Chapter 24
Twenty-Four
Irun across quad, thankful I caught the campus store before it closed for the day.
After my conversation with the guys last night, there was no denying what I truly want.
Who I truly want.
The conversation with Peyton earlier wasn’t easy, and it hurt me to know I was causing her any pain. But in the long run, I know it’s for the best.
She deserves to be wanted, day and night, above anyone else, with no hesitations.
And even if Shay realizes she doesn’t want me the way I’ve always wanted her, I know in my heart, it was still the right thing to do.
Taking things any further with Peyton, while my heart and mind weren’t solely hers, wouldn’t have been fair.
Now I just hope like hell Shay really wants me the way she thinks she does.
I know she likely won’t be able to talk to me before her scrimmage tonight, but I didn’t want to wait another second to make sure she knows exactly how I feel.
A crazy plan festers in my brain as I approach the indoor arena.
I hope involving him doesn’t backfire on me, but I’m not going to let my fears stop me from what I'm about to do.
Digging my phone out of my pocket, I make the phone call before I lose my nerve.
Thankfully, he answers on the second ring.
“Coach, I need you to do me a favor,” I say as soon as he picks up the call.
“Everything okay, Mav?”
“Yes, are you at Shay’s game?”
“Yes, where are you?” he asks, and I can hear his body shifting around, likely trying to spot me in the crowd.
“I’m at the student entrance. Is Shay on the court?” I ask, showing the guard my athletics ID.
“They just went back into the locker room.”
Perfect. I take a left and head down the stairs that will take me to the lower level.
“Can you meet me in the hall by the locker rooms?”
He hesitates for a second before responding, “Yeah, you sure you’re okay?”
“Yes, but this is important, so hurry up,” I say, and then remember who I’m speaking to, so I add in a “please, sir,” at the end.
“Be there in thirty seconds,” he huffs out, probably not liking being told what to do by his captain.
Exactly thirty-one seconds later—but who’s counting?—I spot him.
“What’s going on?’ he asks as he approaches, looking me over from head to toe.
But before I can answer, his eyes narrow in on my newest purchase.
“Is that my daughter’s jersey you’re wearing, Son?”
Nerves ripple through me that he won’t accept me for her, but at this point, I honestly don’t give a fuck what he thinks.
“Yes, sir, and I hope to be wearing it for a long time to come, but I need you to go get her for me.”
He shakes his head. “Maverick, she’s about to play a ball game.”
“I know, but trust me, if I know her like I think I do, this will ease her mind. I just need thirty seconds with her, but I knew Coach Bailey would slam the door in my face if I asked for it.”
He looks me up and down a few more times before a slow smirk takes over his face. Gripping my shoulder, he says, “It’s about damn time, Beauty.”
“I know it took me a bit to get here, but I never forgot what you said, and I'm more than certain...”
Coach nods in understanding, then heads in the direction of her locker room, and you couldn’t wipe the shit-eating grin off my face if you tried.
My dream girl’s dad just basically gave me the stamp of approval.
This also means, I won’t be riding the bench this season because he hates me, which was the alternative I was willing to settle with.
“Dad is everything okay?” I hear her ask as they come around the corner.
She spots me immediately.
“Wha—” Shay looks between me and her dad. “What’s going on?”
Coach leans over and kisses her on the forehead. “Go get ’em, Lady Wolves. I’ll see you out there.”
As he walks past me, he whispers, “Good luck,” but I don’t take my eyes off her.
My point guard. The girl I’ve wanted every day since I first saw her.
“Mav, what are you doing?”
“You didn’t think I’d forget our pep talk, did you, legend?” I smirk at her. “I know you don’t have a lot of time, but I just needed to tell you one thing.”
She reaches out, touching my jersey… Her jersey. “You’re wearing my number.”
“I am.”
“What does this mean?” she asks, her voice thick with an emotion I haven’t heard before.
“It’s you, Shay. There was never another choice for me. I was just waiting for you to catch up, baby.”
Shay doesn’t take her eyes off me as she covers her mouth with her hands.
“Where’s Moore?” sounds down the hallway, and I know we’re out of time.
“Coming,” Shay shouts back.
Then a huge smile takes over her face, bigger than I’ve ever seen, as she traces the number eleven on the front of my jersey.
“There’s so much I want to say, Mav.”
I have three years of things I need to say to you, babe.
“We have time…but first, go kick some ass out there.” I smile, biting my lip as I really take her in. She’s so sexy with her hair pulled up in a long-braided ponytail, showcasing her stunning face.
“SHAY!” her coach calls her name again, much louder this time.
Shay surprises me, going onto her tippy toes and pressing her lips to mine, but she quickly pulls back.
Fuck, just the gentlest of touches from her has me wanting to get on my knees and beg for more.
“Sorry, I’ve wanted to do that for a lot longer than I can admit right now,” she says, touching her fingertips to her lips before she turns and runs toward her team.
I think my heart skips a fucking beat as I watch her go, beyond excited that this is finally happening.