12. PAUL
RIP Paul Weston.
An animalistic groan leaves me as I stretch out on my bed, slowly blinking open my eyes, carefully avoiding the sun peeking through the partially closed blinds. I twist to my side when I’m hit with a familiar scent. Honey and apples. My eyes bolt open.
I smother my nose into the pillow beside me, inhaling that familiar scent: Sarah’s scent.
But why am I smelling her on my pillow?
And why am I still in my clothes from the night before?
Slowly, I sit up, rubbing my pounding head with the palm of my hand, fighting the nausea invading my stomach.
What the fuck happened last night?
Knock. Knock.
Fucking hell. I grip the side of my head as the knocking sound reverberates back and forth inside my skull like there’s a goddamn tennis match going on in there.
“Come in,” I say gruffly, my throat hoarse and raw. Maybe Nate can clue me in as to what the hell happened to me last night. But it’s not Nate who pokes his head inside my room.
“Hey.” Sarah grins, walking toward me. I think I’m too stunned to speak or completely forgot how to because I’m sitting here like a silent idiot. “I brought you something for the headache I’m sure you have.”
She holds out a couple of pills with a bottle of water.
“Thanks.” I take the pills and eagerly swallow them down, hoping for a reprieve from my headache.
She sits on the edge of my bed beside me, rubbing her thighs nervously. “How are you feeling?”
I sit up straighter, rolling my neck side to side. “To be honest, I’m not sure.”
“Do you remember what happened?” she asks.
Do I?
I had been in such a funk for the past few days that when I heard the Kappa house was having a party, I decided to go, even though I’m not usually a frat house party kind of guy. Scratch that; I’m never a frat house party kind of guy. But my head had been so overwhelmed, playing Sarah’s words to me repeatedly on an endless loop, that I just needed a break, an escape from my own head.
Maybe I tried to escape a little too hard.
“I remember going to the party, but the rest is a little hazy.” I squeeze the back of my neck, feeling ashamed to admit that. “I don’t think I’ve ever drunk that much in my life.”
Just the thought of alcohol has my stomach churning.
She nods, looking down at the comforter where her index finger traces a circle. “You called me,” she says matter-of-factly.
“I did?” Why don’t I remember this?
“You told me you weren’t feeling well and that…you didn’t know who else to call.” She bites her lower lip, dropping her shoulders. “I went to get you and texted Nate for help. And when I got there…” She pauses, her hand suddenly clenching into a fist beside her. “A girl was sitting on your lap.”
I sit up in a flash. “I don’t remember that. Sarah, I swear—”
“I know,” she says reassuringly. “She was taking advantage of you in the state you were in, and it made me so fucking mad.” She shakes her head, her whole body slightly trembling. “I told her to get off you, but she wouldn’t listen. So I kind of…threw her off of you and ended up pulling out her hair extensions in the process.”
My eyes widen. “You did what?”
“I had no choice,” she quickly spits out. “I’m not a violent person, but I couldn’t let her…” She blows out a deep breath. “Well, obviously, the bitch wasn’t happy with that, and she went to hit me, but Nate showed up right in time to stop her.” She finally looks at me with a little smirk. “Don’t ask us how we got you out of that house and into your bed. Let’s just say you owe Nate big time.” She lets out a little chuckle. “I stayed here with you for a few minutes because you asked me to, but when you fully passed out, I left to give you some space.”
Doesn’t she know that space is the last thing I want from her?
I let out a rush of air, scrubbing a hand over my face. “Jesus, Sarah. I’m so sorry I put you through that.” I reach for her hand, letting my thumb rub her soft skin gently back and forth.
“No.” She shakes her head. “I know why you were there. Nate talked to me. He said you weren’t yourself this past week, and I know…I know…” Suddenly, a tear rolls down her cheek. “It was my fault that you were there. I was horrible to you.”
“No, baby girl.” I wrap my arm around her waist, pulling her toward me, bringing her between my legs, her side molding against my chest. “I’m a grown-ass adult. It was my fault for drinking that much. I was having a tough week. I needed a…”
“Distraction,” she whispers.
I nod. “Yeah. But it wasn’t your fault.”
“Paul?”
I place two fingers under her chin, tilting her face closer to mine.
“I didn’t mean anything I said to you before I ran out of your room that morning like a coward. I just…” Her eyes move from mine, locking on the camera on my computer. “I panicked. And I lashed out at you. I’m sorry. I know you would never…take advantage of me.”
