The Tip-Off: A Smart Jocks Novel

by Jenshak, Rebecca

  His jaw flexes and he nods. Before I can comment further on his love life, he turns the tables on me. “What about you and Zeke? I swear I never thought I’d see the day that guy cared about anything but ball.”

  “It’s casual,” I insist and turn to the side so he can’t see the blush on my face.

  “Maybe, but it’s been a trip to see Zeke get knocked on his ass.”

  “Have you heard from him since he left?”

  “No. I doubt he’s had time to even look at his phone. The combine is intense. The guys get measured, weighed, they run drills, scrimmage. All in front of coaches and scouts from every NBA team in the league. It’s gotta be extra intense for Zeke coming in as the expected number one pick. Everyone is gunning for him. It’s lonely at the top – or so I hear.”

  I realize I haven’t bothered to ask Zeke a lot of questions about everything happening with him. Our interactions have been all about me and things I want to do. He said that just because what we’re doing is casual that it was still special and he was right, but I’ve done a shitty job of showing it.

  Simone dances up beside us and Nathan and I pull back so we can say hello. She wraps her arms around his neck, and they hug. The moment to myself allows my headache to remind me it’s still very much there. Also, I really want to go call Zeke. Even if I have to leave a message, I want to tell him I’m proud of him and excited for his future. He deserves to hear that.

  “Hey, Nathan.” I tug on his arm and flash Simone a smile. “I’m gonna take off. This headache won’t give up.”

  “Do you want me to come with?”

  “No, of course not. Stay and enjoy the party. I’m just gonna go home and go to bed. I’ll call you tomorrow.”

  I get two steps away when I pull out my phone and realize the battery is dead. Nathan and Simone are still in the same spot, so I interrupt them again. “Sorry, my phone is dead. Can I use yours to call a ride?”

  Nathan pulls his keys from his front jeans pocket. “Take my car.”

  I hesitate and he presses them into my hand. I mumble my thanks and he turns back to Simone completely oblivious to the war in my head. Blair and Z are the only ones that know I don’t drive. Honestly, it’s not a hard thing to avoid when everyone is always piling in together or taking an Uber.

  As I walk out of the party and toward Nathan’s car, the keys feel heavy in my hand. I weigh my options. I could run back inside, borrow a phone and call a cab, or hell, I could call Blair, she’d come, I know she would, but it’s starting to feel a little pathetic having her chauffeur me around.

  Inhaling and letting out a deep breath, I unlock the car and get in. I make all the necessary adjustments to the seat and the mirrors and then start the engine. The music is blasting from our drive over and I turn it off so I can focus. No distractions.

  “You can do this. It’s like riding a bike,” I talk to myself out loud in the empty car.

  Before I can psych myself out, I put it in drive and pull away from the curb. My heart races and I focus on breathing. I don’t even look at the speedometer to know I’m going well below the twenty-five mile per hour limit.

  There aren’t a lot of cars out so the closer I get to my place, the more I relax. I start to smile when I’m in the final mile. Only one stoplight is between me and my final destination and it’s green. Feels like a literal sign that I should be going for it more.

  I can’t wait to get home and call Zeke. I want to ask him all about his day and tell him I drove. I can almost hear his voice congratulating me. I don’t know why making Zeke proud fills me with such happiness, but I’m not about to dissect it now. Ten and two, Gabby.

  The light turns yellow right before I get to the intersection and I hesitate, panic taking over as I try and decide between slamming on the brakes and increasing my speed. At the last second, I decide on the first. The car skids to a stop as the light turns red and I let out a shaky breath of relief. But only for a second do I breathe easy. Squealing tires has my body going rigid and I brace for the impact my brain hasn’t even acknowledged. And then everything moves forward.

  33

  Zeke

  “If the number of times I was told how good you looked is any indication, I think it’s going well.”

