Chapter 34
Val
Jabari’s taking me out on a date.
I want to protest and tell him to kiss me senseless already, but I won’t. I’m not sure why I’m not, but something tells me to go along with his scheme.
He grabs his wallet, then leads me into the hallway. We’re silent the whole time we walk into the elevator, descend to the lobby floor, and exit the hotel.
“Mr. Elliott, should I call for your driver?” the doorman asks.
“Yes, please.”
I lean toward him. “How do you have a local driver already?”
“The team’s travel department has been helping me whenever I have to travel. Raimo and Javier also offered to drive me around if I need something.”
A dark SUV pulls up in front of us in no time. Jabari opens the door for me, and I slide across the leather seats. I turn to say something, only he’s not right behind me. He’s speaking quietly to the driver. After a minute, he gets in and buckles his seat belt.
“What did you tell him?”
He flashes me a grin so quick—ah! he’s so gorgeous—that my stomach clenches automatically. Everything within me wants to close the gap between us and take matters into my own hands.
I mentally scoff. I don’t do that. What happened to taking it slow?
Somehow, the train ride from DC to Jersey ramped up my feelings.
It’s like I finally gave myself permission to feel everything and not be ashamed of liking Jabari Hall.
I sit back and let out an exhale. Something tells me letting Jabari lead is best. My heart trusts whatever plan he’s concocting will work out for the both of us. Just be patient.
Jabari leans his head against mine.
“Are you sleepy?” I run a hand over the top of his head.
“No,” he mumbles. “I have a headache that refuses to go away, no matter what.”
I frown. “Then why aren’t you in your room resting?” I don’t want to be out and about if he’s suffering.
“I can rest later. I’m not missing out on time with you.”
While I’m happy to hear that, I hate the thought of him hurting. “Did you notify the team doc?”
“No need.” He shifts, leaning more on me. “All he’s going to tell me is my headache is a residual effect from the trauma.”
“Or it could be something else.” I bite my lip and lower my voice. “Sort of like the eyesight issue.”
He stills.
Was that a bad thing to point out, Lord? Is he going to freeze me out?
Jabari slowly lets out a breath. “You have a point.”
“I just want you to be well.”
“I know. Thank you for caring.” He pauses. “You know, a year ago I would’ve never believed anyone if they told me I’d be wrapped around Val Elliott’s dainty little finger.”
I snort. “You can’t even see my finger.”
Jabari takes my hand and sizes it up next to his, then folds the tops of his digits down on mine. “But I can touch and feel your hand. It’s obviously dainty, Val.”
Well, when he holds it like that, it feels that way too.
“I’ll talk to the doc when we go back,” he reassures me.
“Promise?” I ask.
Instead of answering, Jabari intertwines his pinky finger with mine, then places a soft kiss against my knuckle.
No more words are exchanged until the driver stops at our destination. I survey my surroundings, curious about our destination. Then I see a sign. I whirl around to look at Jabari.
“You brought me to a botanical garden?”
“It is springtime.”
He’s right. DC has been in full bloom with cherry blossoms all week. The gorgeous array of pinks has brought everyone outside to enjoy the views.
“First the restaurant, now this.” I tilt my head. “You can’t like plants this much.”
“No, but my girl does.”
Swoon. The phrase my girl has me wanting to flutter my eyelashes and act like a prepubescent teenage girl at her first BTS concert, not someone in her mid-twenties who finds giggling over celebrities not worth it.
You see one chew with his mouth open, another burp loud enough for the next two tables to hear, and the shine wears off quickly.
It’s like Jabari has the Midas touch, and I’m seeing gold stars in all he does.
He buys our tickets. I’m practically giddy as we enter the foyer, which immediately has doors leading out to the main garden.
The sun is shining brilliantly, and the flowers seem to be putting on a show.
My phone is out before there’s a cognizant thought as I snap a picture of each and every single flower, vine, and plant.
Jabari snatches my cell from my hand.
“I need that,” I shout.
“Val, ‘let’s use our mind cameras.’” Jabari smirks and points to his temple.
He’s so adorable, I can’t help but laugh. “Is that quote from Black-ish?”
“It is. I like that show. It’s on repeat all the time because I remember every episode and don’t need to see the details to remember how funny it is.”
My heart hurts for him, but also, this sounds like he’s beginning to accept this way of life. “That was a good episode.”
The rest of the time, I take mental pictures as we slowly walk around the garden.
My brain takes in Jabari in his blue Warriors sweats.
How my own dark blue leggings and tunic top matches his casual attire perfectly.
The way the sun lights every step, and how the flowers bloom beautifully. I don’t want this moment to end.
I lean my head against his arm, and Jabari pulls me close, slowing his steps to match my pace.
“When we get back home, can I see you again?” Jabari asks.
“You can see me every day if you want.”
“I want.”
I hum with pleasure.
“Hey, Javier invited me to his church. Would you like to join me next Sunday?”
He’s going to church again? I straighten and look up at his profile. “What time?”
“I think he said ten.”
“That sounds great.”
“Good.” He flashes his straight teeth at me. “He assures me I’ll like it.”
“You’re really good friends with the guys, aren’t you?”
