Chapter 54
CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR
Julian
“Where are all the Red Howler fans?” Leena comes sliding into the kitchen, hands in the air. Index and pinky fingers raised, ring and middle fingers tapping her thumbs, she mimics the snapping of a wolf’s snout. “Woof! Woof! Woof!”
My gaze meets Charlie’s at the stove, and I remember our conversation at the scrub sink this morning.
Leena just walked by and I’m rubbernecking to watch the sway of her round, firm ass. Clearing her throat, Charlie scoffs at me, “Try for a little subtlety, dude.”
I reluctantly turn away from watching my girl’s amazing ass and shrug my shoulders. “I hate to see her go, but I love to watch her walk away.”
Bursting into laughter, she howls, “OH MY GOD! Julian, no. You did not just say that cheesy-ass line!”
Shaking her head, she leans a hip against the sink. Laughing along with her, I rinse my hands and arms.
“Okay, I get it. My mama is hot. She looks good in red.”
She’s talking about the long-sleeved red T-shirt Leena is wearing under her scrub top.
The pop of red that peeks through the ‘V’ of her blue scrub top makes her usually pink lips look darker.
It was a struggle to not spend our time over coffee at the desk this morning kissing her.
“Yes, she does. Today is the first time I’ve seen her wear red,” I muse.
Pushing off the sink, we both head for the room, masks already up.
“Oh-ho-ho, over the next four or so months, that will be a very frequent occurrence,” Charlie tells me.
“Why’s that?”
Cackling, she leans closer to me to prevent being overhead. “College basketball season. You are about to witness a whole other side to our girl.”
Her ominous warning had me laughing then, totally unsuspecting. But clearly, she was just preparing me.
Right now, Charlie’s eyes are twinkling with mirth as she rolls her lips between her teeth before turning back to the stove. A muffled “Go Howlers,” is called over her shoulder.
Hands on hips, Leena stares at me expectantly.
“Um, go Howlers.” I lift a hand, imitating her wolf hand sign.
Huffing cutely, she turns to observe the table I’m setting before going to the fridge to pull out drinks for each of us. “Julian, I am disappointed in your alma mater school spirit.”
“Pretty girl, I think you have enough for us all.”
She raises her nose in the air and sniffs. On light feet, I follow behind her. As soon as the drinks are placed on the table, I have her up in my arms and flipped over my shoulder quicker than she can blink.
Squealing and kicking her feet, my hand cracks down on her ass. “I think you're the sexiest cheerleader, especially in these tight little spandex shorts.” I start kneading the cheek I slapped.
“No foreplay before dinner when the child is present.” Charlie sets a serving dish in the center of the round table, wagging her finger at me before going back to the counter.
Leena whacks my ass while sing-songing, “Sorry, Mama!”
With one final squeeze, I carefully set her down and pull a chair out for her. I return to the kitchen and pick up the oven mitts as Charlie finishes sprinkling extra Parmesan cheese over the lasagna. “I’ll get that.”
Once we’re settled and have dug into our food, I wipe my mouth with a napkin and ask my girl, “What time’s the game tonight? You usually go to bed early.”
Snickering from the other side of the table, Charlie purses her lips, and mockingly tells the table, “He really has no idea what’s in store.”
“Oh, hush, Mama.” Rolling her eyes, she turns to me, “Tip-off is at nine.”
“You really weren’t kidding when you said you’re a die-hard CSCU basketball fan.”
“Nope,” she says, popping the p. “Even though the last few seasons have been disappointing, a new wave is coming. I just know it.”
“Their coach has a great record, but I think they need fresh blood to see a change from steady wins but lackluster season outcomes, to consistently high output basketball. A new coach with a high basketball IQ in line with today’s style of playing.”
I look up from my plate to see Leena watching me dreamy-eyed and Charlie completely unamused.
“Typical ortho bro, sport-loving jock.” She shakes her head before taking a bite of food.
“And yet you chose to carve out a spot for yourself with us ortho bros.”
Smiling, she tucks a hand under her chin and flutters her lashes. “Someone needs to rein you meatheads in.”
“I love family dinners.” Leena happily bounces in her seat and takes a huge bite, eyes shifting back and forth between her best friend and me.
“Thank god I like your man, Mama. Otherwise, we’d both still be single.”
“Thank god,” I quip.
“Oh, baby!” Leena pulls a foot onto the seat of her chair, resting her chin on her knee. “You said you hung around with athletes while you were at CSCU. Any basketball players?”
“Yeah, a few.”
“Did you know Elijah Mitchell? I’m pretty sure he was playing when you were there?”
“I did. I even kept in touch with him when he was traded to Philly.” Thinking of my friend, I find myself worrying about him again for the umpteenth time this week.
“Really? Oh, wow. His injury during the game last week was devastating. I really hope what they’re saying about his playing days being over isn’t true. He’s been fun to watch since his Howler days.”
“Unfortunately, his playing days are over. From the images of his knee he sent me and his injury history, a comeback is very unlikely. He’s taking it pretty hard.”
Sitting up straight, she looks floored. “Wait, what? His images?”
Stroking my knuckles down her cheek and neck, I grip the nape of her neck and gently massage. “Stay calm, pretty girl. But I’m going to be repairing his knee sometime after Thanksgiving. It all depends on the swelling.”
“You're going to Philadelphia?”
“Stay calm,” I repeat, holding back a smile, tightening my hold. “His surgery will be here.”
Eyes bugging wide, she opens and closes her mouth multiple times, then she just looks at me in awe.
“You broke her, Julian.”
“Mama, Elijah Mitchell will be at our hospital. Of course my brain is broken. That man led the Howlers to three NCAA tournament appearances with two championship wins!
Charlie points her fork at Leena but speaks to me, “You’re gonna have to contain her fangirling.”
Sitting back in my chair, hand still holding my girl’s neck, they go back and forth.
I was worried it may be a little weird between Leena and myself after we talked and worked things out.
A lingering awkwardness from the first test to our relationship, but if anything, we’re stronger and more connected, easily falling back into the routines we’d created.
Tonight’s dinner is like many we’ve shared.
These are the building blocks of our life.
I couldn’t be happier or more thankful to have Leena in my life. It’s honestly a privilege to love her.