  Sara is excited, which tells me I’ve done my job. She talks animatedly with her hands, her third cup of coffee sitting on the table between us. My days since arriving in Chicago for the combine have been long and grueling, but Sara’s been there every step and staying up even later to make sure I get face time with teams.

  “New York has the first pick, Denver the second. You have a meeting with both of them tomorrow morning and with the Suns in the afternoon. I’ve also set up meetings with other teams, but I think it’s unlikely you’ll go any later than top three. New York and Denver both could use someone with your size, plus the hype around getting the all-around top pick gives their teams a boost. Any questions?”

  I shake my head. Even that feels like it takes too much energy. I’m bone-tired and already looking forward to falling into bed and sleeping for a hundred years. Or five hours since that’s all I’m going to get.

  “Really good work today, Zeke.”

  I don’t remember the walk or the ride up the elevator, but when my head hits the pillow, I groan in satisfaction. I kick off my shoes and don’t even bother changing out of my sweaty workout clothes. Sleep is more important than a shower right now.

  My cell buzzes but I don’t move. I know the guys are probably curious how today went, but I’ll text Wes in the morning. The second time it buzzes, I curse my nosey roommates but reach out for it without opening my eyes and fumble around until my fingers wrap around the device. I bring it to my face before I force my lids open just a crack. Hell, I’ve got twenty-two texts and ten missed calls. I’m reading the first text from Wes that says to call him when my phone rings. The fact that it’s Nathan is enough to rouse my sleep fogged brain. Alarm bells are going off and I sit up and answer the phone.

  “Nate? What’s going on, man?”

  34

  Gabby

  I don’t like hospitals. Not that anyone really does, but my fear is rooted from waking up four years ago not remembering my friends or family and staring back at a face that I didn’t recognize. The memory loss was temporary, but the scary reality of how close I came to dying is a constant presence. It impacts everything I do without me even consciously aware that I’m doing it. Although, right now, I’m fully aware that I never want to get behind the wheel of a car again.

  Blair comes around the corner of the curtain pulled in front of the bed I’m sitting on inside the emergency room with wide eyes. “Thank God.”

  She squeezes me hard and I wince. “Easy there.”

  “Sorry.” She pulls back and eyes my bandaged wrist. “Wes and Nathan are in the waiting room and your mom wants you to call her as soon as we get home.”

  “You called my mom?!” I hop off the table and groan. “On a scale from one to ten, how nuts did she sound?”

  “Eleven.”

  “If she shows up at our apartment, I’m going to kill you.”

  I use Blair’s phone to call my mom on the ride home. I close my eyes and listen to her sob. I promise to call if I need anything, to take it easy, and to be careful. The last one is a signature promise that she demands every time we talk. In return, she promises not to come, and I relax a bit as we hang up the phone.

  “Okay, tiny step up here,” Blair’s voice is bordering condescending as she helps me into our apartment. Behind her, Nathan has a hand at my back like I might topple over at any moment. Oh, and don’t worry, Wes is in front guiding me like I’ve gone blind instead of broken my wrist.

  “You guys are being ridiculous, I’m fine.” I move my hands up above my head and shake my body as if to prove my point, but a stab of pain causes me to wince and I give in and let Blair drag me to the couch.

  “Try and keep it elevated as much as possible. It’ll help with the swelling
,” Wes says, offering me a sympathetic smile.

  “I’ve got this, really. This is nothing compared to…” My words trail off and the memory of what rough shape I was in after the last accident causes me to hold my tongue.

  “Do you need anything before bed? I could help you get changed or do you want me to sleep with you?”

  I have to laugh at her stubborn but loyal will. “I’m okay, Blair. Honest. I’m gonna hang out here for a few minutes and then go to bed.”

  She doesn’t move for a moment, just stares at me gauging my ability to manage on my own. She steps to me quickly and wraps me in a tight hug. “I’m sorry I’m being a mother hen, but I was so scared. I love you, Gabs.”

  “Me too,” I whisper, emotions clogging my throat. I refuse to cry. I am not opening those floodgates and taking a ride on the pity express.

