“No, no,” I tell her. “Not like that.” I shake my head.
“He’s just... there.” She gives me a look.
“Porsche, he’s showing up for me, and I can’t ignore it. I’ve been drawn to him since the moment we met, and it feels like this time might stick.”
Porsche sighs. “I hope. I want the best for you, girl, and I don’t want to have to have Drummond trade him. The city loves him.”
I gasp and my mouth falls open.
“When he’s with you, he plays his ass off, so maybe y’all do need to get back together because Drummond really wants to get a ring this year.”
Now I glare at her through the camera like she’s lost her mind. “Are you serious?”
“Yeah. My man wants a ring, so you go make that boy happy and get us a ring. I now approve.”
“Oh, look at the time,” I say, flatly. “I’ve gotta go.”
“Whatever. Bye,” Porsche says, and she hangs up before I get a chance to.
“Javonte! I know you didn’t bring me to your house to play basketball.”
He stares me down. “What? What’s wrong with playing basketball?”
I start listing them on my fingers. “You’re ten feet tall, and I’m five foot six. You play in the league, and I don’t know how to dribble or shoot.”
He grins. “Perfect.”
I put my hands on my hips. He’d told me to dress athletically. I thought we might go for a walk at the park or maybe do some kind of class together. I’m not feeling this.
“I’m going to teach you how to play basketball.”
I point both thumbs down and stick my tongue out at him. “Boo. Very terrible date.”
“You’re not even going to give me a chance?”
Usually, I’d go along with him, but I really don’t want to get sweaty, jam my finger, or fall on the ground.
“Can we not?” My eyes plead with him to acquiesce.
“If you really don’t want to, we don’t have to. What do you want to do instead?” He sets his basketball down and wraps an arm around my waist.
“Something chill. Can we watch a movie?” I just want to be around him. That’s all. We don’t have to do anything crazy.
“I had a theater room installed at the end of the season. I forgot you haven’t been here in a while.” He stiffens, like bringing up our breakup will ruin the night.
“I’m here now,” I tell him, leaning deeper into his touch and enjoying the feel of him more than I should.
His head dips down, and he kisses me on my neck, sending electric signals through my body and straight to my core. It takes all my strength to not melt into him and go to the one room in his house I know all too well.
I pull away and meet his eyes. His face is a mirror to how I’m feeling. We are dating. Not a couple. Not in a full-on relationship.
And I want to keep dating for a little while longer before we go further. I know what he can do, and I need to keep my head (and panties) on straight.
I’m so tempted though. It’s ridiculous.
“Show me your theater.”
He kisses my forehead then takes my hand.
