Bella
Two years ago…
I can’t believe after two years of avoiding home, he picks now to show up. It’s like he does this shit on purpose to torment me. He should have stayed away. He should have stayed in California where he lives and given me the five more months I thought I had to come to terms with the fact that I will be living less than thirty minutes from him.
But no, Marco just had to grace everyone with his presence. I mean, sure, I can’t really fault him. His dad did fly over to San Diego and practically drag him back here to join them on our yearly traditional Christmas trip to Breckenridge Ski Resort. But would it have killed him to shoot me a text and give me some warning so I wouldn’t have to find out in the middle of the mall food court in front of his mom, Tristan, and Mason!?
I know at some point I am going to have to deal with all this. I am moving to San Diego to attend the University of California after all. It’s true, it’s a big city but there’s only one UFC training facility, which means we will be training in the same building. I know it’s my choice to move there. I know the potential situation I am putting myself into. Don’t ask me why I’m doing this to myself. Does a part of me miss Marco? Of course. Do I sometimes hope by moving there we will rekindle our friendship? Sure. Do I secretly wish that maybe one day we could be something more? Yeah, I do.
But at the same time, I think I want to move there just to stick it to him. Because fuck him for running away from me!
You know what? I don’t even know why I am so stressed over all this. I’m not the one who ran away. Twice! I’m not the one who started shit I couldn’t finish. Screw him! He’s the one who should feel uncomfortable, not me!
It’s Christmas eve and somehow, I have managed to avoid Marco for the most part, aside from the two-hundred-dollar bet I lost on the slopes when I said I could outboard him… and lost… twice. It hasn’t been easy since we are staying on the same property, but luckily, he is sleeping out in the guesthouse of my Uncle Bentley’s parents’ cabin. I’ve been spending a lot of time reading at the resort, snowboarding, and taking walks. Pretty much doing anything to avoid coming face to face with Marco. Which makes me so mad because I don’t have any reason to avoid him. I didn’t do anything wrong. He did! He chose to walk away, leaving our friendship in limbo over a couple of damn kisses.
It’s late, probably almost midnight, and everyone is sleeping. I should be asleep as well but I can’t stop thinking about Marco, wondering if this is my last chance to talk to him before I move to California. I know two people can live and train in the same city and avoid each other but that’s not what I want. Marco has been in my life for so long. The idea of going another year or more without talking makes me sad.
Concluding it’s best to stop dwelling and obsessing, and just go to him so we can talk, I grab my cellphone and head out back quietly so I don’t wake anyone up.
I get to the guesthouse and knock before I chicken out. About a minute later Marco answers the door. He is standing there in nothing but his tight grey briefs, his chiseled abs taunting me. He opens his mouth to yell at whoever was banging on his door but when he sees it’s me, his mouth closes.
“Bella.” One word. Just my name. Yet it has so many emotions behind it.
“So, about that bet…” I have no idea where that comes from.
“You here to pay up?” Marco smirks.
“I’m here to discuss payment options. Can I come in?”
Marco studies me for a moment. What he’s looking for, I’m not sure, but whatever it is, he must find it, because he opens the door wider allowing me access. And suddenly all the anger I had built up, all the words I had rehearsed to say to him go straight out the window, lust taking over in its place.
I throw myself at Marco, my arms going around his neck while my legs hop up to wrap around his waist, not even considering he might reject me, that he might push me away. But he doesn’t, instead he catches me with one hand, his other hand slamming the door behind us. I assume he’s walking us to his bedroom but I pay no attention, keeping my focus on the man carrying me.
Our mouths collide and we are all teeth and tongues and hands. Marco lays me down on the bed and breaks our kiss. He stares are me for a moment and I hold my breath, afraid he’s going to run.
“Fuck it,” is all he says before his mouth is back on mine.