Chapter 21 Javonte
“Naya and Sky,” a stern voice calls out. The toddlers in my arms perk up.
“Dada dada dada!” They say it at the same time, and I chuckle. These babies are cute as hell.
“Why are my girls all hugged up on you?” He asks me.
This man looks familiar. He looks like Drummond.
“They reached for me. I wasn’t going to let them cry if I didn’t hold them.”
He takes both babies from me.
“Dru, leave him alone. The girls like him.”
Dru turns to Charisse. “I know. That’s the problem. They just go to any big tall, good looking man they see. We need to teach them to be more discerning.”
I frown.
Dru turns to me. “No offense.”
Offense taken.
Charisse waves at everyone and walks off with Dru and the girls. Porsche looks at me and then Lily. “Zea, wanna go get a slushie?”
“Hmmm, yes! It’s getting hot out here.”
Porsche glances in our direction again. “Yeah, it is. Let’s go.”
I look at Lily, and she’s got a glazed look to her. “You okay?”
“Yeah, I’m hot too.”
I turn to look for Porsche and Zea. “You want a slushie?”
“Is there somewhere with AC around here?”
I point to the stadium. Part of it is always open during these team events. She grabs my hand, and I don’t move. I stare at our hands touching. She tugs my hand, and I return to Earth and start walking.
We weave through the crowd. There are people everywhere. The team isn’t this damn big. I focus on the people and see everyone who works for the team is here, stadium workers, janitors, everyone. Drummond, man. Morale is his specialty.
We make it inside, and the cold air jolts my whole body. I hadn’t realized how hot it was outside. Lily’s practically dragging me along. She slows down at a hallway that leads to some offices, and pushes me against the wall then pulls on my shirt until I’m leaning down with my face level with hers.
She slides her hand to the back of my neck and pulls me even closer.
Oh.
I don’t even think; I just meet her halfway.
She kisses me like I’m her source of life. I grip her waist to keep us both steady, but it does nothing to slow anything down. Lily’s tongue glides against mine, and I let out a low sound. It’s been so long since we connected like this... since I’ve felt her this close to her.
I forgot what this felt like. Forgot how she fits against me, how easy it is to fall right back into her. How everything else just disappears when we touch.
My hand slides up her back, pulling her in tighter, like I’m trying to make up for all the time we’ve been apart. She doesn’t pull away. She leans in harder, like she’s just as far gone.
Yeah, I missed this.
I missed the way my body reacts to her before my mind registers what’s going on.
The sound of kids talking pulls us both out of the haze we’d been in. We break apart and stare at each other, panting.
“Thank you,” she whispers, like she surprised herself, then turns and walks out.
I watch her leave, then look around for somebody to explain what just happened.
I shake my head and lean against the wall for a bit. I wasn’t prepared for any of that. I want to chase her and hold her hand and follow her around this place like a puppy.
I step back outside, and the sun blinds me. I close my eyes, let the heat sink in, then go look for the Starting Five. I spot CJ first. He’s on his phone. Probably figuring out who he’s picking from his DM’s tonight.
“Hey!” I call out as I approach him.
He fumbles with his phone then puts it in his pocket real quick.
“Right here, in front of everybody?” I shake my head.
“The ladies love me.”
“It’s terrible for me to be saying this to you, but grow up.”
He frowns. “That’s rich coming from a man who hasn’t been able to get over a girl for a year and a half.”
I shrug. “Love will do that to you.”
“Whatever. You making any progress?”
That kiss felt like progress.
“I think so.” A smile slips out before I can stop it.
“Oh, what’s that about?”
I shake my head. “Nothing.”
“Jay, you don’t just be walking around smiling. Not since she left you. You get some?”
“Wow, no. And if I did, I wouldn’t tell you.”
“Oh, so you definitely got some. The boy is back! It’s going to be a good season!” He rubs his hands together and grins.
“You play too much.”
“And you play like trash when you’re sad.”
She shouldn’t affect me that much, but our breakup did cost us the season. I played like shit. This will be a better season.
I scan the crowd, telling myself I’m not looking for her, but when I spot her curls, I can’t tear my eyes away. She’s laughing with Charisse and the twins, holding one of them. She’s so comfortable. Always has been. She fits wherever she goes and brightens up every space she enters.
“Javonte Kind!”
I blink. CJ waves his hands in front of me. “I was talking to you.”
I let out a breath. “What’s up?”
He follows my line of sight. “Nevermind.”
I turn to him. “My bad.”
“You really locked in?”
“I’m trying to be. There’s no easy way to get her back though.”
“Nothing easy is worth having.”
“Delete your DM’s then.”
CJ puts his hand on his heart. “Never! I’m young, and the girls give freely. This is the life I dreamed of.”
“You’re disgusting.”
He shakes his head. “If you weren’t so stuck on Lily, you’d be out here doing the same thing. Got you a mature woman, and she has you acting like an old man.”
“She’s only 10 years older than me.”
“That’s cougar territory.”
“Shut up.”
He takes a step back. “I’m just saying man. I know your DM’s are full of women ready to give you all they have.”
I never wanted girls throwing themselves at me. They don’t even know me. Lily was a surprise the moment I laid eyes on her. She showed genuine interested in me, and I’ve been hooked ever since.
Not hooked enough to keep her though. That’s changing now.