  When she finally releases me and heads to her room, Nathan takes a seat next to me. He was quiet the whole way back from the hospital. Guilt practically seeps from him like the alcohol I can smell. I rest my head on his shoulder. “Sorry about your car.”

  “Stop apologizing. It was a piece of shit anyway. I should have been with you. I never would have let you drive home by yourself if I’d known.” His mouth pulls into a tight line. “If I’d known you hadn’t driven since the accident.”

  “I was trying to prove that I’m a big girl who can take care of myself. Fitting, right?”

  He wraps his arms around me and squeezes lightly. I pull away and yawn. “I should get some sleep. Vanessa is at Mario’s if you want to take her bed.”

  “Nah, I’m good on the couch.” As if to prove it, he lies down and cocks his arm behind his head.

  After I grab him a blanket and pillow, I shut myself in my room and awkwardly attempt to lift my dress over my head. “Curse you Spandex.”

  I’m breathing heavy by the time I get one arm through the dress, so I say screw it to changing for bed and climb under the covers with my dress up around my chest. Despite how tired I am, sleep doesn’t come easily. The only plus side, the throbbing of my wrist has made the headache pale in comparison.

  Every time I close my eyes, I hear the squealing of tires and the crunch of the back of Nathan’s car when I was rear-ended. My heart races and I push the tears back. I will not go there. It took me so long to move on last time and I don’t want to spend another four years recovering from this one. It was an accident. Accidents happen. I’m okay. I’m okay.

  I’m okay.

  * * *

  Zeke

  The front door is unlocked, so I slip inside Gabby’s apartment and spot Nathan sleeping on the couch. I move as quietly as possible to her room. For the first time since I got the call from Nathan that she’d been in a car accident, my lungs fill with air.

  I slip off my shoes and climb in behind her and pull her into my arms. She turns to me and slowly opens her eyes. She smiles, closes her eyes, and then as if just realizing I’m here, they fly back open. She throws an arm around me, hitting me in the head with the cast in the process. We both wince, but I hug her tightly.

  “What are you doing here?”

  “I came as soon as I heard. Are you okay?”

  She nods, but soon I can feel her shoulders shake and when I pull back and tilt her head up to see her face, tears run down her cheeks.

  “Hey, hey, shhh.” I wipe her tears and then bring her head back to my chest. I rub her back and shoulders until my hands snag on the material caught around her neck. “Whatcha got going on here?”

  “I-I c-couldn’t get my dress off.” She cries harder.

  I bite back a laugh as I help her out of the dress and toss it on the floor. “Do you want me to grab a shirt for you?”

  She shakes her head and then pulls at mine.

  The laugh escapes this time, but I yank my shirt off and gingerly pull it over her head and get her arms through. “That shirt probably smells as bad as I do. I haven’t showered in almost twenty-four hours and there was a lot of sweating between then and now.”

  “I like your sweaty smell.” She sniffles, the tears coming slower now. “How was the combine? Is it over already? I thought you were staying ‘til Sunday.”

  “It was great.” My chest squeezes. I don’t know what the repercussions are going to be for walking out like I did, but I can’t think about that now. “I left a little early so I could check on you. It’s all good.” I hope.

  She yawns. “I wanna hear all about it.” Her eyelids flutter closed, and she nuzzles into my chest.

  “I’ll tell you all about it tomorrow,” I whisper. “Get some sleep, Gabby. I’m here.”

  35

  Zeke

  “I’m sorry, did you just say you left before your interviews with the teams? That sounds bad. Like you flaked on a job interview. What did Sara say?” Gabby pauses the movie and turns to face me.

  After getting in early this morning, we slept late, and I haven’t been able to pry myself out the door yet. I did manage to shower, though, and Wes brought me over some clean clothes, so I have absolutely no reason to leave. I haven’t taken a day off working out in years. I’m cashing in on all those bonus workouts I did, and I can’t imagine a better way to spend it than with Gabby.

