Chapter 25 Lewis
We’re nearly done with February, and while January was a total disaster, the past three weeks we’ve been killing it.
My stats are on the up, and the team pulled it back—we went soaring up the conference standings and now have a shot at winning the whole thing.
Which is exactly what I need to scoop up as many extra points as possible before the draft.
The draft. It’s all I ever think about, except in the moments I spend with Firebird.
I’m still trying to keep a little space between us, but things are flowing smoothly for me, so I’ve cut myself some slack.
We’re seeing each other a little more regularly now.
I’m waiting for her outside the gym, and when I see her walking toward me looking sexy as hell, my heart skips a beat.
Okay, so all she’s wearing are leggings and a sweater, but for a jock like me, it’s basically the dream outfit.
“Ready to roll?”
She nods. “Yup.”
She glances nervously at the front door.
“Don’t tell me you’re having second thoughts?” I laugh.
“Hell no! It’s just… You sure it’s cool for me to be here?”
“Definitely. I’m allowed a plus-one.”
I haven’t had the chance to see her all week, so I came up with a workaround—a way for us to hang without messing up my basketball schedule.
She’s into her workouts, so I invited her to come check out the VIP facilities that the SHU teams get to use.
She did challenge me to a one-on-one, after all—and there’s no way I could resist taking her up on it.
Today, I’m gonna show her just how long and hard I can go.
I’m about to reassure her some more, when something catches my eye. Or someone, more like. Would you look at that…
“Amir!” I yell.
He glances over his shoulder, and I’m pretty sure I catch him swearing under his breath when he sees me—or when he sees Firebird?
I frown, beckoning him over, and he hesitates, shifting from foot to foot, searching for a way out before slowly walking over to us.
Why is he being like this? I don’t get it.
Last time we spoke, he was super psyched, and then he just dropped off the radar overnight.
“Hey, Lewis.”
He clears his throat, nods at my mentee. Amy just stares at him in silence. Okay, what’s the situation here? Because something isn’t right.
“What the hell, Amir? You broke my heart, ghosting me like that.”
“I didn’t!” He glances at Amy. “I mean, yeah… I kinda did. I just…” He looks around helplessly. “It’s been a lot, man. College is way more hard-core than I expected, so yeah…”
I stare at him. What is going on? I’m so confused. He’s one of the most upbeat guys I’ve ever met, but today he looks tense.
“ ‘So yeah’? That it?”
“Thank you so much for the opportunity, but I’m gonna have to pass. You guys have a great day.”
I stare after him as he heads back the way he came before spinning around to Amy.
“What the hell just happened there?”
She stifles a smirk, batting her lashes at me. “Seems like he’s got a lot on his plate. Which is a shame. Hope you’re not too disappointed.”
“He was looking at you like he was terrified.”
And that’s when it hits me.
Don’t tell me she…
“Did you warn him off?” I ask.
She rolls her eyes. “Oh, come on! Does that sound like me?”
“Yes—yes, it does, Amy.”
She stares back at me blankly, and now there’s no doubt in my mind. She definitely cornered Amir and scared him off. I should be appalled, but I guess I’m getting used to her ways. I burst out laughing.
“Okay, that’s it.” I laugh. “Now I really want to crush you. Time to hit the gym.”
“Hmm.”
“That all you got?”
She snorts. “Last time a guy said that, he ended up with a dumbbell down his throat.”
“It’s a risk I’m willing to take.” I shrug. “You’ve never met a guy like me.”
“You can say that again.”
As she races up the stairs, I check out her ass, making sure I look away just in time when she whips around.
“What’re you doing?” She tilts her head at me. “Chickening out?”
“You don’t scare me, Hitman. Not even a little bit.”
That’s a flat-out lie—when she gets that glint in her eye, she’s positively terrifying. And insanely hot.
I lead her down the halls to the women’s locker room, and five minutes later we’re in the weights section.
It’s busy today, and I can feel the guys’ eyes on her, rubbernecking the hell out of her, shooting me approving winks. I can’t help but smile. Gawk away, guys. This one’s mine.
I grab her waist and frog-march her over to the treadmills.
“Forty-five minutes of cardio,” I instruct. “Think you can handle it?”
She hops onto the machine next to me, stabs at the buttons, and starts to jog, flashing me a wry grin.
I decide to step things up a gear. Time to show you who’s boss.
She arches an eyebrow at me and fiddles with the settings to match my pace.
