by Lynn Stevens
I shook my head. “We got this, V.” I glanced at the time clock. Less than two minutes in the other game. “We should stretch.”
Then I saw him. Adam stood near the bleachers with a St. Louis Cardinals hat on. His basketball shorts hung low on his hips. It was the sexiest thing I’d seen him in. Reggie was with him, but he was watching the game. Adam was watching us.
“What’s he doing here?” I mumbled.
“Shit,” Vina said. “I told Reggie to keep him away from you.”
“Technically, he did,” Tisha said. “He’s over there.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” I spun on Vina. “Seriously? Why didn’t you at least warn me?”
“Because your lovesick ass would’ve been looking for him.” Vina put her hands on her hips and leaned in. “He’s a distraction.”
“You should’ve told me,” I said as I walked toward him.
Adam’s eyes widened then he relaxed into a lazy smile. My gaze focused on him and only him. Why was he here? For me? No, that wasn’t likely. I never told him about the tournament. When I stopped in front of him, I lost focus.
“Hey,” he said, breaking me out of my reverie.
“Hey,” I said.
He took my hand. “Hey.”
I relished in the warmth of his hand and squeezed gently.
“Can you guys say anything else or are you stuck in that part of your relationship?” Reggie said.
Adam and I both laughed.
“Jesus, I’m going to find the other girls. Come on, man.” Reggie said. Cal waved at me. I hadn’t even seen him standing there. He smacked Adam on the shoulder, then strolled away with Reggie.
I shook the cobwebs out of my head. “What’re you doing here?”
“I should ask you the same,” he said with a small smile. “I thought you might play since there’s a hoop at your house, but I didn’t know you were into it.”
“Yeah, I love it.” I closed the distance until we were almost touching. “For the last three summers, Tisha and Vina and I play this tournament. Xavier doesn’t have a basketball team.”
He nodded as if what I said made perfect sense. “Sorry, I’m a little thrown off by all of this. Reggie and Calvin needed a third and called me this morning.”
“I didn’t know you played.” Although it made sense. Adam was tall and athletic. Why wouldn’t he play?
“Guess we learned something new about each other today.” He pulled me until our chests were touching. “You’re very good.”
“You watched?” I asked. He was here all day, and I just now saw him. It felt weird. Like we had avoided each other without avoiding each other.
“Oh yeah.” He leaned down and whispered in my year. “Every chance I got.”
“Why didn’t you tell me you were here?” I pulled away and stared into his eyes. “You’ve been here all day, right?”
“Reggie told me not to. He said I’d break your concentration.” He leaned down again until our cheeks were touching. “He was right. If I’m this distracted, then you’ll be just as bad.” He pressed a kiss to my cheek as the buzzer sounded the end of the game. “You should go.”
“Uh-huh.” I didn’t move.
“Rachel,” he said, pressing another sweet kiss to my cheek.
I turned my head and captured his mouth with my own. It wasn’t sweet or gentle. I put everything into it, how much I was glad he was here, how much I wanted to win for him, how much I wanted this to be real between us.
“Now, I should go,” I said when stepped back. Vina yelled my name. “Stay?”
“We’re not going anywhere,” he said, pulling his cap down. “But win this, okay?”
“Damn straight.”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
The game went back and forth. We’d score. They’d score. We’d block, they’d block. We’d steal, they’d steal. With a minute left, Vina called our final time out.
“What the hell, Rach?” she snapped after chugging more than half her water bottle. “I called a different play.”
“Calm down,” Tisha said. “You called the wrong play.”
“It doesn’t matter if it was right or wrong, I called it. And I’m the captain.” Vina’s nostrils flared as she sneered toward Tisha.
“You’re right,” I said with a sigh. She had called a different play, but the other team had setup to defend us one on one. Her play never would’ve worked. They were anticipating our every move. Either way, it wouldn’t have done the team any good to fight about it now. That could wait until the drive home. “What do you want to do?”
Vina smirked. “Nothing. We wing it.” She nodded at the ref as he called us back to the court. “They know our plays. So, we play their defense. Let’s win this.”
