of me. “Nope. I got my ass handed to me.”
“Wuss,” she teases, filling my glass.
“I know,” I say shamefully. “But they did set my nose on the bench, so that makes me less of a wuss, right?”
Her eyes brighten so beautifully. I love her eyes. They’re my favorite thing about her. Such a contrast to her beautiful olive skin and dark hair. She’s wearing a pair of jeans with a black button-up, her hair up in a high, messy bun. She has a pencil behind each ear, and she looks damn good. “I’ll give you that. Where is your crew?”
“Lone wolf tonight.” I groan, stretching my shoulders. “My bros are domesticated now.”
She grins. “That’s unfortunate.”
“It is.”
“Yeah, especially with a mug like that. You really need a wingman, or you’ll be walking out alone,” she laughs, and I laugh along with her wholeheartedly.
“I don’t need wingmen. I’m a catch,” I call out to her, and her laughter runs down my spine.
“So you say,” she teases as she walks to the order system. “Same as usual?”
I nod. “Extra sauce.”
“Gotcha,” she calls over her shoulder, and of course, I check out her sweet ass. It makes the perfect upside-down heart. She has a pear-shaped body, and I want to suck the juice out of her. I know she’d taste damn good, and I want to drown between her legs. When she looks back at me suddenly, I know she catches me checking her out, but I don’t think she minds. She gives me a wide grin before moving down the bar. “I’ll be back.”
“Not soon enough,” I mutter as I glance up at the TV above the bar. The bar area isn’t packed like it usually is, but there are a decent number of people. Stella works the room like she’s been doing this since she was a toddler. Everyone loves her. How could they not? She’s insanely beautiful and funny. Every few minutes, she comes to check on me and refills my drink. When she gets a moment, she leans on the bar, taking in a deep breath.
“How’s it going?”
“It’s going,” I say, a little more melancholy than I intend.
“I hear that,” she says with a sigh. “Sorry y’all lost last night.”
I shrug. “Things are a mess right now.”
“I know. Aiden isn’t happy.”
“Nope. None of us are.”
Our eyes meet, and everything inside me clenches. She’s just so fucking beautiful. “You’re gorgeous as always, Stella.”
She waves me off. “Behave, Wesley.” But I see the grin. The glow on her face. She loves my attention, and fuck, I love hers. When she walks away, I watch her as she heads to the back. I reach for my cup, taking a long pull as I glance up at the TV. Baseball is on, but it doesn’t hold my attention. My mind is still whirling, and I really don’t want to go home. We don’t have practice tomorrow, so I might hit up one of the guys and see if they want to hang. Or maybe I should just face my fear of being alone. I have to accept that my therapist is leaving. There is nothing I can do about it. Her family comes first; I get that. I never had that after I lost my mom, but I get it. I crave it.
Stella comes from the back with a tray of food. I watch as she moves along the bar, setting down meals with a grin and asking questions. When she comes to me, she places my plate in front of me and grins. Instantly, my mouth waters, and I’m unsure if it’s because of the juicy steak or her.
I’m thinking the latter.
“I am starving.”
“Me too,” she groans, looking at my food. “I’m gonna get this when my shift is over.”
“Want some now?” I say, offering my fork, and to my surprise, she takes it.
“Thank you. I’m so hungry!” she says, laughing before reaching for another fork and handing me mine back. She quickly eats two bites and groans loudly. “I swear they make this the best when it’s for you.”
“I feel special.”
“You are. I told them you were down in the dumps because your face is broken.”
I scoff. “It’s not broken anymore. Just super fucked up.”
“Eh, it’s not bad at all,” she says, waving me off.
“No?” I ask as she meets my gaze with a piece of steak on her fork.
“Nope,” she says, putting the full piece in her mouth. “I tend to find you hot all the time, though, if I’m honest. So the bruising doesn’t really bother me.”
“Do you now?” I tease, and she grins, not even the least bit ashamed.
“You know I do. Don’t try to embarrass me. If I didn’t find you hot, I wouldn’t have let you feel me up.”
Oh God. My body catches on crazy fire as our gazes stay locked. “That’s good to know. But that’s when I looked good. Now that it looks as if I’ve been kicked in the face—”
“I’d still let you feel me up, Wes,” she says simply, taking another forkful of pasta as her eyes dance with mine. I’m so glad I didn’t go home. “Not that I will.”
“Of course not.”
Her lips quirk, making my stomach clench. She takes big bites, and I love that she likes to eat. She’s got a pretty amazing figure, and I wouldn’t expect her to be an eater. Most girls with her body type don’t eat, but that’s not the case with Stella.