I crank the speed up a little more, and we go back and forth that way until we’re flying down the rubber, my breath coming hard.
I glance over at her—she hasn’t even broken a sweat.
“I could keep going for hours!” I call over.
“Samesies!”
I shoot her my most intimidating stare, and she just looks at me impassively.
“Amy, there’s no shame in admitting when you’ve hit your limit.”
“You’re so caring.”
I keep the speed up until the timer runs down, and when finally we stop, I grip the bars for dear life. My legs are Jell-O. Amy tags a few extra minutes onto the end, before jumping off with a grin.
I stare at her. While I’m gasping for air, she’s oozing inner calm.
“You’re a freak of nature, you know that?”
“What can I say? Brooklyn taught me to run,” she quips. “And to mask my feelings.”
“You sure about that?”
I wiggle my eyebrows at her. She does the same.
“I’m ready for the next challenge. How ’bout rope climbing?” she suggests.
“Last to the top buys the drinks!”
I win that round, but she slaughters me on round three. She’s one hell of an opponent, and I like playing with her.
The next two hours fly by, and I haven’t felt this relaxed in a long time. I glance at the clock. Time to say goodbye. Coach and the team are expecting me, and this time, I’m ready for it.
“I need to go.”
“Admitting defeat, huh?”
“Ready for a rematch when you are, Hitman!”
She mops down her face before tossing the towel over to me.
“You owe me a drink, Conley.”
I shake my head. “By my count, we’re neck and neck.”
“Tomorrow night?” she suggests.
“I’ll be there. Only got one game this week.”
“Amazing.”
“I usually hit up the Java. Know it?”
She shakes her head.
“It’s at Fourth and Second. See you there at eight?”
“Sounds like a plan.”
I pull her in for a hug, feeling her stiffen against me. I pull back and peer into her face, smiling.
“Not a hugger, am I right?”
“I like my affection with a little less sweat.”
We lock eyes. Adrenaline is pumping through my veins, and that paired with the way she’s looking at me is making me want to kiss her so bad, it’s more than I can handle.
Before I know it, my lips are covering hers.
I take a step back and glance around me, praying Donovan isn’t here to see.
Are you out of your mind? I glance back at Amy.
Her cheeks are flushed, her lips parting for air.
“Are we—”
“See you tomorrow?” I wince.
I didn’t mean to interrupt her like that.
“Sure.”
I start walking backward to the court. “What were you going to say?”
She just shakes her head and smiles.
AFTER PRACTICE, I DUMP MY stuff on my bedroom floor and head back out to join my buddies in the living room. It’s been a tough day, and I’m exhausted—in a good way.
“What’s up, guys?”
I collapse into an armchair and beam at Adam and Lane. A couple of seconds later, Donovan joins us.
“Down, Boner!”
I crane for a better look—Carter has arrived, dog in tow.
“Boner?” I laugh. “So, Becca caved?”
“No, he’s double-barreled.”
“You’ve created a monster.”
Lane snickers. “With parents like that, this dog was doomed to fail, anyway.”
As Lane and Carter start bitch-fighting, I glance down at my phone. One new message from Amy.
FIREBIRD: Did you survive?
LEWIS: Hey, don’t you believe in me? I’m a machine, baby!
FIREBIRD: Hmm…
LEWIS: Hmm… back atcha.
FIREBIRD: Sleep tight, Machine Man.
LEWIS: Sweet dreams, Hitwoman.
FIREBIRD: Hey, I didn’t take Amir out, did I? Just a little light blackmail. He would’ve been a bad choice, anyway.
I can’t help but smile when I picture the scene.
FIREBIRD: You didn’t even lecture me, you know…
LEWIS: Good point. Now that I think about it, I’m mad at you. Send nudes and I might forgive you.
FIREBIRD: I think you have enough imagination to go without.
She’s right. I close my eyes, and I can see her boobs with perfect precision. I suddenly want to jump in my car and head over to her place, but I bite down on the impulse.
FIREBIRD: Gotta go deal with C and R’s new pregnancy obsession.
LEWIS: Which is?
FIREBIRD: Singing.
LEWIS: That sounds magical.
FIREBIRD: Singing to my sister’s vagina.
LEWIS: Wow.
FIREBIRD: I know.
LEWIS: I could sing to yours…?
FIREBIRD: How much of a risk are you prepared to take?
For you? All the risk.
And that’s what makes me nervous.
