29. Cole
CHAPTER 29
COLE
Cradling Zoey’s face in my hands I kiss her over and over. We’re protected by the side of her car since she drove me over to where the team bus is picking us up for an away game. For the first time ever, I’m having trouble leaving. I want to stay with her, talk about random shit, kiss her, make love to her.
“You need to go,” she murmurs against my lips.
“I know.” I kiss her again.
“Preferably before my dad comes to see what we’re doing.”
I groan, letting her go. “You’re right.”
“Good luck tonight. You guys are going to kick ass.”
“I wish you were going.”
Something flickers in her eyes, but she darts them to the ground. “Me too.”
I kiss her one last time and take a step back, so I’m not further tempted. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow,” she echoes, opening the driver’s door.
“I’ll call you tonight when I get back to the hotel.”
“Okay … if I don’t answer I’m probably still at work.”
I narrow my eyes. “We never work that late.”
“Or in the shower. You know, because I need to be clean.” She points toward the bus. “They’re calling for you. You better go.”
“Zoey—”
“Bye!” She closes the door.
That was fucking weird.
I watch her pull away, an uneasy feeling in the pit of my stomach but I can’t focus on it, not when I have to leave.
Holding onto the straps of my backpack I climb aboard the bus, sitting down beside Shawn.
“’Sup, man?” He pulls out his earphone.
“Nothing much. What about you?” I settle my backpack between my feet, already cursing the tiny amount of space between seats. They were not made for any person over six-foot, that’s for sure.
“Nothing much. The kid’s been sick so that’s been rough, but nothing I can’t handle.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
“It’s just a cold. He’ll be up and running circles around me in no time. That boy has more energy than I’ve ever seen.”
I chuckle, thinking of Zoey’s brothers. “Most do.”
At the thought of her brothers, I think once more about her strange behavior before leaving me. It doesn’t make any sense. Zoey isn’t the secretive type, and I trust her, but I can’t deny the nagging feeling that something isn’t right.
The bus pulls out of the parking lot of the gym and from the front Coach starts going over stats and figures of the team we’re going up against. Harding University in Alabama is our biggest rival. We’re ranked neck and neck in just about every category from sports to academics.
Everything Coach is saying is something we’ve already discussed, and my brain immediately tunes him out. It’s early in the morning, barely after six, since we have a long bus ride ahead of us and I fight to keep my eyes open. Before I can doze off to sleep, I send a text to Teddy, asking him to check on Zoey today and make sure she’s okay.
Coach finishes his spiel and turns around to face the front.
Beside me Shawn pops his earbud back in and leans against the window.
Closing my eyes, I visualize the game ahead and the victory I so desperately want to cinch.
I run up and down the court, laser focused on the game. Every worry I had this morning is empty from my head.
Jason Caswell is in the stands. Coach wasn’t going to tell me, probably didn’t want the pressure to get to me, but I saw him sitting there with his fingers pressed to his lips watching intently.
He could be here for any number of players. Doesn’t have to be me. Hell, he could be scouting someone on the opposing team.
Shawn passes me the ball and I run like hell, shooting when I have the opportunity.
It sinks into the net and I give myself one millisecond to celebrate before we’re back it. We’re currently down by six points. It’s not a lot, but in the fourth quarter we can’t risk any mishaps.
My eyes follow my every movement, not missing a thing. It was hard for me to ignore Jason’s presence at the start of the game, but now it’s like no one and nothing else is here.
My teammate Reggie tosses me the ball and I take an elbow in the gut from Kessler Cooligan on the opposing team. The sneer he sends my way doesn’t make me think it was an accident. I pass off the ball to another teammate and watch the ball sail into the net.
The clock is counting down and somehow, we manage to tie it up.
When the ball gets passed to me again, I know it’s now or never.
Five .
Breathe.
Four .
Focus.
Three .
Aim.
Two.
Shoot.
One .
The arena erupts with a massive wave of boos and heckling since we’re not on our home court, but it doesn’t matter. We don’t let it get to us. My teammates jump up and down, hugging me, smacking me on the arms, and celebrating the win we fought so hard for tonight.
I speak to reporters on the sidelines, answering questions when I can and evading ones asking about where I hope to play after I graduate.
“Ah, that doesn’t really matter,” I tell one reporter. “All I care about is the game. I’ll be happy to play on any team that wants me.”
I’m dripping with sweat as I walk off the court to the locker rooms. I’m desperate for a shower, not only to wash up but to help uncoil the muscles that I didn’t even realize tensed during the game.
Loading up on the bus back to the hotel, I refuse to let tiredness take hold. I want to call Zoey first. Whatever was going on this morning probably isn’t important and she might’ve just seemed off because of the early hour.