“We’re like brothers, honestly. Not every team has such good camaraderie, but the Warriors .
. .” His voice trails off as he tugs at his beard.
“The team will show up for every high and low. The whole organization is intent on ensuring we all feel like one big happy family. Even the staff who work on the business side are encouraged to come to our games and support us. They hold parties for the players and the entire organization. It’s great. ”
We walk around until we’ve covered every inch of the grounds.
My stomach growls as we exit the building, and Jabari chuckles.
I join him, thankful we can laugh about the loud noise that’s rumbling from me like a bear.
With him, embarrassment is never a thought.
I’m so comfortable in his presence, and that’s something I don’t really feel with anyone else.
“Guess I’m hungry.”
“Do you want some lunch?”
“Not really.” Of course my stomach makes itself known and tries to make me out to be a liar. “Ignore it.”
“Are there any food places around us?”
I look around, being his eyes. “There’s a roadside hot dog stand.”
Now that I notice it, the scent of food has my mouth watering. Maybe that’s the reason my stomach is sounding off in alarm.
“Let’s go.”
Jabari orders us two hot dogs and fries. “What do you want to drink?”
“Water’s fine.”
We find a bench and begin to munch on our meal. This day feels so completely normal. It’s almost easy to forget he’s a famous hockey player and I’m just a girl. Standing in front of a boy, asking him to kiss her already!
I laugh at myself. Normally, being hungry makes me hangry, but apparently it’s making me loopy right now.
“What’s so funny?” Jabari asks.
“Nothing important.” I take a big bite, so I don’t have to answer any more questions. I make a yum noise and keep on eating. Though I’m completely at ease around him, he doesn’t need to know every thought.
Fortunately, Jabari starts eating his fries and allows me to keep my silly thoughts to myself. While we eat, he tells me how well his occupational therapy has been going.
“It actually feels great to be more independent. Plus, a lot of the apps they have now help,” he says.
I’m glad he’s getting the help he needs. He’s dealing with these new medical issues a lot better than I would have. I’d probably be curled up in my bed bemoaning my fate and crying over all of the why mes. My throat tightens.
Lord God, if You could, take his headaches away and even restore his eyesight if possible. Heal him in his soul so that he can handle whatever comes his way. Amen.
After we’re done, Jabari finds another tourist attraction for us, but one off the beaten path. When we finish walking around, my stomach starts grumbling for dinner. Is he really trying to keep me out of the hotel until nighttime arrives?
I don’t ask because it’s clearly dark after we finish dinner.
As we head to the hotel, nerves assault my insides like a ninja in the shadows.
I press the up arrow for the elevator and try to think tranquil thoughts.
Then a light bulb dawns. I get why Jabari waited to kiss me goodnight.
Having a first kiss in a hotel room isn’t the wisest choice in the world.
Besides, the anticipation building since the moment I saw him answer the hotel door this morning means my control might slip at just a brush of lips.
Thank goodness he considered everything.
The elevator dings, and in a matter of seconds, we’re standing outside my room. What if he hates our first kiss? What if I hate it? What if all this drama has been for naught, and I discover we actually have no chemistry? Maybe what I think is butterflies is a simple case of indigestion.
Before my mind can melt and exhaust more potential ways this might backfire, Jabari speaks. “Val . . .” he says softly.
I swallow. “Yes?”
“It’s okay. If you don’t want to kiss, we don’t have to. I would never do anything without your consent.”
“I do want to kiss you. It’s just that I got all in my head.” I motion to the offender. “And worked up every potentially bad scenario possible. Now I’m too nervous, and I don’t want to be nervous, I just want to be . . .” A puff of air escapes my lips.
“You want to be . . . ?”
“I want to be so preoccupied with you that my brain doesn’t have a chance to be anxious and ruin our first kiss.”
Jabari takes a step forward, and I immediately take one back. I blink. When did the door get behind me? How much thinking have I been doing? But my thoughts stutter to a stop as Jabari puts his forearm above my head and leans forward.
Have mercy, he’s leaning. My breath hitches in my chest.
“Are you preoccupied now?”
I lick my lips. “Very.”
He brushes his hand against my neck as he slides his fingers through my hair, cupping the nape of my neck. My knees go weak, and if it weren’t for his strong arm, I’d be a puddle at his feet.
“Jabari . . .”
“I’ve been wanting to kiss you for a while now.”
“Me too.” My hands hook on his hoodie pocket, and the gap between us vanishes.
His lips are achingly soft as they brush against mine.
My head swims from the headiness of the contact, and I angle forward to increase the pressure.
Then the kiss goes from warm temps to hot desert nights in a matter of seconds.
As Jabari takes full control of the kiss, I realize how much self-control he’d been exerting with the first meeting of our lips.
Because the way he’s kissing me now has my heart pounding and my body melting from the inside out.
He pulls back, brushing kisses down my jaw, before stepping back completely.
I’m limp against the door and not exactly sure how I’m still standing. I blink unseeingly at him.
“Sleep well, Val.”
Sleep? How can I sleep when I’ll be playing that kiss on repeat?
I bring my fingers to my lips. “I am in so much trouble.”