Chapter 23
ABEL
It’s the first game I’ve seen of Peris’s in person since he started college, and I’m not gonna lie, I’m fucking nervous. Not for any other reason than it just feels like a big step for us. But Elise is meeting me here, and we’re going to sit together, so that will be okay, I think.
Things are still kind of awkward—mostly on my end—but I’ll get there, eventually.
The crowd is insane, and it’s hard to work my way through them as I try to find my seat, but by the time I do, I’m feeling frazzled and a bit out of my skin.
“There you are! I was worried you got lost!” Elise says when I finally find her.
I drop down into my seat with a sigh of relief and run my fingers through my hair. “I kind of did, honestly. This place is huge.” I stare out into the crowds. It’s bustling and noisy, and I’m grateful we’re seated close to the floor instead of up in the stands.
“Don’t worry, I did too the first couple of times. You get the hang of it.”
That makes me smile, and I drop my face into my palm to try to hide it, but I think Elise sees it anyway.
“It’s good that you came. I know Peris wanted you to.”
“Yeah, he asked me to, but he’s been acting kind of weird the last few days. Not really sure if it’s the pressure of the game or what…” I drawl as I remember the way he was staring off into space this morning when I was trying to kiss him. Something he’s never done before. Not even, well… before.
She reaches over and squeezes my arm. “I’m sure it is, honey. Try not to worry too much. There have been a lot of changes lately.”
“Yeah, enough to mess anyone up, that’s for sure.” I roll my eyes at myself, and Elise pats my arm.
“Don’t be so self-deprecating. It’s not just you, honey.”
“He told me…” I glance around us to make sure no one is looking. “He told me about his father.”
Elise’s eyes widen. “He did?”
“Yeah.”
It seems like she collapse in on herself. “Shit.”
I huff, lips curled inward. “Yeah.” And then, I wince because I just relieved a secret I’m not even sure he wanted me to reveal.
“He wouldn’t tell just anyone that,” she says, and I sigh as I look up at the bright florescent lights.
“I know.”
“He trusts you.”
“Yes.” That much is obvious.
“And loves you.”
My heart squeezes. Fuck. “I hope so.”
“Oh, honey, that wasn’t a question.” And that makes my eyes burn. I close my lids and crinkle my nose against the sensation, waiting for it to pass, but it’s no use.
These two just shoot me straight in the heart with their feelings every single time.
If Elise sees his love for me…
Oh, God, I’m gonna start bawling in the middle of this arena and look like a goddamn crazy person…
Elise places her hand on my back when I lean forward to put my face in my hands, and it’s comforting, so I let myself just feel.
I’m not sure how long I sit like that, but it’s long enough for my heart rate to get back under control and for the game to nearly start.
I sit up and catch Peris’s gaze when he comes out on the court, and the fucking wink he flicks me makes my insides flip upside down and goosebumps scatter across my body.
The anthem is sung, and then, the game starts, and seeing Peris out there playing again has my heartrate skyrocketing all over again. It never gets below one hundred and twenty, I swear. I feel it chugging away with each pounding footstep—like my own personal mantra.
Peris’s red and black jersey clings to him as he runs back and forth, his tattooed arms glistening with sweat that pools off him, shoes squeaking, and I’m losing my mind.
I forgot how fucking hot he looks with a basketball in his hands.
I have to practically wipe the drool off my face, and it’s definitely not attractive, but I couldn’t give two fucks less.
All I care about is Peris and how he plays.
Because he looks like a Greek God out there, chiseled to perfection—with every imperfection—just for me.
Peris shoots and scores another three pointer—taking the score to twenty-one—and I jump up with a shout.
Peris whips around to grin at me, and then, I watch all of the color drain out of his face as his eyes dart off to the side.
I blink a few times, unsure of what I’m seeing.
He stumbles but rights himself quickly, shaking his head.
His eyes meet mine for a moment that’s as intense as it’s ever been, and then, he breaks it and moves to the other side with the rest of his team.
But his face is still pale. He looks sickly.
“Did you see that?” I ask Elise, not taking my eyes off him.
There’s a pause. “I did…” she drawls slowly. “But I have no clue what that was about.”
I sit up straighter in my seat, trying to keep my eyes on Peris as he plops down onto the bench and drops his head into his hands. “Neither do I, but that was weird.”
A whistle blows, and the game is back to being played—with Peris on the bench. I catch Gabe looking over at him, but then, he’s got the ball in his hands, and he’s sailing down the court with Jordan right alongside him.
