~ Chapter 36 ~
The locker room was loud.
Not the hyped, chaotic pre-game loud.
Not even the feral-on-the-court loud.
This was the messy, post-win loud.
Music blasting too hard from someone's speaker.
Lockers slamming.
Sweaty jerseys tossed everywhere.
Ryan yelling about how he was "built for clutch moments" despite having gone two-for-seven.
Felix lying dramatically across a bench with a towel over his face.
Vinod already rewatching clips on his phone like the season didn't just end five minutes ago.
Caleb leaning against his locker texting, a small smile on his face that he definitely didn't notice.
Reed sat on the bench, forearms resting on his thighs, heart still pounding.
Not from the game.
From Eva.
From the way she had screamed his name.
From the way she had looked at him like he was the only person in the arena.
From the way she had run straight into his arms.
From the kiss.
Public.
Unfiltered.
Real.
Ryan dropped onto the bench beside him.
"So," he said. "Just casually made out in front of the entire campus."
Reed didn't look up. "Shut up."
Felix lifted the towel. "No, no. Let's absolutely not shut up. Let's unpack it."
Vinod smirked. "I've never seen you move that fast in your life."
Reed dragged a hand down his face.
"She was waiting."
Ryan pointed at him. "He said that like it explains everything."
It did.
Reed stood, grabbing his hoodie.
"Where you going?" Felix asked.
"To my girlfriend."
Ryan's grin was feral. "Say it again."
Reed didn't hesitate.
"My girlfriend."
The locker room erupted.
Felix clapped.
Vinod shook his head. "He's gone."
Caleb looked up from his phone. "They still out there?"
Ryan nodded. "Sandra is crying. Parker is hugging strangers. Cassie is screaming. Eva is sitting on a bench wearing your hoodie like it's sacred."
Reed didn't wait another second.
Eva was sitting on a bench near the hallway, knees pulled up slightly, Reed's hoodie swallowing her frame.
Cassie was talking animatedly.
Sandra looked like she'd just witnessed a religious experience.
Parker had an arm wrapped around Eva's shoulders.
Eva looked up.
Saw him.
Her whole face changed.
Relief.
Softness.
Belonging.
Reed crossed the space between them.
Eva stood.
He pulled her into his chest.
She went immediately.
Arms around his waist.
Face pressed into him.
Reed rested his cheek on the top of her head.
Everything inside him slowed.
"You okay?" she asked quietly.
"Yeah," he said. "You?"
She nodded. "Yeah."
Sandra wiped her eyes dramatically. "You two are disgusting."
Parker smiled. "In the best way."
Cassie bounced. "WHEN YOU KISSED HER I ALMOST FAINTED."
Ryan appeared behind Reed. "Same."
Reed looked down at Eva.
"You screamed my name."
Eva's face turned pink instantly.
"I panicked."
Reed's mouth twitched.
"I liked it."
Eva hid her face.
Reed tightened his arms.
"I almost lost it," Reed admitted quietly.
Eva pulled back just enough to look at him.
"But you didn't."
"Because you looked at me," he said. "And reminded me who I am."
Eva reached up and cupped his jaw.
"You don't have to fight for me like that," she said softly. "I'm already yours."
Reed's chest felt too full.
Ryan cleared his throat loudly. "Alright before we all cry, can we get food?"
Felix nodded. "I require fries immediately."
Vinod added, "Preferably somewhere with milkshakes."
Caleb looked at Sandra. "You hungry?"
Sandra smiled. "Always."
Reed looked at Eva.
"Dinner?"
Eva nodded. "Yeah."
Reed took her hand.
Like it was obvious.
Like it had always been.
They were walking out of the arena when it happened.
The same cocky guy from the opposing team leaned against the wall with two teammates.
"Hey, Taylor," he called.
Reed ignored him.
The guy's eyes slid to Eva.
"She cute," he said. "Didn't know you liked them small."
Reed stopped.
Before he could turn—
Eva did.
She stepped in front of Reed.
Slid her arm around his waist.
Looked the guy dead in the face.
"He's my boyfriend," she said.
Not loud.
Not shaky.
Clear.
Firm.
Confident.
"And you don't get to talk about him. Or me."
Silence.
Ryan choked.
Felix whispered, "HOLY SHIT."
The guy scoffed but didn't say anything else.
Reed stared at Eva.
Stunned.
Eva looked up at him like she suddenly realized what she'd done.
Her cheeks went pink.
"Was that okay?"
Reed didn't answer.
He bent down and kissed her.
Slow.
Deep.
Intentional.
In front of everyone.
When he pulled back, his forehead rested against hers.
"You have no idea what you just did to me."
Ryan yelled, "THAT'S HIS GIRL."
Reed didn't care who heard.
Eva wasn't just his.
She chose him.
And God, he loved that.
Dinner was loud.
Messy.
Warm.
Felix and Parker argued about music.
Sandra and Caleb sat close, knees brushing.
Ryan and Cassie shared a milkshake.
Vinod stole fries from everyone.
Eva sat between Reed and Parker.
Reed's arm hooked around the back of her chair.
Eva leaned into his side like it was second nature.
At one point, she laughed.
Not small.
Not polite.
Real.
Reed stared.
Ryan noticed.
"You're doing the look again."
Reed didn't deny it.
Later, Eva leaned close.
"You were really good tonight."
Reed shrugged. "You were there."
Eva smiled. "I like being there."
Reed brushed his thumb along her shoulder.
"I like knowing where you are."
Eva's heart swelled.
Reed realized something sitting there.
This.
This messy, loud, imperfect table.
This girl leaning into him.
This life.
This was it.
Not the league.
Not headlines.
Not glory.
Her.