Her eyes pinch shut, and I wrap her up in my arms, bringing the blanket around the both of us.
“I know you’re not ready to talk about whatever is haunting you, but can you give me a yes or no answer?” She opens her eyes, staring right at me when I ask, “Did someone take advantage of you?”
Her bottom lip trembles, and her eyes glisten as she quietly breathes, “Yes.”
My worst fear is confirmed in that one word.
I kiss her temple as she nuzzles against my chest, letting her tears fall down her cheeks and onto my shirt.
“I’ve got you. Let it all out, Sarah.”
Maybe this is what she’s been keeping from me.
The cause of her putting a wall between us.
Her fingers clutch onto my shirt for support. “I’ve never felt this before.”
“Felt what?”
“Safe. Cared for. All of it. It’s just a lot to process.”
“Baby girl, you are safe with me. I will never let anything happen to you. Do you understand me?”
She nods, relaxing against my body as I stroke my hand over her back. We sit here in silence for a few minutes, neither of us moving as I savor the feel of her body against mine when an idea pops into my head.
“Will you do something for me?” I ask.
“Anything.”
“Go on a date with me.”
Her eyes widen, her lips parting in shock. “A date?”
“Just one date to prove I’m not like the others.”
“I already know you aren’t.”
“Then what’s stopping you?”
“I…umm…” She hesitantly peers up at me, the look of defeat crossing her features as she gives in. “Just one?”
“Just one,” I confirm.
“Okay.”
“Okay?” I ask, sounding a little too eager.
The corners of her lips lift as she nods.
It’s fucking adorable.
“This is going to be the best date you’ve ever been on,” I tell her, confidence laced in each word.
“I’ve…never actually been on a date before,” she admits.
What kind of fucking guys has she been involved with?
“Then I promise this date will put all future dates to shame.” I push a loose strand of hair behind her ear, my finger falling to her arm, tracing one of the many tattoo flowers I love so much, noting a tiny shiver running through her. “Are you sure you’ll be able to handle all of this?”
She laughs, patting my chest. “I can handle you just fine, big guy.”
“Big guy, huh?” I smile. “I love it when you call me that. It lets me know you appreciate all of me.”
She playfully smacks my arm. “Don’t let your ego get the best of you.”
I shake my head, laughing. “My ego’s been out of control ever since I saw those big green eyes watching me in the bar like I was the only man you’ve ever had eyes for.”
A blush spreads over her cheeks as she looks down. “You wanted me just as badly. Admit it.”
I tip her chin up, our eyes connecting. “I wanted you more than I’ve wanted anything in my entire life. The second I saw you, I was a goner.”
She looks pleased with my answer, resting her head against my chest. “It was my ass, right?”
I laugh. “Yeah, baby girl. That was it.”
She sighs. “It was a good night, wasn’t it?”
“It was the best night,” I respond, kissing her hair and inhaling my favorite scent.
She has no idea how much that night means to me.
We sit in a comfortable silence, enjoying each other’s company, but after a few minutes, she lets out a little yawn, appearing ready to fall asleep.
“How about we get under these covers and take a nap?” I suggest, lifting the blanket beside me.
She appears intrigued by the idea, her body relaxing until her eyes jump to my computer, and she stiffens. Before she can say anything, I slide out from behind her and walk over to my desk. I remove the camera, put it inside one of the desk drawers, and unplug every piece of the computer before facing her, waiting for her rebuttal.
But to my surprise, she slides back on the bed and then, hesitantly, lies down so her head rests on the pillow, silently giving me her answer.
I quickly remove my shirt, watching as Sarah’s eyes roam down my chest in appreciation.
“Like what you see?”
She blushes, ignoring my comment by turning to her other side.
I slip in behind her, wrap my arm over her torso, my hand splayed out over her stomach, and place my other arm under her head. She presses her back against my chest and takes me aback, intertwining our fingers. Her body relaxes against mine at the same moment she lets out a deep exhale. My thumb gently rubs over the back of her hand as I brush my lips across her neck.
“I’ve got you, baby girl. Don’t ever forget that.”
* * *
Silence.
As fans scream, coaches yell, music wafts throughout the arena, and teammates’ feet scuffle past me on the wood floor, positioning for a pass, all I hear is complete silence.
It’s just me and the ball.