We ran onto the court and took possession. Tisha and Vina set up on the same side of the court as I dribbled at the top of the key. The other team didn’t know what we were doing this time. Mainly because we didn’t know. I faked right toward the open side of the court. My defender over-compensated, tripping over her own feet as I spun left to where Tisha and Vina screened each other. Vina broke toward the basket. I snapped a hard bounce pass. It bounced just in front of her, and she grabbed it for a quick layup. We were up by two.
But the game wasn’t over yet.
We went one-on-one defensively. There was thirty seconds on the clock. Plenty of time for a three pointer. I kept my gaze on their point guard instead of the ball. She glanced left and then right. I stayed on the balls of my feet, shifting with her. Then I saw it. She was going left. Her body shifted right, then left. I felt the pick before I saw it and stepped back to go around her, getting back into position just in time to block their point guard’s shot.
The ball skimmed the tip of my fingers. It was enough to knock her shot off its course. I turned as it hit the rim and the buzzer sounded.
We did it. We won.
Tisha and Vina grabbed me into a screaming hug. It wasn’t long before more arms wrapped around us as we celebrated.
“Hell, yeah,” Reggie screamed. “That’s my girls.”
We stayed in center court as the handed us three trophies and championship t-shirts. Adam, Reggie, and Calvin pumped their fists in the air and celebrated with us. After a photo for the local paper, which I arranged to get a copy of, we left the court, riding high.
Vina pulled Reggie close and kissed him hard. I stopped and stared, mouth open.
“Well, that’s new,” Tisha said. She shrugged and glanced down at her trophy. “This is pretty damn cool.”
“Yeah,” Adam said behind me as wrapped his arms around my waist. He rested his chin on the top of my head. “You guys were great.”
I leaned back against him. “Thanks.”
“Hey, Tisha,” Vina shouted. “We’re riding back with Reggie and Cal. Give those two lovebirds some time.” She laughed wickedly and winked. “Besides, I hear a rumor Cal’s got a crush on you.”
“Vina,” Tisha snapped as a blush crept up her neck. Cal’s eyes widened before he ducked his head. Through gritted teeth, Tisha whispered, “Why do you act like this?”
Vina laughed hysterically and strolled away, her arm firmly wrapped round Reggie’s waist. It would’ve been funny if Tisha hadn’t looked so devastated.
“You can still ride back with me,” I offered. Adam moved to my side, keeping one arm around my waist. “We don’t have to change plans.”
“No, it’s okay.” Tisha motioned me off to the side. When we were out of Adam and Cal’s earshot, she smiled. “Vina’s right. I just hate it when she sets me up like this.”
I smiled. “It’s up to you.”
She glanced over my shoulder to the boys. “I’m going to go for it. Maybe winning today has made me bold. Or stupid. I’ll let you know which later.”
Tisha bounced over to Cal and they turned in the direction Vina and Reggie had disappeared. That left me alone with Adam. Awkward silence fell over us as we walked toward the car. There wasn’t any reason for it. We c
ould just be the quasi-friends we’d become. Then my hand brushed against the back of his. Goosebumps shot up my arm and tingles spread through my body. I stepped farther away. It wasn’t allowed to feel this way around him.
“Did you want to get something to eat?” Adam asked as we reached the parking lot where I’d left my car.
“Sure,” I said as we rounded the corner. My heart stopped. My car was there, but someone had slashed the front tires. I fell back a step. Adam grabbed me before I could collapse onto the sidewalk. Anger kicked in. “What the fuck?”
The attendant wasn’t anywhere around. And my car wasn’t the only one hit. Several cars had one or two tires slashed. It was too late on a Saturday to get them replaced. There wasn’t going to be a repair. Taking a deep breath, I shrugged out of Adam’s grasp and went to access the damage. It wasn’t just the front tires. Whomever had attacked my car, had slashed all four. A long streak of white ran from the front end to the back panel. They had keyed it too. I pulled out my phone and took pictures, uploading them to the insurance company. Then I called the police. Not that there was anything they could really do. Next, I called for a tow truck and sent my father a text about what was going on.
