Chapter 29
TWENTY-NINE
DAYLEN
We’re all up in New York City for game six of the WNBA league championship. And by all, I mean my closest Camels teammates, my Cougars friends, and our Anacondas friends sans Kam and Cheetah, who are running late, per always.
The Beavers are playing against Kennedy’s old team. She’s been emotional over it. She feels they slighted her by releasing her, but she’s also happy it happened.
She’s been playing incredibly well. Her rebounding and defensive skills are the reason they’re up three to two in the series, leaving them only one win away from taking the championship. The girls all want it so badly.
I’m filled with nerves. I want them to win it all tonight, because if they lose, they’ll have a decisive game seven on Sunday at home when we’re playing across the country.
Win or lose, I would hate to miss it. Everything would be perfect if they could just win tonight.
We can celebrate with them and then get on a plane for California tomorrow morning without any stress.
Coach and Pierce are here. Ginny is nowhere to be found and hasn’t been seen at a single game since that night when Kennedy spoke with Coach and Fallon. From what Kennedy told me, Coach didn’t know what Ginny did to her. I had suspected as much.
She came home from her father’s that night emotionally exhausted. She crawled into bed naked and then showered me with more love and affection than I would have thought possible for her. It was like she couldn’t get enough of me. I loved it and tried to give her everything she needed.
I see Coach glaring at me in my Jeffries number eight jersey. I hope he asks me about it again. I won’t lie to his face. There’s nothing I want more than to tell him the truth about us. To tell everyone. To be able to love her wherever and whenever I want. She’s so damn stubborn about it.
We’ve gotten into a few fights lately over when we’ll tell everyone. I don’t understand why she won’t come clean. It’s basically the only strain on our relationship right now. Everything else has become seamless. I desperately want to jump over this one last hurdle.
Kam and Cheetah make their way to our seats, and Layton glares at them. “Last to arrive. Per always. Let’s hear the latest crazy fun fact from you two."
They exchange knowing glances before Kam looks at us with the usual mischief written all over her face, and says, “If a female octopus isn’t in the mood, she’ll strangle the male octopus and then eat him.”
I think every male within earshot winces. I shake my head. “That feels like an extreme response. Can’t she just roll away from him like every other woman?”
Kam smiles as she shrugs. “Maybe he’s into being choked.”
My girl certainly is.
“And eaten?” I ask.
She lets out a laugh. “To each their own.”
I suppose.
I see her staring at Kennedy so I ask, “How’s it going with your number one client?”
“Great. She just shot her commercial for a big cosmetics company. I can’t tell you which one yet, but it’s huge. She was amazing. I think you’re going to really like it.” She shoots me a suggestive look.
Not only is the look a little weird, but it’s equally odd that she’d tell me that. Does she know about us?
I stare at her skeptically, but she simply winks before taking her seat.
The game begins, and it’s a back-and-forth affair, keeping us all on the edge of our seats.
It’s two great teams battling basket for basket.
Kennedy is working her ass off on the boards, as she has for the entire series.
Rebound after rebound, she helps her team to either keep possession or gain possession.
She’s one of the shortest girls out there, but it doesn’t matter because she’s so strong and tough.
She can also jump a mile high. I’d like to think I played some part in her increased vertical leap.
Regardless, I love the gritty way she plays.
I can’t take my eyes off her, even when she doesn’t have the ball.
I catch a glimpse of the Band-Aid around her left ring finger. Normally, she wears makeup to cover it, but not during games. She fears the makeup rubbing off so she resorts to a bandage, which I have to do all the time.
For some reason, seeing that Band-Aid is bothering me more now than ever. It should be a diamond, not that piece of shit she’s wearing now.
I want to do this right. Even though we’re married already, I want to propose and have a real wedding. Not one we barely remember officiated by Elvis/Pinky.
The first thing I need to do is to buy a ring. One that better fits my queen. Second thing, talk to Coach about everything and then ask for his blessing. Third, it’s time to get down on one knee.
KENNEDY
We lost on a buzzer-beater the other night in New York.
It was heartbreaking. The good news is we’re playing in Philly tonight for a winner-take-all game seven.
The bad news is that Daylen is on the other side of the country playing his own game today.
He said my father made arrangements for them to watch at least the second half of our game on the airplane ride back.
