Jason Caswell is in the stands. Coach wasn’t going to tell me, probably didn’t want the pressure to get to me, but I saw him sitting there with his fingers pressed to his lips watching intently.
He could be here for any number of players. Doesn’t have to be me. Hell, he could be scouting someone on the opposing team.
Shawn passes me the ball and I run like hell, shooting when I have the opportunity.
It sinks into the net and I give myself one millisecond to celebrate before we’re back it. We’re currently down by six points. It’s not a lot, but in the fourth quarter we can’t risk any mishaps.
My eyes follow my every movement, not missing a thing. It was hard for me to ignore Jason’s presence at the start of the game, but now it’s like no one and nothing else is here.
My teammate Reggie tosses me the ball and I take an elbow in the gut from Kessler Cooligan on the opposing team. The sneer he sends my way doesn’t make me think it was an accident. I pass off the ball to another teammate and watch the ball sail into the net.
The clock is counting down and somehow, we manage to tie it up.
When the ball gets passed to me again, I know it’s now or never.
Five.
Breathe.
Four.
Focus.
Three.
Aim.
Two.
Shoot.
One.
The arena erupts with a massive wave of boos and heckling since we’re not on our home court, but it doesn’t matter. We don’t let it get to us. My teammates jump up and down, hugging me, smacking me on the arms, and celebrating the win we fought so hard for tonight.
I speak to reporters on the sidelines, answering questions when I can and evading ones asking about where I hope to play after I graduate.
“Ah, that doesn’t really matter,” I tell one reporter. “All I care about is the game. I’ll be happy to play on any team that wants me.”
I’m dripping with sweat as I walk off the court to the locker rooms. I’m desperate for a shower, not only to wash up but to help uncoil the muscles that I didn’t even realize tensed during the game.
Loading up on the bus back to the hotel, I refuse to let tiredness take hold. I want to call Zoey first. Whatever was going on this morning probably isn’t important and she might’ve just seemed off because of the early hour.
The bus pulls up to the front and we get off, our feet sounding like a stampede in the narrow aisle.
I have a room to myself, and when I get there I let the door close behind me and latch it. Kicking off my sneakers, I change out of my clothes into a pair of sweats before diving onto the bed. I ring Zoey but it goes straights to voicemail.
Maybe something really was off this morning.
I ring again, and just like before I get her voicemail.
What the hell.
I shoot a text to Teddy.
Me: Did you check on Zoey?
Teddy: Yeahhhh
Me: Is she okay?
Teddy: Totally fine.
I narrow my eyes on my phone screen.
Before I can type out another text there’s a knock on my room’s door. I groan, irritated at the interruption, but it could be Coach or one of my teammates.
I get up and cross the room to the door, opening it without bothering to check the peephole.
My mouth drops when I find Zoey standing outside the door.
“Surprise!” She does these little jazz hand moves and then clasps her hands beneath her chin. “I hope this is a good surprise?”
I shake my head free of cobwebs. “Yes, yes. Of course. Amazing surprise.” I grip her hips, pulling her in to me and kissing her. “How’d you get here?”
“Ah, for that I needed Teddy’s help.” She steps away and that’s when I notice my friend loitering in the hall.
“I had to sweet talk my dad for access to the private jet.”
“Are you joking?” Sometimes with Teddy I can’t tell if he’s being serious or not.
“Oh no,” Zoey squeezes my arm, her eyes round like saucers, “it was a real private jet. They asked me if I wanted caviar and everything. It was so cool.”
“I can’t believe you came all this way. Both of you.”
“We were supposed to be here in time for the game, but we hit a little snafu.”
“And what was that?” I curl my finger in her belt loop, tugging her closer.
Teddy removes his baseball cap, rubbing the back of his head. “Daddy Dearest decided to be a dick and change his mind so then I had to spend three hours convincing him to let us go.”
“Why does your dad hate you so much?” I ask him.
He frowns. “Because I won’t act the way he wants me to.” He scratches at his jaw. “But with him holding my inheritance over my head, I have to do some ass kissing.” I don’t tell him I’m sorry, even though I am. I know he doesn’t want pity. “Anyway, Mom and Dad, enjoy your night. I’m going to my room.”
“Night, Teddy! Thank you!” Zoey calls after him. He throws his hand up in a wave. Zoey pushes on my chest, forcing me into the room and the door closes behind us. “I know you won, but I didn’t get to see any of the game.”
“Well, we kicked ass. Pulled the game winning point in the last second.”
“And who made that score?” She drops her coat on the floor, yanking her shirt off right behind it.
“Me, of course.” I grin, watching her undress as her slender fingers go to the button on her jeans.
“I’m not surprised.” Her eyes narrow on me. “Are you not going to get naked?”
“I’m enjoying watching you too much.”
She shoves playfully at my chest and I chuckle, hooking my thumbs into the back of my shirt. I drop the garment onto the growing pile of her clothes. As soon as we’re both naked she plasters herself to me, stroking my hardened cock between us. I whistle through my teeth at the sensation of her hand wrapped around me.