  “She’s…” I move my head from side to side to come up with a better word than pissed. My phone has been buzzing pretty much nonstop with text updates to the mess I made. “Dealing with it. She told the teams I had a family emergency and she’s trying to set up times with teams individually.”

  “Zeke, oh my God. Why did you do that? After everything you’ve worked for.” Her eyes search mine for an explanation.

  There’s only about a foot of space between us on the couch, but I close the distance and take her good hand in mine. “I didn’t think. Just grabbed my bag and headed to the airport and got on the first plane out. I wanted to be here for you, knew it had to be hard, and if I’m honest, I guess I felt a little responsible after pushing you to drive again.”

  “Are you kidding me? Do you know how huge it is that I finally drove? Years of therapy didn’t do half as much for me as you have.”

  “Does that mean you’re going to try again?”

  “Absolutely not. Nope. Never.” She chuckles. “I’m strictly a passenger from now on. In fact, I may just start biking everywhere. I’ll get one of those cute ones with the basket in front.”

  “I bet you’d look pretty hot riding a bike around town.”

  “Yeah?” She climbs into my lap.

  “Mhmm. Tan legs, blonde hair blowing in the wind, and don’t forget about the adorable pink helmet to protect that pretty head of yours.” I cup her face and then kiss the top of her head.

  She leans into me so we’re chest to chest. “Tell me more about the combine.”

  We sit like that. I play with her hair and answer questions as she fires them off. I tell her everything, about the skills testing, the scrimmages. She asks about some of the other prospects that were there, and I’m surprised when she’s even done her homework to know which teams get the top picks this year. I leave out the worry that my leaving like I did cost me a shot at my dream, but what I told her was true. I didn’t think – just knew I had to get to her.

  Sara calls a little later and Gabby goes to lie down while I take the call in the living room.

  “Well, I got your interviews rescheduled with Denver and the Suns. New York hasn’t gotten back to me yet.” I can hear her exasperation. She’s been working her ass off for me, and I just made her job twice as hard. “I’m sending all the information to your email.”

  “Thank you. I really appreciate it. I’m sorry.”

  “For blowing off the men and women who control your future or for giving me an ulcer?” Her laugh is small, but it makes me feel a tiny bit better.

  “The second one.”

  “Just, promise me you’re going to be on that flight to Denver on Monday.”

  “I promise.”

  I open my email and look at the mee
tings Sara was able to reschedule. Between those and my trip home to see my mom, the next month is going to be chaotic. I tuck my phone into my pocket and go to find Gabby. She’s lying in bed, but instead of sleeping, she’s got her phone in front of her face. When she sees me, she sets it down and sits up, leaning on one elbow. “Everything okay?”

  “Yeah, Sara got the meetings rescheduled.”

  “Good.” She visibly relaxes.

  I slide into bed beside her and pull her carefully on top of me. “How’s your wrist?”

  “It’s fine.”

  “Good because I leave Monday morning and I want to spend every second I have left in Valley kissing you.”

  “What does that have to do with my wrist?”

  I grab her good arm and pin it above her head. “It’s never just kissing with you.”

  She brings her lips to mine, proving my point by grinding against me with her lower half in the process. Kissing turns to groping over clothes, but neither of us pushes for more right away. We’re savoring every minute. I’m memorizing her face and the sounds she makes when she’s happy, a little contented sigh, and the feelings that doing this brings out in me. I never want to forget any of it.

  I’ve finally got my hand up her shirt when Vanessa gets home and calls out to see if anyone else is here.

  “Shit, I forgot to close the door,” I say, pulling back and eyeing the open bedroom door.

  “I got it,” she says. She walks to the door, says hello to Vanessa and then adds, “We’re about to have sex, so I’m gonna shut this, okay?”

  A laugh rumbles in my chest and Gabby shuts the door and then presses her back against it eyeing me with a look of pure want and desire. I’m on my feet. I can’t wait one more second for her to be in my arms again.