He moves my hair behind my ear. “I’ve been trying to convince you that you won’t. Don’t you believe me, Bray?”
“Abner!” Coach yells.
“I’m not worth it.”
“You are.”
“How can you be sure?” I ask.
“Bray, there’s only one thing I have left to convince you, and that’s the truth.”
Coach yells at him again, but he looks right in my eyes like he’s seeing my soul. “I love you, Bray.”
I can’t feel my body. The pureness of his words. The tenderness. The longing. And I know if I lie to him, he’ll never forgive me. I’ll never forgive myself. So, I draw a heart over his chest then look into his gray eyes that warm me all over. “I love you, too.”
He kisses me hard, and I barely care that Coach is watching us.
“I want you,” I moan in his ear.
“Right here?”
I laugh and pull away. “Yes, but I meant this.”
I put my palm to his heart, and he covers my hand with his. “You’ve always had it.”
“Zain Abner! If you don’t get on this court—”
“Will you be my girlfriend?” Zain asks.
“Yes.”
We laugh and touch noses. Coach grabs Zain’s jersey and pulls him away as Zain tries to kiss me.
I touch my lips, still tingling from his touch.
Coach huffs as Zain stumbles around and walks on his own.
“I love you, Bray!” Zain shouts, though he’s already on the court.
I barely hear Coach mumble, “Horny teenagers.”
More flutters in my stomach. Zain and I are much more than that. We’re in love.
Chapter 47
Sebastian
Coach’s mouth is moving, but I don’t understand a word he’s saying. All I hear is I love you, Bray. Over and over.
Bray and I broke up three weeks ago. How is he—her hero—already in love with her? He’s probably lying just to get into her pants. And she’ll give it to him. She begged me over and over. At least, now I understand why she wanted it so bad.
The red haze takes over my vision thinking of that pedophile.
“Sebastian! Get out there, now.” Coach shoves me toward the referee who is waiting with a ball in hand.
I blink the red away. Focus, Seb. Don’t let the anger take over. Two eight-minute quarters left, then you can get out of here.
Away from him.
Away from her.
Away from it all.
Without a glance in his direction, I toss the ball to Zain and move into position. The jackass who’s been covering me all night is on my back again. He’s one of those touchy-feely types, not letting me move and invading every bit of my personal space.
One little check. Just a twist of the body and whack with the elbow across the face.
Crunch.
That felt good. The wimp doubles over as the referee blows the whistle, blood pours from his busted nose. At least, I can tell him I know how it feels.
Four fouls now. I can end this sooner by fouling out. It’s not the Sebastian show. I have two points to my name this game. It’s the Zain and Theo spectacle. I’m just another body on the court who occasionally gets to touch the ball. I serve no purpose here. Besides, plenty of hungry underclassmen are on the bench ready to pounce.
No one in the stands will miss me. My parents rarely make it to a game. The only person who ever cared is now here for Zain.
I don’t want to breathe the same air as him.
Five minutes of the Zain and Theo production goes on. We’re up by ten, so Coach gives us starters a break. After two minutes and zero baskets from the relievers who allow six points to be scored, it’s time to go back in.
It’s time to end this.
Zain passes the ball to me, and I dribble toward the net. Theo is open. Zain calls for the ball back. Two people are on me. It’s a no-brainer on what my move should be—if I wasn’t on a mission.
The guy who’s been on me all night is planted two steps in front of me. I charge, and he tumbles to the ground, smacking his head against the floor.
The referee blows the whistle and signals a foul. “You’re out, seven.”
I hide the smile that’s trying to build as Zain helps the guy off the ground.
Back on his feet, the punk gets in my face. “You better watch it, asshole.” He attempts to shove me, but I don’t move.
I let the red invade my vision. I let the steam build behind my ears. I let the haze take over my brain. I’m turning into the Hulk, minus the green skin and bulky body.
I let the anger take over.
Just one punch to the guy’s jaw, then Zain has me in a headlock. He’s the last person I want touching me right now. I clasp my hands together and step through, releasing his hold, then shove him to the ground.
Theo comes at me from behind and locks me in. I lower my chin and flip him over my back.
Coach Woods comes onto the court and gets in my face. “Locker room! Now!”
I storm out of the gym, meeting eyes with Brayleigh’s shocked face before walking into the hallway and running into Farren. I try to catch her, but she falls onto her butt with a thump.
“I’m sorry,” I say, extending my hand to help her up.
She gives me her wry smile. “How about we work together on a revenge plan?”
“I don’t want revenge, but how about we return the favor?”
Turn the page to read Brayleigh’s Epilogue…
Sebastian’s story will be out in Spring 2020.
Preorder for $2.99 today:
https://www.amazon.com/Unleash-Love-Merryville-High-Book-ebook/dp/B081ZG4RYR/
Price goes to $3.99 on release day.
Epilogue
Beth and her detective friend got Percy behind bars quick and worked with CPS so Beth could keep us. Faced with life in prison, Percy took a plea deal for twenty years without the chance of parole.
It’s over. No trial. He’s gone. We all have homes and lots of therapy ahead of us, but it’s done.
I met with the Goodwin’s this morning to sign adoption paperwork so they can cover my medical expenses until the baby is born.
This evening, I took Izzy to The Grinch On Ice. She’s smiling again, and I think she’ll make it through.
As I drive us home and see that it’s almost midnight and time for the new year, all I can think about is Zain. I park the car, and Izzy runs inside to watch the ball drop.
There’s a shadow on the porch she completely ignores, and my heart stops, thinking it’s Percy free from prison and ready for payback. Or my mom, though Beth’s detective friend got Milo and me a handy-dandy restraining order that will put her back in jail if she attempts to make contact.
My heart races as I get out of the car and close my door. I wedge my longest key between my fingers.
The figure steps into the light.
I sigh.
“Zain, you scared me.”
“You know, Bray, there’s this saying that whatever you’re doing when the clock strikes midnight on New Years is what you’ll be doing the rest of the year.”
“I haven’t heard that.”
“Well,” he checks the Oh, Fudge! watch I got him for Christmas, “there’s ten seconds left to determine our future.”
I meet him on the porch, placing my hands on the chest of his puffy jacket.
“What do you say, Ace?” Zain pulls my hips to him. “Want to be with me all next year? Three. Two.”
I kiss him, at least for a few minutes in case his watch is off, then breakaway for much needed air. “Always, Zain Abner. I want you for always.”
He grins and kisses my cheek. “I was hoping you’d say that.”
I tug his coat. “It’s a bit cold o
ut here. Wanna be my heater?”
“That’s number one on my stupid things to do with Bray list.” He opens the door and follows me inside.
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Unwrap My Heart Page 18
