One call turned into chaos, and I spent the next twenty minutes sitting in the empty stadium, catching up with my family, instructing my sister on how to make my nephew a sugar-coma-inducing hot chocolate that my mother would kill us both for giving to him, but I was out of her reach, so it was fine. I felt slightly guilty for Ji, but she was an adult. I ignored my own scoff at that.
When I came off the call, I sat in the quiet of the stadium with a smile on my face. That’s what I needed. Family time.
Ji: Love you, control freak
I grinned.
Me: Love you too, JiJi
I got up and left, my feet a little lighter than when I walked in. As I started heading back to the dorms, my breath puffing in the cold air, I didn’t complain, knowing how much colder it was back home.
Home. Did I miss it? No. Not the place, the people. Mom, Pops, Ji, and Nicky, absolutely.
Just one more year, and I could make a difference. If I were on the first team next semester and there was no reason Iwouldn’tbe, I would declare for the Draft. This time next year, it would all be within reach.
I just had one more year.
It wasn’t long; we’d come this far, we’d make it. As Jiana’s voice faded in my ear, another girl’s slid in to take its place.
Savannah.
I remembered the heat of her body under mine, the roll of her hips against mine as I fucked her. The stubborn lift of her chin when she looked me dead in the eye. The way she’d almost told me no... and hadn’t.
And I knew I was lying to myself.
Because even after the fight, even after the shouting and the accusations, even after I’d called her a heartless bitch — I wanted her.
Like I wanted the weight of the ball in my hands with the game on the line.
I trudged up the stairs to the dorm, opened the door, and found Noah and Dust on the couch, talking shit as they playedMadden.
Dust glanced over. “Where the hell have you been?’
“Family phone call,” I told him, pleased it was the truth.
Dustin grinned. “And how is your sweet,sweetsister?”
“Still too old, and too good for you,” I snapped. “Watch it.”
Dustin wasn’t put off. He laughed and nudged Noah with his elbow. “I told you, Spence, you can take Naya off my hands, and I will gladly take Jiana.” He turned his head to Noah. “My sister’s got acrazycrush on him; it’s really disturbing. I think she’s adopted.”
Noah choked on his soda and looked over at me. “I’m so glad I only have a brother.”
“Jealous.”
“Lucky,” Dustin said at the same time. “You should see his sister, man, she is...” He kissed his fingertips and gave a chef’s kiss.
“I’m going to hurt you,” I warned him, opening the fridge and seeing nothing junk-food-like. “Why do we never have sugar?”
“Because we have nutritionists, and food plans,” Dust said dryly.
“I want chocolate.” I closed the fridge door, and they were both looking at me. “What?”
“Do you like chocolate?” Noah said. “I’ve never seen you eat it.”
“Doesn’t mean I don’t like it,” I grumbled. “Dust...”
“Nope.”