I’m not sure which one of them was more disappointed that we lost, meaning they wouldn’t be at the winner-take-all game. I appreciate how much they both care.
Sulley and her bodyguard are picking me up in about an hour. I’m in my bathroom getting ready when my text tone pings.
Dad: Good luck today. I’m sorry I can’t be there. I asked management for a leave of absence, but they said no. I’m so sorry. We’ll be watching on the plane. Number seventeen is defending you tightly. If you draw her in, you’ll be able to spin away and get open for an easy basket.
I smile. I don’t remember the last time I got basketball advice from him. I was probably fifteen or sixteen.
The past few weeks have been good for us.
I’ve spent some time with him and Fallon.
They may actually be the cutest couple in existence.
They asked for my help in breaking the news of their relationship to Pierce.
I’m not sure why everyone treats him with kid gloves—he’s an adult and should be able to handle his father being with a woman—but I agreed.
We’re going to do it next week. The same week that Daylen and I are supposed to talk to him.
When I suggested to Daylen that we delay talking to him another month or so, he lost his shit. We got into a huge fight, and he boarded the plane yesterday with us not on speaking terms.
I respond to my father.
Me: Good thought. Thanks. Good luck to you too. We’ll celebrate both victories this week.
Dad: It would be my pleasure.
I decide to text Daylen. They’re probably about to leave the hotel for the stadium.
As if reading my mind, as he often does, my FaceTime rings and I see it’s him. I accept the call right away. “Hey,” I answer in a solemn voice, unsure of where we stand, though I did go to his house and play with BJ today, so that should please him.
He gives me a small smile. “I needed to see your face. I miss it.”
I hear Vance yell in the background, “You’re so pussy-whipped.”
Daylen scowls in his direction. “If you had that pussy in your bed, you’d be whipped too.”
“He is whipped,” I remind Daylen.
Daylen nods away from the camera. “Right. You’re just as bad, Vile Vance.”
I smile at the nickname Sulley calls Vance.
He turns back to the camera. “What are you wearing to the stadium for the big game?” he asks in his I want sexy time voice.
This is his way of telling me he doesn’t want to fight anymore.
He hates fighting. Considering the nature of our relationship for the first year we knew each other, it’s kind of ironic that he doesn’t have the stomach for any strife in our relationship.
It’s equally cute that he’s trying to smooth things over.
“I’m wearing the gold bikini from Vegas,” I answer. I’m not, but I know how much he loves that bikini.
He sucks in a breath. “Oh shit. So hot. Do you know why bikinis were invented?”
“Why?”
He smirks, and I know something ridiculous is about to come out of his mouth. “To separate the meat and dairy.”
I let out a laugh. “Good one, but I’m not wearing that.
I’m planning to wear a little cowgirl outfit.
I’ll wear it for you sometime in private.
I have a feeling you’ll like it even more than the bikini.
I could do a little cowgirl action on top of you.
I’d be happy to ride that horse between your legs. ”
Though I have to wear a different shirt than I planned. My belly popped a bit overnight. It wasn’t like this yesterday. It’s crazy how that happened. I usually hate how unflattering my baggy basketball uniform is, but today I’m thankful for it.
I don’t want to tell him about it over the phone. He’s going to be excited. I want him to see it in person for the first time, not on his small screen.
Daylen winces. “Shit. Now I’m hard.”
I hear Vance groan in annoyance and Daylen gives him some crude gesture.
Our eyes eventually meet again. “Thanks for calling,” I say. “I hated how we left things.”
He nods. “Me too. The worst thing happened this morning. I went to the refrigerator to get a snack, and you weren’t there.”
I see a pillow thrown at his head while Vance yells at him again. “Oh my god, you’re pathetic.”
I can’t help but giggle. I think it’s sweet how he unashamedly loves me, even in front of Vance.
His face turns a bit softer. “I just want to be able to love you out in the open. Is that so wrong?”
“No, it’s not.” I exhale a breath. “Daylen, for the first time in my life, I’m happy. I’m content. Everything is working for me not against me. You’re a huge part of that—the biggest part—but I’m afraid to mess it up. If it ain’t broke, why fix it?”
“I get that, I really do, but I want…more.”
He looks so sweet and sad that I almost feel bad for lying to him. Almost.