Chapter 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.
My phone is already blowing up with holiday greetings as I force myself out of bed to start my routine.
Kat: Merry Christmas, loser. I’ll try to watch the game.
I hit her contact.
“Wow, a call and everything?” she drawls.
“Merry Christmas, shrimp. Surprised you were up so early.”
“Andy was opening presents hours ago, like any self-respecting nine-year-old.”
Kat’s boyfriend has a couple years on me, and as much as that irritates me, he’s a decent guy. He’s raising a kid on his own after his wife died tragically, and I respect the way he looks out for his family. He also loves the hell out of Kat.
I miss my sister. She’s in grad school out east, and I’m here and everywhere. When we play in New York, I send tickets for her and, for the past year, for Daniel and Andy too.
“What else are you doing?” I ask.
“Mmm, nothing special. I’ll fill you in later.”
“Did you get the gifts I sent?” Matching designer sweaters for her and Daniel, plus a fun-sized basketball net with a bunch of limited-edition swag for the kid.
“I don’t think so.”
“It says it was delivered yesterday.”
“Oh.” Her voice sounds weird. “I gotta go, Clay. Merry Christmas.”
I say it back, and we click off.
“Merry Christmas. Happy Hanukkah. Best wishes to you and your family and everything you celebrate.” Miles dances around the court at shootaround, setting elf hats on heads.
He ends on Coach, who glares but holds out a hand.
“Less antics, more shooting,” Coach gripes.
“Why’re you so tense?” I demand.
“Nothing. Management and owners are at it again,” he amends at last, his voice low enough only I can hear.
He means Harlan and James.
I catch a stray ball and square to the basket, letting off a shot that swishes through the net.
“What are they fighting about?” I can’t resist asking. “The team is winning.”
“Harlan wants a deep run in the playoffs and is talking about trading a few pieces to set us up for the postseason. But Parker wants to double down on the winning now because he likes seeing his name in the news.”
The next ball comes to me, and I fire it on to Rookie to shoot.
“So, what’s the problem? Let them fight it out.”
“Problem is I get stuck in the middle like wadded up underwear.” He flashes teeth before turning to the other guys.
Coach is the only one in a bad mood. As fans flood the building, collecting the special “Beary Christmas” T-shirts Chloe had made for the thousands of spectators, there’s a decidedly celebratory vibe.
Jay nudges me. “If we win today, we’ll have as many wins as Vegas thought we’d have through all-star break.”
I know we've been beating expectations, but I try to tune out the noise like oddsmakers. Still, this is momentous.
But the antics don’t seem to hurt us. Everyone is in a festive spirit, the fans flowing into the seats singing carols that fill the stadium.
From the opening tip-off, we’re dialed in. Our opponents are too, and all of us throw everything we have into the game. It’s playoff-like energy against a strong Boston team, and we scrap the entire way.
During a timeout, we’re catching our breath when I see Miles looking up at the stands.
Halfway up the first section are Brooke and Nova and Mari.
It’s good to see my girl in the stands. I like knowing she’s there while I do what I was put on this earth to do.
All the way through the end of the second quarter, I focus on the fact that my girl is here.
I play my mind out.
The crowd hollers and swells, and anytime I look up to see her, she’s on her feet.
“Go, Clay!”
The voice hollers at halftime when we’re heading back to the locker room via the tunnel, and I look up into the crowd and see Kat and Daniel and Andy.
Andy bounces on his feet as he sees me noticing. Kat waves, and I grin.
Sneaky sister.
I didn’t expect her to surprise me like this.
Looking between her and Nova and my guys, I can’t remember the last time I was this happy, on the court or off it.
In the second half, we're even more dominant than in the first.
There are some tricky spots, but we couldn’t play any better.
When I look back up toward Nova, she’s smiling at me. I give it right back to her before I realize it’s not only the girls in those seats this time.
Harlan’s next to them, watching me steadily.
I shove down the discomfort and concentrate back on the huddle.
We get the win, and the building erupts in red and green and gold streamers. They don’t go with the Kodiaks' purple, but no one cares.
NOVA
“Get in!” Mari nods toward the passenger side of the car as we bounce into the parking garage after the game. “Harlan will meet us at home.”
Today might be a holiday, but there’s a lot at stake.
I haven’t had Christmas with my sister in a few years, plus Harlan and the entire team are involved.
Including the guy I’m secretly dating.
But no big deal.
I eye the back seat filled with wrapped gifts, but I squeeze into the passenger seat. “That was an incredible game. You a fan yet?”
“It’s growing on me,” she admits. “It helps that the team is having a good season.”
“Harlan relaxing a few notches?”
“Never.” She grins as she backs out of the spot.
I’m grateful we’re in the team section because it’s easier to get out. The garage is full of honking people wishing one another well.
Mari cuts me a look as she waits for the gate to rise so we can turn onto the street. “Thank you for being so excited about the team. I get that sports aren’t your thing.”
“It’s the family business now,” I counter.
“Well, I’m proud of you for doing the art. Harlan said it’s going to be incredible.”
The drive is easy, tiny flecks of snow making it feel extra festive.
My mural is growing and evolving every day.
So are things between me and Clay.
When he’s in Denver, he’s attentive, but the sport is grueling for the players. I have new appreciation as I see it up close. All the ice baths and massages and physio in the world can’t fix the toll it takes on the human body.
He’s opening up more to me. He lives in his head, but I feel as if I have a pass to peek inside.
Maybe not an all-access pass, but I don’t think he’s ever given one.
And as for the secrecy, I honestly like that we’re privately an item.
He’s a magnet for attention, good and bad. Being with him means getting swept into the same storm.
I’m still figuring out how to navigate my own life, not to mention his.
The winning streak for the team is a plus. But every time I check the standings, I’m reminded LA is even higher.
Clay’s dream.
His destination.
His legacy.
He watches every one of their games, studying the players and the schemes.
I don’t know what that means for him or for us, but I try to enjoy what we have and not think too hard about it.
When we arrive at Harlan’s house, a huge catering truck is out front.
“You weren’t going to cook for thirty?” I tease.
“Do you remember when we tried to cook for ten at the trailer? We nearly burned it down.”
I help her carry the presents inside, laughing the entire time.
An hour later, Mari and I have changed outfits. She’s wearing a cozy white cashmere sweater, and I’m in a black dress and tights. We’ve fluffed the place and put all the gifts under the huge tree.
“We’re heeeere!” Chloe is the first to arrive, bursting in the door with Jay and Brooke in tow.
I’m stunned to see the elegant head of PR wearing dangly red bulb earrings plus an antler headband and a sweater with a Kodiaks bear twisted up in a strand of lights.
Mari stares too. “Who are you, and what have you done with Chloe?”
“Let me be the first to tell you,” Jay says solemnly, “this woman is a Christmas fiend. Every year she’s body-snatched by a giant elf and doesn’t return until New Year's.”