“You’re so thick,” she purrs in my ear.
I have no idea what her idiot ex was thinking cheating on her. But his loss is my gain.
I cradle her face between my hands. “I still can’t believe you’re here.”
Her brown eyes warm. “Believe it.”
She drops to her knees and my head falls back when she takes me in her sweet mouth.
“Fuck,” I curse, gathering her hair back from her face. She swirls her tongue around my tip before taking as much of me as she can. She worships my dick and I’m happy to let her. She’s a fucking pro at this.
Letting go of me, she pushes me toward the bed, and I sit down. She climbs on my lap and I moan when she sinks down on my cock but stops halfway. She’s soaking wet, and it pleases me that sucking me off gave her pleasure too.
She lifts off me and back down, taking a little more of me. She keeps up her ministrations until she’s fully seated on my cock. I grip her ass in my hands tight enough to bruise.
Looking into her eyes, I know I’ve been waiting so long to feel this way about a girl. I’ve fallen hard, and fast for her, but I wouldn’t take it back for anything. It’s on the tip of my tongue, those three little words, but I hold them back because I don’t want her to think I’m saying them only in the heat of the moment.
I rub her clit, wanting her to get off before I do.
Her eyes are hooded, lips parted. She’s the most gorgeous creature I’ve ever seen.
And she’s mine.
I come with a roar and the two of us collapse onto the bed, a tangle of sweat-dampened limbs. I kiss her forehead, stroking my fingers through her hair. She hums, snuggling against my side.
Surely life doesn’t get more perfect than this.
30
Zoey
It’s been a few days since the game and when I spontaneously decided to surprise Cole thanks to Teddy’s help. I’m tired from studying, but winter break starts tomorrow. I’ll be staying here and Cole will be going to Michigan. I’m set to join him over New Year’s, which both excites and terrifies m
e. It’ll be nice to meet his parents and sisters as well as all of his nieces and nephews. Though, he did warn me to expect his mom to start asking when the wedding is.
Cole and I pull up to the apartment. It’s been dark for hours while we’ve been at work.
Tomorrow morning I’ll drive him to the airport, and I don’t want him to go, but I know I’ll see him soon enough.
I didn’t expect Cole and my heart certainly didn’t think it was ready for him, but I guess life knows better than we do. I think deep down, even on that very first day when he opened the door and I stood beside Teddy, I knew he would change my life.
He shuts the truck off and turns to me. “Meet me on the basketball court.”
“What? Why? It’s cold!” Snow flurries swirls through the air, landing on the windshield. We’re not due for more than two inches, but still, it’s cold and the last thing I want to do is stand outside in it for one more minute even if I’m layered in a sweatshirt and coat.
“Because I said so.”
I pout. “You should know by now that I’m not very good at doing what I’m told.”
He chuckles, reaching for the door handle. “I guess not. But please?”
“Fine,” I grumble.
“I’ll be right back.” He runs up to the apartment while I walk to the basketball court, my breath fogging the air as I do.
I stuff my hands in the pockets of my coat, rocking back and forth on my heels.
I don’t have to wait long for Cole to come jogging back and I laugh when I see him with the two bottles of root beer, Oreos, and a basketball. If those three things don’t sum us up, I don’t know what does. He sets the bottles and cookies on the ground and then bounces the ball over to me.
“I thought we could play a game.”
“A game, huh?” I steal the ball from him and hold it to my chest. “What kind of game? One on one? It’s kinda late, you know?”
“I made this one up.”
“Hmm,” I hum. “And what does it entail?”
“For every shot you make you have to call out a letter to a word or sentence and then the other person has to try to guess what you’re trying to spell.”
“Fine. I’m in.”
I dribble the ball, spinning so he has my back. I think about my word and shoot for the net, but it doesn’t go in.
Cole jogs around me and swipes the ball before I can get to it and tosses the ball. It sails effortlessly into the net.
“I,” he declares.
“Give it.” I try to steal the ball from him.
“Nah, you gotta come and get it.” He flicks his wrist and I grumble when he makes a basket.
“L.”
I steal the ball and shoot but since he was trying to get it back from me my aim is wrong and I don’t make it.
“Cole,” I whine, “don’t do that.”
He laughs, clearly amused by my irritation. Another score. “O. Any ideas yet?”
“Nope, but this feels like a backwards game of hangman.”
I run after him, trying to get the ball, but he’s so much bigger than me he dodges my advances easily.
Swish.
“V.”
“Cole.”
Into the net.
“E. Have a guess yet?” He grins, brown eyes reflecting the lights in the parking lot.
I spell out the letters in my head.
I.
L.
O.
V.
E.
He knows the moment it clicks in my brain.
“You,” he murmurs.
The ball drops from his hands, the bounce echoing as he closes the distance between us.
His big hands swallow my face when he cups my cold cheeks. “I love you, Zoey.”
I close my eyes, reveling in the sound of him saying those words to me. “You love me?”
