Chapter 19
NOVA
I creep down the stairs from my room. When I hit a spot on the wood floor that creaks, I wince.
Harlan’s in the living room watching a game. Mari is rocking Emily to sleep in the corner.
Grumpy Baller: Changed your mind?
Clay’s text lights up the phone in my pocket.
I’m not hiding from Mari and Harlan this time—just the baby.
I type back.
Nova: Be there soon.
I slip on my shoes and check my reflection in the mirror before sneaking out the front door. My hair is tied up in a blond-pink ponytail, and my blue minidress flares out around my hips from a bright rainbow belt.
Clay’s car is at the end of the driveway, and I’m panting as I reach for the handle.
“Tell me you didn’t go down the drainpipe,” he murmurs as I tumble inside.
“Almost. Emily’s going through a phase. I swear a butterfly flaps its wings on the other side of the world, and this baby wakes up.”
Since he helped me find the studio, we’ve been texting, but we’ve both been busy and we haven’t had time together in person. Tonight, he offered me a ride, saying he was driving a few other people.
“Where’s Rookie? And Jay?” I ask, realizing we’re alone.
“They, ah, decided to go ahead solo.”
I reach for my seatbelt. “So, no babysitting.”
“You mean them or us?”
Clay’s voice is light, but there’s an edge under it that makes my heartbeat accelerate.
It changes things, being alone with him.
We haven’t been physical since the club, and every time I see him, I want.
Damn, do I want.
He puts the car in gear and swings toward the road, pausing to check for traffic. At the same time, he does a slow sweep of my outfit, lingering on a few places.
“You’re a rainbow,” he says. Clay brushes a finger next to the bright purple painted star on my cheek. “You look good.”
“The face painting inspired me. What about you?”
“I don’t have a costume.” He pulls onto the street.
“I thought you’d say that.” With a flourish, I pull out the crown I bought. “Now you’re the king of the court.”
He bends his head so I can set it on top. When he straightens, the crown nearly brushes the top of the car, but it doesn’t matter. He’s powerful and sexy.
“How’s the studio space working out?” Clay asks.
“It’s great. I’m finishing up pieces for the show in New York next week.” I shift, crossing my legs.
“Are you going to invite me?”
“Oh God. Please don’t come. I feel good about the pieces, but I’m still learning to have a thicker skin since LA. Plus, aren’t you playing back-to-backs next week?”
“Technically, yeah.”
“So, technically, your ass belongs to Harlan.” My mouth curves.
“I bet Brooke organized a convoy of people to go.” Clay’s huff of breath sounds genuinely put out, and his disappointment means more to me than his words.
“I told her not to come opening night.” I bite my lip. “There’re going to be lots of art critics, and it’s possible they’ll slam my work. Gives me a day to bounce back emotionally if I need it,” I say dryly.
“You won’t need it. They’re going to love it.”
My chest squeezes.
“Any word from Brad?” Clay goes on, killing my mojo with a single name.
I shift in my seat. “Not really.” Since the initial messages, I haven’t responded and I’ve had lots of other things to focus on.
“If you give me more details, I can have someone look into it—”
“I just want to forget it.” It reminds me of a time when I felt small, so I change the subject. “I’m surprised you wanted to go to Kyle’s party. You’re not his biggest fan.”
“Everyone on the team’s going. I gotta prove I can hang with them. All of them.”
Clay doesn’t like Kyle, but he hasn’t told me exactly what bugs him. There’s lots that goes on at practice and behind the scenes the public doesn’t see.
Kyle’s hosting tonight’s Halloween party, and everyone’s feeling festive. The Kodiaks have a winning record, 5-3, including winning three in a row since Clay returned.
I texted Brooke to give her our ETA, and Miles has been bugging me to ask when we’re arriving.
“Wow. Kyle’s renting this place?” I say as the gates to the mansion swing open.
We head up the driveway and get out, Clay handing the keys to the valet.
The house is decorated with spooky graveyard decor outside. Headstones feature the names of rival basketball players. In the lights from the house, shadows fall across Clay’s handsome face. He’s all in black except for the gold crown, his tattoos curling around his neck and hands.
He grabs my arm as we start up the walkway. “People are going to ask about us. We should get on the same page.”
I turn to take him in, drawn toward him either by his grip or the invisible pull that always fills the air between us.
It’s moments like these that I feel compelled to spill my guts, to say my heart has only ever been his.
But I’m learning to protect my heart. And his.
“I will always care about you. I want you to be happy, and I know you want that for me. I think we sometimes rely too much on each other for that happiness.”
He frowns, as if that answer is unsatisfactory. He’s still studying me when a screech comes from the front door. It’s Brooke, dressed as sexy Little Red Riding Hood, and someone in a full bear costume. The bear takes his head off, revealing Miles.
Inside, we hang with our friends, get drinks.
Kyle’s dressed as Michael Jordan. Rookie has a black wig and glittery jacket.
“Who are you?” Clay asks.
“Kyle promised we’d both go as MJ. Miles convinced me it was Michael Jackson.”
Jay and Miles high five.
“You look great,” I tell Rookie.
“I know. And I can dance.” He grins, moonwalking across the room.
“You’re supposed to tell me what big teeth I have,” Miles informs Brooke.
“That’s the wolf, dumbass.”
It’s good to see the guys having a great time together. Their job is tough and stressful, and here at a private party, they can let loose a little.
“Dance with me,” Clay says against my ear.
I feel him before I see him.
He takes the crown off his head and sets it on mine, adjusting my ponytail. Then he takes my hand and tugs me after him.
Nothing compares to being held by Clay. His arms feel like they could carry the world, but right now, they’re surrounding me.
He smells amazing, and I resist the temptation to bury my face in his chest.
I miss him. God, even when he’s here, I miss him.
“What you said about us needing to find our own happiness first.” His lips brush my temple as he speaks. “That the whole truth, Pink? There’s nothing else you think about us?”
I force my chin up.
His face is dark from shadows, but I feel his eyes burning into me.
I want our closeness, want to feel his arms around me. Want to fall asleep next to him and—
“WAFFLES?!”
The dog is missing, and Clay is dragged into helping look for him.
“Where’s the bathroom?” I ask Kyle.
“Upstairs, end of the hall.”
I follow his directions, tripping up there and grabbing my crown as it slips. There’s a bedroom and a bathroom on the other side. I use the facilities, and on the way out, I run into Kyle in the bedroom.
“This is an amazing house,” I say.
“Thanks.” He shrugs. “You and Wade, you a thing?”
“It’s complicated.”
“I’ve been watching you tonight. Since before tonight. Whatever he did to let you get away, I’d never let you out of my sight.”
The expression on his face has my stomach tensing. My eyes dart toward the door.
“That’s flattering, but I’m not interested.”
Kyle steps closer. “He’ll never find out.”
Kyle clearly knows nothing about me or Clay if he thinks that what would keep me from sleeping with him would be Clay finding out.
I take the crown off my head, brushing my finger across the sharp points on top. “Clay is twice the man you are. If you hit on me again, I will take this crown and stab you with it. Then we’ll see who’s sitting out the next game.”
A dog runs between his legs. I take advantage of his surprise and scoop up Waffles, dodging Kyle to go back downstairs.
I’m still breathing hard when I find Clay talking to a few of the guys.
“I’m going home,” I say.
He frowns. “I’ll take you.”
“No.” I set Waffles down and the dog scurries off. “I’ll take an Uber.”
I’m not in a hurry to mention what happened with Kyle. I don’t need to create more problems between them.
I feel his eyes on my back the entire way out.