Total pages in book: 124
Estimated words: 122514 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 613(@200wpm)___ 490(@250wpm)___ 408(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 122514 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 613(@200wpm)___ 490(@250wpm)___ 408(@300wpm)
I was not going to look around, but I knew the people around us were watching me. I scooted low in my seat and folded my head in, now wondering if his jersey was too obvious?
Then, fuck it. I was here to support him. Half the women in this arena had his number on their backs, so I sat back up and started cheering with the rest of the crowd.
Hadley was up and dancing. She and Owen were doing their dances the way only they could. He pretended to smack her ass as she waved her arms in the air.
Lauren looked at them, her eyebrows high until Trenton leaned in and whispered something in her ear. Her confusion cleared, and her cheeks pinked. She drew closer to his side, and soon both of them were moving to the music.
Once the game actually began, it was pandemonium—the way a game should always be. Everything happening inside of me came out, and I was yelling with the rest of them. We were in Thunder territory, but I liked the Coyotes too. It hurt when they fell behind, when Reese stole one, two, three balls, made his free throws, and had at least one beautiful teardrop shot.
He really was having one of his best years. They’d won all their other games but one, and they seemed to be on the fast track for the NBA Finals, but that was a long way off. They were currently rated number two in their conference.
And it wasn’t just Reese.
Juan was on the court almost the whole time, leading the team in rebounds and tying with Reese for assists. Lestroy led with three-pointers, and the Cruskinator dominated under the basket.
Thunder led 72-63 at the half, and after a quick dash to the bathroom, I sat down for the first time since the game began.
“Holy shit.” Hadley fanned herself. “We need to come to these games more often. They’re a workout.”
The Coyotes mascot was throwing shirts into the crowd across from us. On our side, the dancers were tossing little basketballs.
Lauren leaned over a bit after the guys went for the concession stands, her eyes a little wide. “This is so exciting! This game is amazing.” She pretended to scowl at us. “You guys never told me you knew some of the Thunder team.”
We’d signed NDAs. None of us could say a word.
Hadley just smiled, the way she usually did. “There’s a reason we can’t talk about it.”
“Oh!” Lauren smiled. “I got it. Say no more. But did you guys meet Reese Forster? He looked over here like he knew you. Does he?”
Right then and there, I decided I was keeping Reese to myself tonight.
Hadley coughed. “Again…”
“Oh.” Lauren sat back, waving her hand and trying to air out her shirt. “Say no more. I got it.” She giggled, results of the beer. “I might ask Trenton later, though.”
The guys were coming back, more goodies in hand and a beer for me. Owen handed it over before sitting back down.
I’d just had a sip when Grant came around to kneel beside me. “Hey. So did you decide about tonight?”
I lowered my voice and flicked my eyes behind me. “Trent’s girlfriend seems kinda keen on Forster so…”
“Okay.” He bobbed his head. “You can make plans with him after the game, I’m guessing?”
“Yeah.”
“Good. We ran into Janet up there. She might come down and visit a bit, but we’ll make up some excuse for you about dinner. I think Hads had something planned. She thought about it all on the way down. And about Trent and his girl?”
I lifted a shoulder, shaking my head. “I don’t know. I have to talk to Reese, see what he says about tonight.”
“Well, I was going to suggest, do you want Sophia and me to switch with Trent and Lauren? They can take the second guest room at Janet’s and we’ll stay at your place? It makes sense, in a way. Trent’s a lot closer to Janet than I am. I was always loyal to you. Plus, Hadley’s friends with her too. And you and I are closer, you know.”
I nodded, loving this new plan. “Yes. Then we don’t have to hide or dart into a hotel room.”
“Good.” He squeezed my shoulder, standing back up. “I’ll talk to Trent about everything, and we’ll sort it out. If for any reason it doesn’t go down like that, one of us will let you know. You can have your time, and tomorrow then?”
“He’s flying back with the team, so I’m free as of tomorrow morning.”
He knelt back down, looping his arms over his knees. “Janet asked about you, wondering if you’re mad at her or something. I think she’s trying to figure out how we got these tickets.”
I groaned. “Can Hadley make up something there too?”
He grinned. “We’ll cover, but just so you know for tomorrow. She invited all of us over to her place for dinner.”