Chapter 18
CLAY
My first game back in a Kodiaks uniform and I’m ready to light it up. We’re playing against Atlanta, who has a solid squad with some young stars.
The crowd lets out a mix of boos but mostly cheers when they announce me.
I guess some of the fans figured I wanted out too.
I’m ripping off my warmup gear when our new coach taps me on the shoulder. “I took a chance playing you both to start.”
“It’s going to work,” I tell him, hoping I’m not lying.
When Kyle dunked me earlier, I was pissed.
But Nova’s face was the first thing I saw when I got out of the tank.
Her pink hair. Her bright eyes. Her wide smile.
When I saw my number on her cheek, I wanted to drag her into the tank with me and wrap those legs around my hips and taste her, no matter who was watching.
I settled for being close to her while she painted my face. Finding out she was trying to stay close, thinking of me even when she left, answered a question I didn’t know was haunting me.
It was the happiest I’ve felt in forever, and there’s no way I could’ve planned it. The sun beating down, a game about to begin…
It makes me wonder how the hell I let things get so off track.
But now, I have to focus on the game. To make it work with the roster we have, I’m shifting positions slightly.
When we take the court, Kyle leans over. “You should’ve stayed in LA. Kept your ring and called it a day.”
“You sound jealous.”
“You say you’re here for the guys, but we both know that’s not true.” He nods to Miles on the bench, who doesn’t look the happiest to be there.
My jaw flexes. “We want to win, it’ll take more than any one of us.”
The game starts, Atlas grabbing the jump ball.
Over the next four quarters, I play, but more than that, I watch.
There are problems with this squad.
Rookie’s trying to get too many touches. Miles has been off his shooting. Jay can direct traffic on the court, but can’t get past the big guys. Atlas is too slow to keep up with the other centers.
Those things are fixable.
What’s tougher is Kyle.
He hogs the ball. The second it’s out of Jay’s hands, Kyle takes it to the basket, working in isolation.
When the game wraps, we’re up eight, but Kyle stares me down as he takes a final shot just to pad his stats line.
The problem is hard to resolve, but easier to diagnose.
“He’s a prick,” I grunt at Jay when no one can overhear.
Jay laughs. “He’s you.”
“What do you think?” Nova asks as she cranes her head to look around the one-room studio.
“Ceiling’s too low,” I gripe.
Nova cuts me a look. “It’s small for you.”
I glance up at the eight-foot ceiling, pressing my hand flush against the plaster.
“But it’s not for me,” I finish.
I told Nova I’d help her look at studio spaces to rent.
It wasn’t enough to drive her. I wanted to make this an experience.
So, this morning, I picked her up, bearing coffee and a list of potential places lined up to see.
“I have a good feeling about this one,” she says as she peers out the second-floor windows and down onto the street below.
“You want to grab lunch and think it over?” I offer.
“Good idea.”
She starts for the door, but I block her path. “Don’t move.”
I head to the car to retrieve the picnic basket in the back and return with it in hand.
“What is all that?” she marvels when I start to unpack the sandwiches and drinks and desserts.
“I figured we’d have a busy day. Fuel is important.”
We sit on a blanket I brought to cover the floor. We eat and talk, and it feels good to see her smile.
“Thank you,” she says as she reaches for one of the bakery cookies packed for dessert. “It was really thoughtful of you to take the whole morning off for me.”
“My pleasure. And I do have an appointment this afternoon before practice.” I hesitate. “It’s therapy.”
Her brows shoot up as she finishes her bite of cookie. “I don’t know what you’re going to talk about, and you don’t have to tell me, but I hope it helps.”
I try to put into words some of the dark thoughts that have circled my mind for months.
“I’ve spent so long trying to be the best. I craved competition and was willing to throw everything away to win.
But in doing that, I ignored the other parts of me, the parts that made me feel weak. I can’t ignore them anymore.”
She nods slowly. “I’ve been going over what happened in LA. I left you when you were at your lowest. I’m sorry.”
Surprise has me frowning. “You did the right thing. I never want to make you feel bad. Or feel bad about feeling good.”
She holds my gaze, and I’m encouraged by the trust on her face.
“Once you said you’d always bet on me. Well, I’ll always bet on you.” She finishes her cookie and shifts back on her palms.
“This is the one,” she decides, looking around from her seated position.
“In that case…”
I go for the second basket, containing a bottle of champagne and an ice bucket.
She laughs in delight as I pop the cork. “It’s like that show where they buy wedding dresses and drink champagne when they say yes.”
“I figured we’d be celebrating if you found the studio.” I pour into two glasses and hand her one.
“I love champagne,” Nova admits. “I don’t care if it’s fancy. How can you drink bubbles and not feel like celebrating?!”
I grin as I take her in. Damn, she’s beautiful like this.
The truth is I’m getting tired of this break.
I want her and me and a million small celebrations just like this.
It’s a future I want to believe in. One I’m willing to work for.
“Now we need to get you an agent,” I murmur over my glass as she sips happily.
“Do agents screen messages?” Her smile fades a bit as she wrinkles her nose.
“Not typically. Why?”
“Someone reached out to me on social media. I think it might be Brad.”
I’m instantly on guard. “Brad like your ex?”
“Yeah. I didn’t respond.”
Fuck, what is this, Asshole Week?
“I’ll look into it.”
“No.” She lays a hand on my arm. “Nothing’s going to happen, and Brad’s not going to show his face anywhere near me, who he jilted, or the business he stole money from.”
She’s smiling, but I’m not even close to satisfied.
Nova turns back to the space. “This is perfect. I need to follow up with the realtor quickly. She said she had other renters interested.”
I don’t tell her I already put a five-thousand-dollar deposit on every place we were seeing for the realtor to hold them until Nova decided.