“Yeah, yeah I do, crazy girl.”
“I love you, too,” I whisper back, lower lip trembling with tears.
He smiles, eyes crinkling at the corners, and then he’s kissing me and behind my closed eyes I see it all again those glimpses of the future I saw in his eyes before.
A white dress.
Babies.
Laughter.
Happiness.
Him and I against the world.
If my heart was a net, he shot the ball straight into it and won the game winning score. He won me, my love, forever.
Epilogue
Cole
Two Years Later.
I’ve been playing for Atlanta for the past two years. I’ve found a new home and new team to love that feels like family. Sure, the stakes are a hell of a lot higher, but we look out for each other as much as we can. Life on the road is rough, but it’s worth it knowing my girl is waiting for me at home in our downtown high-rise condo.
I couldn’t ask for more when it comes to my life. I’m so incredibly blessed in ways I never knew were possible.
Dripping with sweat, exhausted, but desperate for a win, I throw the ball toward the net. I’m farther away from it than I’d like, but with seconds left it’s either throw the ball myself and score or lose. There’s no time left to pass to someone else.
Time stands still as the ball soars through the air down the court.
It feels like everyone in the arena is holding their breath.
My heart pounds in my chest and ears, silencing everything else.
When the ball sinks, my eyes widen and then I’m covered in my teammates.
Closing my eyes, I’m reminded of that away game years ago when Zoey surprised me.
Tonight, though, I’m the one surprising her. And when I get down on one knee and present her with a ring, I hope to God she says yes.
I soak in the chaos around me, and speak to reporters, before retiring to the locker room to shower and change.
“Good luck tonight,” Freddie LaMone, who’s become my closest friend on the team, says holding out his fist.
I bump it with mine. “Thanks.” I button my dress shirt.
“She’s going to say yes, dude,” Jackson, another player, chimes in.
“What’s going on?” Keeton walks over, opening his locker.
“Anderson’s proposing tonight,” Freddie tells him while I slip my feet into my shoes.
“Damn, it’s about time you wifed up that fine piece of ass.”
I freeze. “Don’t talk about Zoey like that.”
Keeton dances away from me. “I meant no offense. The girl is gorgeous.”
I glower at his retreating figure as he goes back to the showers. If there’s anyone on the team I struggle to get along with, it’s him. He knows how to push my buttons.
“Don’t listen to him. He’s a fucking idiot.” Jackson adjusts the cuffs of his sleeves.
“I don’t.”
By the time I leave and meet Zoey in the area reserved for friends and family to wait after the game, I’m a jittery mess, and of course she picks up on it right away.
“What’s wrong?” She wraps an arm around my middle. “Are you okay?”
“Just coming down from the high of a win.” I smile at her, once again marveling at what a lucky guy I am to have her.
“Are you sure that’s all?”
“Positive.”
Outside, we get in my new Chevrolet Silverado. I still have my ancient and always reliable one too, but an upgrade was necessary.
I’m quieter than normal on the drive back to our condo and I can tell from the way Zoey fiddles with her jersey—my number and name on the back—that she notices.
When we get inside, she runs to the bathroom which gives me the perfect opportunity to set everything up.
Fireplace image on the TV, root beers on the coffee table, and the red velvet Oreos I had made by a local bakery. Sure, they’re probably not exact, but it was the best I could do.
The bathroom door creaks open and my heart races.
This is it.
Her steps come closer, and I wait for her to reach me.<
br />
“What’s all this?” Her eyes grow big, taking everything in.
That’s when I drop to my knee, pulling the ring box from my pocket. “Zoey, this has been the best two years of my life, and I want you to be my whole life. Will you marry me?”
Her hand hovers over her mouth, tears pooling in her eyes. “Yes. Yes. Obviously, yes!”
I slip the ring on her finger, one I had custom made because I wanted it to be perfect for her. Kissing her ring-clad finger, I look up into her eyes.
She gets to her knees in front of me, kissing me over and over again.
I get to love this girl for the rest of my life, and if that doesn’t make me the luckiest guy on the planet, I don’t know what does.
I used to think nice guys didn’t win, but I was wrong.
When I fell in love with Zoey, I won the greatest game of all.
Want more Cole and Zoey?
Find out what happens when Zoey goes home with Cole over Spring Break.
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I’ve heard the whispers on campus of what a player Teddy McCallister is. Most girls on campus are vying to be the one, but guys like him don’t settle down.
When he overhears that my tuition has been pulled and I’m going to basically be a college reject he makes me an offer I can’t refuse.
Be his fake girlfriend until graduation so he can get his inheritance.
It seems simple enough. I need the money and he needs someone to make him look committed.
If one thing is certain, it’s that I won’t be falling for him. But no one warned me about what happens when my fake boyfriends starts to fall for me.
Also by Micalea Smeltzer
Fallen Series
Fallen
Forbidden
Forever
Outsider Series
Nice Guys Don't Win (A College Sport's Romance) Page 22
