Chapter four Damon
Chapter four
Damon
Holy shit! Holy shit, she looked right at me! She definitely saw me. And she winked. Oh shit, I’m totally busted! Has she seen me before, or was tonight the first time? Oh my God, there’s no way tonight was the first time with the way she winked.
I pace back and forth in my living room, still sweaty, having practically run straight here from the event.
My heart’s beating faster than when we played against Real Madrid.
Kendra Gray, the international supermodel who I’ve lusted after for forever, who I totally thought I blew it with two months ago, just fucking winked at me in front of everyone at a major fashion show.
It was more than a wink. A wink is something you do when you have a secret, or an inside joke.
What she did was take me to at least third base with just her eyes.
I glitched for a full three seconds before I remembered I was in public, I was wearing sweatpants, and I was actively interviewing to coach minors.
Getting caught with a boner at a fancy event would hardly help with my job search.
I hightailed it out of there as fast as I could and hopped on the L train home.
Frustrated and winded from my impromptu jog, I rake my hand through my inch-length hair.
What the fuck was that? I’ve been at every event she’s had in the city with no issues. I even thought about flying to see her at LA Fashion Week one night after too many rum she’s naked.
Of course she’s naked. Why hide perfection?
The spread of her hips, the light dimples on her strong thighs, the bell-shaped breasts.
They’re not the biggest, but they’re still lush, brushing the inside of my thighs as she pulls me in deeper, gagging lightly on my girth.
“Urgh! F-fuck! Ugh!” I grunt out, releasing onto my belly, just shy of my shirt. I’m breathing heavily and my eyes nearly cross, but my dick finally softens.
I grab a tissue from the coffee table. While I’m cleaning up, the phone rings.
“Hey, baby bro,” I answer after checking the caller ID. I throw the used tissue out and straighten out my clothes.
“Yo, what happened to calling after your interview? Or at least a text.” There’s a smile in Adam’s voice, but I can hear the hurt too. He’s feeling the new distance between us just as much as I am.
“My bad, bro. I ended up going to that event Noah had tickets for. Remember?”
“Oh.” He blows out a breath, sounding disconcerted. “Right. Well, I want to talk about that, but first: how did the interview go?”
I smile hesitantly.
“It went great. I mean…I think it went great. I guess we’ll find out if I get a call back.”
“Ah, you’ll get it, man. You know basketball better than anyone I know.”
“I guess…Like I said, I think it went well. It lasted over an hour.” I lean back onto the couch, settling into the call. “It’s just hard to feel confident when I’m at such a career low point. Like…I feel like my mojo is off or something.”
“Is that why you chickened out with Kendra?” he asks very unhelpfully.
“I didn’t chicken out!” I protest a bit too loudly. If he were here, I know he’d be rolling his eyes at me.
“Dude. We all saw you chicken out. What I’ve been trying to figure out is why. Especially if you’ve been following her around like a puppy ever since.”
“I’m not acting like a puppy!” I object again, but Adam’s laughing now.
“Like a tiny golden retriever who isn’t even housebroken yet. Running around, bumping into stuff, and generally making a mess of things.”
Adam just laughs harder when I grumble.
“I will admit I messed things up with Kendra. And yes, there’s a slight crisis of confidence happening. I don’t have a job!” I scoff. “I didn’t have a place at the time; not really. Not one I could take her to. As a washed up basketball player, I don’t have a lot going for me.”
He makes a small sound of disagreement.
“That’s bullshit, bro. You just got done playing over a decade of professional basketball. And didn’t you win a championship for Portugal?”
“Spain, bro,” I correct.
“Whatever,” he mutters. “You know I always get those two mixed up. My point is, all that is not nothing. Also, you have a degree, and now you have that baller apartment. There shouldn’t be anything keeping you from making a move now.”
“Not even the bachelor pact?” I tease, and Adam snorts.
“Yeah, with me married, Henry engaged, and now Cory and his girl getting together, I think it’s safe to put the pact to rest.”
“It had a good run, though,” I say wistfully, remembering all the casual sex I had over the years. That all seems so superficial now. Especially when I see how happy my brothers look coupled up.
“Talk to me, bro,” he pushes, clearly sensing my melancholy.
“It’s nothing earth-shattering. I just feel a little jealous. And you’re my little brother, so that’s ridiculous. But playing ball didn’t leave a lot of time for relationships. Kendra’s elite status, but I don’t know the first thing about dating or being a boyfriend or anything!”
He chuckles softly.
“I won’t pretend to be some relationship expert just because I got married.
A year and a half ago, I was right where you are.
All I can say is follow your gut. If she seems different, she probably is, and that’s worth pursuing.
You don’t need to wait until you buy a house in the Hamptons or become the new head coach at Fordham. You’re already a catch.”
A beat of uncomfortable silence passes. I clear my throat.
“Uh…thanks,” I mumble, still embarrassed to be sharing feelings like these with my little brother.
“No problem. And, uh, sorry I haven’t been around as much as usual.”
“I get it,” I interrupt. “No one’s going to begrudge you spending time with your new wife and focusing on your life together.”
I really do get it. Our relationship is changing because it has to, and I’m happy for my baby bro. But it is taking some adjustment.
“I’m just trying to say that, even when all of us as married with families of our own, you’ll still be my number one brother.”
“What did you do? Watch a Lifetime movie right before you called me?” I joke.
I can’t help but make light of a conversation that’s getting way too heavy. I may be coming to terms with my baby bro growing up, but I’m not ready to even imagine all of us married off, having kids, moving away…
“Asshole,” he grumbles, and I laugh.
Maya calls from the background for Adam’s help moving a box—they finally found a place together after months of searching—and we say our goodbyes.
Things are definitely changing, but hopefully, for the better.
First, I got my place. Fingers crossed, I’ll get the job.
But it’s the thought of actually having a chance with my dream woman that puts a smile on my face as I head for the shower.