I’ve almost forgotten we’re in the dining room, my roommate a few feet away outside.
The slider door opens.“You two make up?”
“Yup,” Clay says at the same time I say, “For now.”
“Good.So, about Christmas?”Brooke asks again.
Clay drags me against him, wrapping his arms around me.“We’ll be there.”
15
CLAY
Basketball Christmas isn’t like normal Christmas.
The top teams play games on the day, then after we celebrate with our families.
I never really got the magic of it before this year, when I wake up in my own bed, Nova curled next to me.
“Merry Christmas,” I murmur in her ear, stroking her hair.
She huffs a breath but doesn’t move.
Damn, she’s gorgeous.Her hair is dark blond at the roots and pink at the tips, like some wild fairy's.I want to see her bright blue eyes blink up at me, wake her with my hands and lips, but I should let her sleep.
She’s been working late all week on the next section of her mural.Her talent is almost as impressive as her dedication.
I’ve been busy too.
The Kodiaks are sitting third in the Western Conference, surprising all the sportscasters and the oddsmakers.
Rookie is getting his shit together and has strung together some good solo performances, Miles is hitting every three-pointer he tries, and Jay’s held us together.My knee is as good as it’s been in months.
Yeah, we’ve had a lighter schedule for the past couple of weeks, with an extended homestand that wraps up today, but I know to take wins when we can get them and not question it.
I’ve never had someone in my life since I turned pro, but I can’t get enough of Nova.We don’t get as much time together as I want, but every second makes me crave her more.
I’m counting the firsts with her.
First time she slept over: last week.
First time I showed her pics of my family: this weekend.
First time I made her laugh so hard she cried: yesterday.
The other day, she told me she couldn’t come over because she was working, so I brought her dinner and made her sit down for twenty minutes so we could eat together.
The way she looked up at me with those big, blue eyes like I was the best thing to happen to her all day…
Fuck, a man could get used to that.
Every time she says my name, I’m a little less mine and a little more hers.
We’ve kept things effectively on the DL.No one’s mentioned the possessive way I look at her, how she smiles at me, the fact that I find any excuse to touch her.
Today will be another story, with all of us attending dinner with the team and Harlan.I still haven’t figured out the best way to deal with that situation.
Until I do, I’m ignoring it.