The bus pulls up to the front and we get off, our feet sounding like a stampede in the narrow aisle.
I have a room to myself, and when I get there I let the door close behind me and latch it. Kicking off my sneakers, I change out of my clothes into a pair of sweats before diving onto the bed. I ring Zoey but it goes straights to voicemail.
Maybe something really was off this morning .
I ring again, and just like before I get her voicemail.
What the hell .
I shoot a text to Teddy.
Me: Did you check on Zoey?
Teddy: Yeahhhh
Me: Is she okay?
Teddy: Totally fine.
I narrow my eyes on my phone screen.
Before I can type out another text there’s a knock on my room’s door. I groan, irritated at the interruption, but it could be Coach or one of my teammates.
I get up and cross the room to the door, opening it without bothering to check the peephole.
My mouth drops when I find Zoey standing outside the door.
“Surprise!” She does these little jazz hand moves and then clasps her hands beneath her chin. “I hope this is a good surprise?”
I shake my head free of cobwebs. “Yes, yes. Of course. Amazing surprise.” I grip her hips, pulling her in to me and kissing her. “How’d you get here?”
“Ah, for that I needed Teddy’s help.” She steps away and that’s when I notice my friend loitering in the hall.
“I had to sweet talk my dad for access to the private jet.”
“Are you joking?” Sometimes with Teddy I can’t tell if he’s being serious or not.
“Oh no,” Zoey squeezes my arm, her eyes round like saucers, “it was a real private jet. They asked me if I wanted caviar and everything. It was so cool.”
“I can’t believe you came all this way. Both of you.”
“We were supposed to be here in time for the game, but we hit a little snafu.”
“And what was that?” I curl my finger in her belt loop, tugging her closer.
Teddy removes his baseball cap, rubbing the back of his head. “Daddy Dearest decided to be a dick and change his mind so then I had to spend three hours convincing him to let us go.”
“Why does your dad hate you so much?” I ask him.
He frowns. “Because I won’t act the way he wants me to.” He scratches at his jaw. “But with him holding my inheritance over my head, I have to do some ass kissing.” I don’t tell him I’m sorry, even though I am. I know he doesn’t want pity. “Anyway, Mom and Dad, enjoy your night. I’m going to my room.”
“Night, Teddy! Thank you!” Zoey calls after him. He throws his hand up in a wave. Zoey pushes on my chest, forcing me into the room and the door closes behind us. “I know you won, but I didn’t get to see any of the game.”
“Well, we kicked ass. Pulled the game winning point in the last second.”
“And who made that score?” She drops her coat on the floor, yanking her shirt off right behind it.
“Me, of course.” I grin, watching her undress as her slender fingers go to the button on her jeans.
“I’m not surprised.” Her eyes narrow on me. “Are you not going to get naked?”
“I’m enjoying watching you too much.”
She shoves playfully at my chest and I chuckle, hooking my thumbs into the back of my shirt. I drop the garment onto the growing pile of her clothes. As soon as we’re both naked she plasters herself to me, stroking my hardened cock between us. I whistle through my teeth at the sensation of her hand wrapped around me.
“You’re so thick,” she purrs in my ear.
I have no idea what her idiot ex was thinking cheating on her. But his loss is my gain.
I cradle her face between my hands. “I still can’t believe you’re here.”
Her brown eyes warm. “Believe it.”
She drops to her knees and my head falls back when she takes me in her sweet mouth.
“Fuck,” I curse, gathering her hair back from her face. She swirls her tongue around my tip before taking as much of me as she can. She worships my dick and I’m happy to let her. She’s a fucking pro at this.
Letting go of me, she pushes me toward the bed, and I sit down. She climbs on my lap and I moan when she sinks down on my cock but stops halfway. She’s soaking wet, and it pleases me that sucking me off gave her pleasure too.
She lifts off me and back down, taking a little more of me. She keeps up her ministrations until she’s fully seated on my cock. I grip her ass in my hands tight enough to bruise.
Looking into her eyes, I know I’ve been waiting so long to feel this way about a girl. I’ve fallen hard, and fast for her, but I wouldn’t take it back for anything. It’s on the tip of my tongue, those three little words, but I hold them back because I don’t want her to think I’m saying them only in the heat of the moment.
I rub her clit, wanting her to get off before I do.
Her eyes are hooded, lips parted. She’s the most gorgeous creature I’ve ever seen.
And she’s mine .
I come with a roar and the two of us collapse onto the bed, a tangle of sweat-dampened limbs. I kiss her forehead, stroking my fingers through her hair. She hums, snuggling against my side.
Surely life doesn’t get more perfect than this.