Peris still has his head in his hands, but his legs are bouncing at a million miles a minute.
His hands are clenched into fists in his hair, tangling the sweaty strands.
Then, after about ten minutes, he jerks his head up, and I watch his chest expand with a deep breath as he releases his hair.
He flexes the fingers on his right hand—the hand he broke—a few times before standing to his feet and walking over to his coach.
They exchange a few words, and then, Peris is switching with one of his teammates.
I exchange a worried glance with Elise, but she gives me a small smile as Peris is back in the game.
He plays hard, running back and forth, never letting the other team take the ball if he can help it, but I can see the way he’s shaking.
His hands are trembling, and he can barely hold onto the ball.
His concentration is broken, and his eyes aren’t focused—they keep straying off the court, but to where, I don’t fucking know.
I keep trying to follow his gaze, but I can’t see what he’s looking at.
Elise doesn’t seem to be worried any longer, so I try not to let it bother me, but there’s a heat furrowing in my gut that won’t subside. It’s gnawing and aching and building with every minute that passes.
And if there’s one thing I learned being a fucked-up foster kid, it’s trusting my gut.
The game passes slowly, and the clock moves just the same, and my eyes never leave my baby boy. He’s sweating profusely and shaking uncontrollably, and the ball has slipped from his hands twice now.
His coach has screamed at him loud enough for us to hear, and I wince. That cannot be good for anyone but especially him. I know he’s just beating himself up right now.
He drops his head in shame as he slinks back across the court and lines himself up with his team. I watch him take a couple deep breaths, each one drawing his head closer and closer to its original positioning until—finally—his back is straight, and he’s staring ahead, looking confident.
I glance over at Elise with a small smile. “There he is,” I murmur, finally feeling a little boost of confidence. I’ve been waiting for this, and I finally see a little spark of Peris in his eyes. He looks determined and like he’s about to fucking fight.
They’re losing now—fifty-four to thirty-three with fifteen minutes left in the game. The cheerleaders are cheering loudly, and I glance over at them in envy. Their cute outfits and their pom poms, hair and makeup done so prettily…
I miss those days.
It all seemed so much easier…yet so much harder.
Man, it was all so fucking complicated.
The game is fast paced, and I almost feel dizzy watching both teams run back and forth across the court. Peris jumps to block a shot, and I nearly whoop as the ball misses, but then, when he comes back down, I watch in slow motion as his foot slips on the ground, and he falls.
His head collides with the floor just as the rest of his body makes impact, and I swear I can hear the sickening thud echo out because everyone goes fucking silent.
Whistles blow and resounding “awe’s” echo out.
I jump to my feet, a scream caught in my throat as everyone on his team scrambles to help him, and I’m stuck surrounded by all these people.
Elise reaches for my arm and squeezes tightly.
I grab her back as we watch them surround Peris on the court.
He’s awake, but that doesn’t make me feel any better.
“Can we go down there?”
“We’re not supposed to…” she murmurs, and I want to scream. Truly. I can feel it bubbling in my chest and burning its way through my esophagus, dying to be released.
I need to know that he’s okay.
Seeing him down there, lying on the ground with his arms crossed over his face… I can’t stand it. It reminds of back when I left and he broke his hand because of what I did. How I wasn’t there when I should’ve been.
I’m here now.
I can support him now. Take care of him now.
With arms of his teammates wrapped around him, Peris is helped off the court and taken to the sidelines, where the medic is looking him over.
I peer over people, trying to get the best view I can, but I can’t see what’s going on, other than lips moving as they talk, and Peris’s face pinched in a grimace.
Fuck, this isn’t good.
The game continues as if nothing happened, and while I know that’s how it works, I can’t help but feel a little peeved off.
It takes a while, but eventually, they start to move Peris, and that’s when the panic sets in.
“Where are they taking him?” I ask as he’s wheeled into the back, where I can no longer see him.
“I’m assuming they’re taking him to the back to further look him over to see if he needs to go to the hospital, honey.”
“The hospital?” I choke out, feeling my throat constricting. I can’t stand this.
I need to see him.
“How are you so calm right now?” I ask, and I know I sound accusatory, but I can’t help it. Elise gives me a small smile but takes it in stride.
“I’m not. I’m freaking out, the same as you. But I know he’s in good hands. And I know he’ll call if or when he needs us.”
It’s the us that helps settle my nerves slightly. For a moment.
But I need Peris. And I need him now.
“I’m only waiting ten minutes.”
Elise chuckles.
“Seems reasonable to me.”