My fingers grip the leather basketball before letting it fall to the floor as I dribble with precision outside the three-point line, watching and observing everything around me—the bright lights shadow most of the fans in the stands, focusing on only the players.
Neon lights from the scoreboard flash, displaying the score. Sixty-five to sixty-five. Tied.
The clock ticks down in warning…
Twenty… Nineteen… Eighteen… Seventeen…
“Paul!”
My eyes catch on Glen jumping up and down behind his opponent, blocking him from a clear pass. He tries to perform a back door cut toward the basket, but the fucker defending him is double his size, making it impossible for him to break free.
My own opponent doesn’t touch me when it comes to height, but he’s fast. Probably the quickest guy on the floor tonight, which is why he was assigned to cover me. When I shift to my left, he shifts to his right. When I shift to my right, he shifts to his left. It’s how it’s been all fucking night.
And I’m over it.
I dribble between my legs, quickly gazing up at the timer.
Ten… Nine… Eight…
With my feet kept shoulder-length apart, knees bent, and back straight, I leap in the air, giving it everything I have. My eyes focus on the basket as I release the ball with a quick extension of my elbow and a flick of my wrist and fingers. The ball soars through the air with just the right amount of backspin before bouncing off the backboard and directly into the basket, the perfect bank shot.
The place erupts in cheers as the buzzer blares in the stadium.
“Weston! Weston! Weston!”
I look up at the scoreboard seeing the final score.
Sixty-eight to sixty-five.
“Hell yeah!”
“Fuck yeah, Paul!
“We won our first home game!”
The guys gather around me, celebrating by jumping on each other and patting my back.
I smile proudly, scanning the crowd.
Natalie and Nate stand, cheering in one spot.
A few family members celebrate three rows below them.
And the seat where Sarah sat last time is empty. Empty because I was too chicken shit scared to ask her to come to my first game after what happened the last time she was here, so I let the ticket sit in an envelope, wasting away behind the ticket booth with Will.
I didn’t want to mess up the subtle progress we seemed to be making.
Especially with a lot on the line, like a first date. Possibly the only date to prove to her that I’m worth it. And I’m not going to fuck this up. After leaving here tonight, I plan on making some finishing touches to prepare everything for tomorrow.
Everything has to be perfect.
“Paul!” Spinning on my heels, I notice the scout from Boston, Peter Green, walking my way. “That was one heck of a game you played out there.”
Straightening my spine, I say, “Thank you, sir.”
He claps my back. “You’ve got instinct, kid. You knew exactly what to do to get that win, and you didn’t hesitate to take that shot. That’s what we like to see. Instincts.”
I wipe the sweat from my brow with the back of my arm. “I try.”
“Your father would be damn proud of you.” He crosses his arms over his chest. “Damn proud.”
Tightness spreads through my chest as I nod. “I hope so.”
He waggles his finger at me. “We’ll be in touch, Paul. Reach out if anything comes up.” He clasps my shoulder before walking away.
“I will, sir. Thank you.”
Suddenly, I’m tackled as a person jumps on top of me, rubbing his fist into the top of my head. “Look at you getting your ass kissed by a scout.” Glen chuckles as I fling him off me.
“Fuck off,” I tease, adjusting my headband before running the palms of my hands over the tight fade. “I just had this cut.”
“Mwahhhhh,” Glen mimics a kissing sound. “I could hear that ass-kissing all the way from the other side of the court.” He shakes his head, smiling. “But speaking of ass-kissing…” His eyes rove over to the empty seat nearby. “Where’s your girl?”
“What girl?” I feign indifferently.
“Don’t play that.” He rests his hands on his hips. “The fine-as-hell girl who had her eyes glued to you the whole night during our first scrimmage game.” He scrunches his face. “It was disgusting. Don’t know what she sees in you when I’m right here.”
Fine as hell.I shake my head, my fists clenching at my sides. He’s lucky we’re friends. “I don’t know who you’re talking about, but if I did know, then you should be smart and not talk about her like that again.”
His hands fly up in surrender. “Chill, man.” A knowing grin appears. “So, she is your girl.”
I shake my head and turn, walking toward my family. “You’re an idiot,” I mutter over my shoulder.
“Are we still playing Fortnite at your house later?” he shouts.
I roll my eyes. “Yeah. I’ll text you when to head over.”
Because first, I have a date to prepare for.
One that will hopefully secure me a second date.
And a third date.
And a fourth date.
And…every date.
Because I want them fucking all with Sarah.
And only Sarah.