“You okay?” Adam asked.
I closed my eyes. I’d almost forgotten he was here. “I guess. It’s not like I can do anything about it.”
“So, what now?” he asked.
I shrugged. “I doubt there’s a tire place open this late on a Saturday. It’s almost eight. I’ll get us rooms at a hotel. Hopefully the car will get fixed tomorrow then we can go home.”
“Shit,” Adam said. He pulled his phone out of his pocket. “I was supposed to work in the morning.”
The police showed up as Adam made a call. It was short and to the point. They documented all the cars with slashed tires. As they left the tow truck pulled up and put my car on the flatbed. Adam finished his calls and stood beside me.
“Where are they taking it?” he asked.
I showed him the card. “They’re open on Sunday. The driver said they should have tires in stock and have it fixed tomorrow. Apparently, his uncle owns the place.” I shrugged. “It is what it is. How’d it go calling your boss?”
“He was fine. Mom, not so much. Especially when I told her Reggie took off without me.”
“Why’d you do that?” I shook with surprise. “She’s going to go nuts that you’re with me.”
“And she thinks your dad is with us. Reggie and Cal live a few blocks from our place. She would’ve seen them around. Besides, she knows their parents. We all go to the same church.” It was his turn to shrug. “A half-truth is better than a lie.”
Don’t I know it. I kept that thought to myself. “We need a place to stay.” I Googled hotels on my phone and started calling. After ten minutes, I secured what seemed like the last room in Quincy. Then I ordered an Uber. “Car should be here in a few minutes. There’s a restaurant near the hotel.”
Adam just nodded. We waited in silence for our ride. The driver was nice, pointing out the sights of the small city on the quick five-minute drive. The tension simmered under the surface, and I didn’t know what caused it. Well, I didn’t know why Adam was so tense. I knew my issues. Spending the night in the same room with him, that made me nervous. Add to the mix that I was developing feelings for him, and he didn’t feel anything for me. He played a good game. That was all.
We walked into the hotel.
“Checking in?” the perky brunette asked behind the desk. Her gaze darted over my shoulder to Adam.
“Yes, my brother and I got stranded after the Jason Andrews Tourney.” I used my thumb to point over my shoulder. “Somebody slashed the tires on our car.”
“Really? That sucks.” She tapped on her keyboard. “Name?”
“Westbrook.” I gave her my best smile and offered my gold card. “Rachel Westbrook.”
She took the card and verified my information. Thankfully this hotel chain rented rooms to anyone sixteen or older. It was the real reason this was the last room in town. The other hotels wouldn’t let me make a reservation unless I was eighteen. Three more months, that wouldn’t have mattered. It was stupid really.
“Here are your keys,” she said, handing over an envelope. “Your room number is 318. Third floor to the left. Thanks for staying with us.”
I took the envelope with a smile and hiked my bag over my shoulder. At least I had brought a change of clothes. It was just shorts and a t-shirt, but they weren’t sweaty. Adam trailed behind me. I couldn’t see him, but I could feel him. My nerves curled in on themselves. I wanted to shudder, and I wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing.
“This is literally the last room at this hotel,” I said over my shoulder. Uncertainty reverberated in my words. I cleared my throat. “We’re lucky they let us have it.”
“Why?” Adam asked.
I shrugged. It really wasn’t worth getting into the intricacies of state law. My phone buzzed in my bag, but I didn’t bother with it. Whoever messaged me could wait until I was in the room.
Room 318 was midway down the hall. I swiped the card, and the tiny light turned green. My body froze. I hadn’t wanted it to turn green. Not really. I wanted it to flash red, tell me no. It should tell me no. This was a horrible idea. What the hell was I thinking?
“Are you going to open that?” Adam asked.
I shook my shoulders and opened quickly. Standing there staring at the door wasn’t going to help. I stopped just past the short hallway where the closet and the bathroom were. My heart ticked up another notch on the Richter scale.
A king-sized bed.
