Chapter 17
Seventeen
“LUNA!” I shout as I dribble the ball across half court, calling out our newest play.
I take it to the right side, and once I approach the three-point line, Darby sets a screen.
Dribbling to the inside of the paint, with the intention of pulling the defenders onto me, I set up my other guard for an open three-point shot, but instead, the defense pulls off, anticipating the pass.
My center has tight coverage, so I decide to take the lay-up on my own.
As soon as the defender moves in my direction, I know she’s taller and will likely block my shot, so I pull up for a jumper in the paint.
Swoosh, the ball goes through the net.
The whistle blows, and Coach hollers, “Okay, that’s a good one to end on.”
We all join her in the center of the court. “Obviously, our team knows what to expect with the play, so they were anticipating both pass options, but you did a great job analyzing that and taking the shot on your own. I think it’s going to be a good play for this offense.”
“I agree, especially when they don’t anticipate and we get Sherita open in her corner.” I wink at my shooting guard, who can drop three-pointers like Caitlin Clark.
“Who came up with the name?” Darby asks Coach Bailey.
She smirks and looks at her dad sitting on the bench as our pseudo-assistant coach. “Dad said y’all are the she-wolves, but that was too long for a play name, so he figured out how to use Google.” She playfully gasps. “Shocker.”
We all laugh, because her dad is almost eighty years old and as old-school as they come.
“Apparently, Luna means she-wolf,” he shouts from his spot on the bench, and we all call out, telling him how much we love it. A few ladies even let out some howls, which has him smiling from ear to ear.
“You ladies keep him young,” Coach laughs.
“First off, I want to say how proud I am of all the hard work you’ve put in, especially since the start of classes. You ladies are more than ready for this pre-season game. And because you’ve worked so hard, I’m giving you the night off. So rest up and come back hard tomorrow.”
Excitement runs through me with that. Now I can go to the hockey team scrimmage tonight.
But first… Jordan.
I’ve hardly seen him since Joey’s accident, but I can’t wait another day to end things with him, which is why I texted him to meet me after our practices.
I walk out of the practice facilities, and Jordan’s waiting for me.
“Hey.” He smiles, and when he steps in my direction. I busy myself with my bag, not wanting him to try kissing me. At this point, it’s been months since we’ve been intimate with each other, and the thought of him touching me makes my skin crawl.
“Ready to go grab some lunch?” I ask, weirdly nervous. I was honestly hoping he’d just meet me there.
He nods, and we start our trek across campus. I picked the most private restaurant on campus, not wanting him in my personal space.
Jordan tells me about practice and how their team is looking as we walk. I nod at all the right times, but in reality, I’m barely listening.
Especially when my eyes home in on Maverick and Peyton walking in our direction. I haven’t seen him since karaoke night. We’ve texted, but he’s been quieter than normal, and I’ve been trying my best not to ask him what the deal is between him and Peyton.
I think deep down, I’m scared of the answer.
They aren’t holding hands, but they’re smiling and talking away. He seems so enamored by her, and it breaks a little piece of my stupid, selfish heart.
Maverick’s gaze shifts, and it’s like slow motion when our eyes meet as they approach. He looks from me to Jordan, and I don’t miss how his jaw flinches.
I’m not sure who stops first. Me or him.
“Little Moore…” is all he says, but it feels like he’s saying so much more.
Like…why the fuck are you still with this guy?
Peyton waves at me and Jordan. Reminding myself she isn’t the bad guy in this scenario, I force a smile onto my lips and return the gesture.
Jordan and Maverick aren’t friendly, but today, the tension between the two of them is almost palpable.
“We need to get to lunch, Shay,” Jordan says, taking the first step away from them.
“Good luck tonight at your scrimmage,” is all I can find to say to him before I join Jordan.
I chance a glance back at Maverick. They’re walking in the opposite direction, seemingly picking up where they left off. But I can't help noticing how his fists are still clenched by his sides.
“Earth to Shay,” Jordan sneers.
I turn toward him, but I don’t even care what he thinks, so I don’t even respond.
As we approach the restaurant, I have absolutely no appetite and redirect us to the picnic table out back.
“Aren’t we going to eat?” Jordan asks, his eyebrows pinched together.
“You can go order. I’ll wait right here,” I reply, just wanting to get this over with.
“What’s going on? You’re acting weird,” he says warily, tapping his foot.
For now, I push thoughts of Maverick out of my mind and focus on doing something I’ve needed to do for a long time.
“I wonder why, Jordan?” He acts like we haven’t barely spoken, much less seen each other, all during one of the hardest times of my life. But I knew we were over even before that.
His face turns white as a ghost. “Who told you?”
The question confuses me at first, but the hair on the back of my neck rises, and something in my gut tells me to play along.
“That doesn’t matter.”
He shakes his head, reaching for me, but I take a step back.
“It was only that one time, Shay. I swear, baby. I was just scared to tell you and scared of losing you.”
His words hit me, sadness and betrayal crashing over me like a tidal wave as the reality of what he unknowingly just admitted to me settles in.
I may not be in love with Jordan anymore, but the truth still stings.
My molars grind, not sure if I’m more pissed with him or myself. “Well, thank you for finally admitting you fucked her. I’m the dumb one for believing you anyway.”
He tries to protest, but I hold my finger up. “Just so we’re clear… I was going to end things with you either way, but thanks for telling me.”
“Wha— What do you mean?” he asks, confusion lacing his words.
I let out a sarcastic laugh. “It means, you just told on yourself, but like I said, it doesn’t matter. We’re done, Jordan, and we have been for a long time. For some unknown reason, I was trying to hang on to something I’d made so much better in my head than it ever was.”
“It’s because of him, isn’t it?” Jordan sneers, eyes narrowed.
No, but now I’ve probably lost my chance at the best thing that could have been mine.
“No, Jordan…it's because of you. And now this conversation is over. Take care of yourself.”
His mouth hangs open, and the devastated look on his face tugs at my heart for a split second before I remind myself of how he’s treated me recently, along with the fact he stuck his dick in another female while committed to me.
We are beyond over.
Thankfully, a group of students walks around the building, and I know his ego is too big to chase after me in front of them, so I use that as my escape route.
I take a deep breath…feeling the huge weight being lifted off my chest.
But then the memory of Maverick smiling at Peyton flashes through my mind, and it feels like that weight has shifted to the pit of my stomach.