LEWIS: I’m feeling inspired. Gonna go practice my scales.
FIREBIRD: Gonna go strangle my sister.
I stuff my phone back in my pocket, and when I look up, Adam is eyeballing me.
He doesn’t say a word—he doesn’t have to.
He knows exactly who I’m chatting to, I can tell.
Since we were kids, we’ve always had this way of just getting each other without having to say a thing, but tonight, I can’t get a read on him.
Carter peers at him. “Anyone else feel like Adam’s weird, lately?”
I stare at my childhood buddy a while longer, and I can’t help but agree. Something is different about him, Cart’s right. I search Adam’s face, trying to put my finger on exactly what…
“Oh my God!” I jab a finger at him.
“What? What’s up?” He frowns.
I lean in for a better look. “He did it! Adam actually fucking did it!”
“What?” Lane whips around. “He did it?”
“Look at him! Look at the glint in his eyes!” Carter gasps. “I knew something felt weird.”
Adam flaps his arms around his face, warding us off. “Are you guys for real?”
“Please tell me you didn’t sleep with my sister.” Donovan mimes outrage. “Absolute disgrace, dude!”
“Hey, that’s my line!”
“Damn.” Don grins. “Shame Carrie wasn’t here to hear that.”
I raise my hands in the air. “Adam isn’t a virgin anymore—I can finally die happy.”
Don’s eyes are shining. “We can finally talk dick!”
“Shame Carrie wasn’t here to hear that,” Lane snorts.
Adam rolls his eyes. “Like that ever stopped you guys before.”
“So? What was it like?”
“Stop! Everyone keeps forgetting she’s my goddamn sister!”
Adam rubs his temples before leaping to his feet. “I’m going to bed—you guys are exhausting.”
“Even the way he walks is different.”
Don starts clapping. “Well done, man.”
“You’re my hero,” I say, pumping the air with my fist.
Adam slinks off to bed, and it doesn’t take me long to follow suit, drifting off as soon as my head hits the pillow.
The next morning, I don’t have class until eleven, so I treat myself to a lazy morning. I whip off the comforter and reach for my phone, and when I spot two missed calls and a voicemail from a sports journo buddy of mine, I flop back on the bed and hit play.
“Hey, Lewis—call me back! I lined up two tryouts for you. Charlotte and Atlanta.”
No freaking way.
I play the message back on loop, letting it sink in, my heart pounding like crazy when I finally hit dial.
“Lewis!”
“Sorry, Seb—I slept in. Talk to me!”
“Well, I’ve been pimping you out to the Hawks and Hornets guys. Showed ’em your stats, and they’re totally down for you hitting up their workouts. Starting today.”
“Holy fucking shit!”
“My thoughts exactly.”
My mind is whirring. “Wait, today? How am I supposed to get there in time?”
“Well, because I just happen to be the awesomest friend in the whole world, I got straight on it and booked you a flight. It leaves in…” He pauses. “Damn. It leaves in ninety. You’re normally an early riser. I can still cancel if that doesn’t work for you, though,” he adds.
“You freaking kidding me? Of course it works for me! Dude, thank you so, so much.”
“Hey, no problem, Conley. I’m gonna get you to sign an exclusive for the interviews. And I need photos of your ass for the Big Balls column.”
“Consider it done.”
“What? You’re okay with that?” He laughs. “Okay, so let’s recap—today you’re in Charlotte, Thursday you’ll be heading to Atlanta. I got you a return for Friday afternoon so you can chill before the game on Sunday.”
“Perfect.”
“I’ll email over the details and some contacts.”
I smile. “You’re the best, Seb. Thanks again.”
“Good luck, kid. Keep me posted, okay?”
When I hang up, I make a beeline for the closet, stuffing clothes into a suitcase, working through a mental list of everything I need to do before I get on that plane.
Message Don and get him to tell Coach. Email the college and tell them I’ll be gone until Friday.
Get in touch with Amy and let her know I’m heading off.
I dash into Adam’s room to ask for a ride to the airport, then whip out my laptop, drag up my NBA team spreadsheet, and send it over to my tablet.
It’s not just the tryouts I need to worry about. I’ll be interviewed, too, and I want to show them I know everything there is to know about their gameplay tactics and stats for the past few years.
I plan on using the flight to prep. I’m surprised by how cool, calm, and collected I feel. The stars seem to be aligning for me—I’m so close I can taste it. I need to focus on this, now.
For the time being, nothing else matters.