“So don’t talk to your dolls.”
A hysterical laugh bubbled out. “See, you’re not helping.”
Annabelle chuckled. “I’m sorry, but that was a humorous and surprisingly well-thought-out monologue. Not to mention ridiculous.”
“It’s not ridiculous to me,” she argued. “It could happen.”
“It’ll never happen,” Annabelle countered.
Stella leaned against the wall. “But how can you be so sure? That’s what I’m struggling with. How can I be sure I’m making the right decision?”
Annabelle sighed. “I don’t know, Stella. I don’t think anyone is ever really sure about anything. But the fact that you’re questioning yourself this much ought to tell you something.”
Stella was silent as she pondered Annabelle’s words. “Yeah,” she finally answered.
“Look, Brandon said he’d wait for you, right?”
“But what if he doesn’t?” Stella threw out.
“When have you ever known Brandon to go back on his word?”
“Yes, but what if he doesn’t?” she pressed again.
“Stella,” Annabelle said on a groan. “You have got to stop being your own worst enemy.”
Stella closed her eyes and lowered her head. “You’re right, sorry.” She scraped her toe along the floor. “I think he told me he loves me.”
“You think?” Annabelle repeated.
“Pretty sure,” Stella admitted.
“Of course he does,” Annabelle said with a smile in her voice. “You know he’ll wait for you, Stella. But can you wait for him?”
She’d waited her whole life for a man like Brandon West and would wait another lifetime if she had to. “Of course I can. I’m just not sure I want to.”
“I think you’ve got your answer, then.”
Twenty
The marching band launched into an escalated fight song as the Bobcats’ final game of the season ticked its way through the fourth quarter. The Lewis-Palmer Rangers were the favorite to win, especially since they were reigning state champions. So far, they’d forced the Bobcats to earn every bead of sweat and grass stain decorating the exhausted but motivated players. Brandon knew the team wouldn’t go down without a fight, and the Rangers were definitely sporting for one. Seeing as though the lead kept volleying back and forth between the two teams, it was obvious they weren’t going to just hand over the division title.
But the Bobcats knew what they were up against. No way were they going to have a repeat of last season, making it all the way to the end only to slouch away under the heavy cloak of disappointment.
The score was currently 27–21 with the Rangers in the lead. The Bobcats fans, who’d packed every last square inch of the bleachers, should have calmed in light of their team slowly fading. But they’d yet to lose faith.
The fourth quarter wound to its final minutes with Cody receiving the snap. The two girls in front of Brandon surged to their feet and waved the orange and black pom-poms in the air. Wyatt Thompson, the Bobcats’ running back, easily received the ball. But the victory was short-lived when he was tackled and flipped over onto this back.
The crowd sent out a groan, and the two girls in front of Brandon sat down again. He turned for a second, ready to make a comment about the game, then remembered he was alone. Because Stella wasn’t there.
Her plane had left last night, taking his heart along with it. Logically, he knew leaving was the best thing for her. Stella needed to fulfill her dreams; otherwise she’d never truly be happy. Yeah, he wanted to be with her and yeah he’d wait for however long it took. Even if it meant never seeing her again. However, deep down he’d held out a small sliver of hope she’d change her mind. That she wouldn’t be offered the teaching position she so wanted. That had been his pesky trust problem trying to poke its rabid head up. He’d shoved it down as they’d stood in her foyer yesterday. The words had been there, dying to be released.
Just stay.
Unfortunately, he knew only thinking about himself wouldn’t do either of them any good. If they had a shot at something real, whenever that would be, then he needed to show her some trust.
The gesture made him feel like he was literally out on a limb. Walking a thin wire two hundred feet above the ground with no safety net underneath. Though his gut told him he wouldn’t fall, Brandon couldn’t help the fear that lingered.
But, damn, he missed her. Missed her snarky sense of humor that made him laugh every time. He missed the fire that shot in her clear blue eyes whenever he pissed her off. Missed the feel of her lithe body against his, her lips, her soft hair. But most of all he missed how she made him feel. Whole. Worthy. Like he could get through anything as long as she was with him.
The play on the field resumed, snapping Brandon’s attention back to reality. Matt was currently on the sidelines and possession of the ball had been turned over to the Rangers. It was third and one, but the running back fumbled his handoff. Blake called his last time-out. The clock had twenty seconds left in the game.
Brandon’s gaze tracked Matt, then skittered over the UT recruiter who’d been carefully making notes on his clipboard. As a compromise, Brandon had decided to take a driving trip to Austin so he and Matt could tour the UT campus. Winter break was coming up and he figured that would be a perfect time to visit the college his son wanted to attend. Plus it would give him a distraction from missing Stella.
The Bobcats’ time-out ended and the players dispersed. The clock resumed with the Rangers still having possession of the ball. The Cats needed an interception something fierce; otherwise they could kiss this game good-bye.
Sweat built up on Brandon’s hands as the announcer made some vague comment about the risk the other coach was taking. He wasn’t really paying attention to the white noise of the band; the cheerleaders, who’d been back-flipping all over the place; or the crowd, including the Beehive Mafia seated behind him and alternating between screaming at the field and making off-color comments to one another.