A single king-sized bed.
“I asked for a double,” I said as I stared at the white duvet and the massive pillows.
Adam stopped behind me, close enough I could feel the heat from his body. “It’s not a big deal, Rachel. There’s plenty of room. We can put a row of pillows down the middle if you want.”
Relief flooded through me. A row of pillows was a great idea. I walked further into the room, setting my bag on the dresser by the flat screen TV. Adam dropped his on the floor and settled into the armchair in the corner. He leaned back with a lazy grin and laced his fingers behind his head.
“This is nice,” he said.
I nodded and stretched my aching arms above my head. Then I got a whiff of myself. “I’m going to take a quick shower. Do you want to go out for food?”
“Sure, but I need to shower first, too,” he said as he turned the TV on with the remote.
I took my bag with me into the bathroom. The hot water soothed my aching muscles, and the shampoo smelled like heaven. The steam cleared my head. This was going to be fine. Adam wasn’t going to push me to do something I actually wanted to do. He knew his limits. He knew our limits. Sleeping in the same room, in the same bed, meant nothing to him. I stayed in the steaming water longer than I planned, but it was worth it. After I dried off and lotioned up, I put on my clean Cardinals t-shirt and short denim shorts then stepped back into the room.
Adam smiled at me, his gaze drifting down my body. He jumped up, grabbing his bag, and brushed by me fast toward the foggy bathroom without a word. In less than five minutes, he was standing by the bed where I’d sat down.
“Ready?” he asked.
I shrugged. If I was totally honest, I felt completely, buck ass naked. I hadn’t planned on spending the night or taking a shower, just changing my clothes. I had no makeup on, and my hair was a mess. This wasn’t me. I never left the house in shorts and a t-shirt for dinner. Even if it wasn’t at a fancy restaurant. I took extra care with my wardrobe and appearance. At least I used to.
What was going on with me? It was like I’d lost myself when I started fake-dating Adam.
“Let’s just order it to go,” I said, adding a yawn for good measure.
“Yeah, okay. I can call it in. Do you know what you want?” he asked.
“Um... I have no idea what they have.” I reached into my ba
g and pulled out my tablet, connecting quickly to the free Wi-Fi.
“You’ve never eaten at a Steak Shack?” Adam leaned forward in his chair, resting his elbows on his knees.
“No.” I found the website and pulled up the menu.
“Ever?” he prodded.
“Again, no.” The menu wasn’t anything special. Burgers, chicken, steaks, and appetizers that sounded like more grease than a human body needed.
“Why?”
I closed my eyes and let my tablet fall to my lap. “Because my father refuses to eat out anyplace that is a chain. We go to local restaurants.” I shrugged it off, but the incessant questions bothered me. “Anyway, they don’t have a lot. I guess I’ll have a salad.”
“Seriously? A salad? You have to eat more than that.” Adam took my tablet and scrolled through the menu.
“Hey,” I said, reaching for it.
He held up a finger. “Nope. I’ll get you a salad, but I’m ordering you something else too. You’re being judgy.”
It was a slap to the face. I wasn’t being judgy. There wasn’t anything on the menu that appealed to me.
“Try something new.” He looked into my eyes from over the tablet. “Trust me.”
It was a simple request. One not easy to give either. But I did trust him to a certain level. I wanted to resist, but I nodded. I would trust him with this little thing. Adam smiled and headed toward the phone. I didn’t bother to listen as he ordered. Instead I turned on the TV and flipped through the channels until I landed on the local news. There was a quick report about the Jason Andrews Tourney, with a flash of us with our trophies, and another one about the slashed tires nearby.
Adam hung up the phone. “Twenty minutes.”
“Okay.” I changed the channel again and found the Cardinals game. Baseball wasn’t my thing, but I watched it on occasion.
“Man, we’re down by three already?” Adam said.
The bed dipped down as he sat. My entire body tensed. Adam and I should not be on the same bed together. He stayed focused on the game, running commentary to himself. I stayed focused on not jumping off the bed and pacing the room. It was uncomfortable.
