Chapter 18
Baptiste
I kissed Harper. No—actually, she kissed me. And all this time, I wasn’t even sure she liked me. I guess my intuition is on the fritz after being single for so long.
Today is our last day in DC, and we’re having brunch with everyone—athletes, coaches, staff— and then we’re driving back to New York.
My chest tightens as I amble toward Harper’s room. Just because we shared that moment on the bench doesn’t mean she’ll want to keep seeing me—and kissing me—once we’re back in New York.
I stand in front of her door, nerves buzzing under my skin, my fist hovering for half a second before I knock.
“Hey,” she says, swinging the door open. She’s wearing her hair down today, soft waves falling over her shoulders like she didn’t bother taming them. Yet, she looks like an absolute goddess. “Sleep well?”
“Like a baby.” I smile, stepping aside for her and resisting the urge to tell her the truth, that I lay awake in bed for hours, replaying last night more times than I care to admit.
We walk in silence toward the elevators, our shoulders brushing occasionally. Every accidental touch lights up my senses. Once inside, the doors sliding shut, the quiet becomes unbearable.
“Um,” I start—but before I can get a word out, she pulls me into a kiss.
It’s sure, confident, like she’s decided something while I was still overthinking. Her fingers curl briefly into the front of my shirt, steadying me before she pulls back just enough to look at me.
“Oh,” I say, blinking once before a grin spreads across my face. “So, you really do like me.”
She rolls her eyes, teasing, but there’s a softness in her gaze that wasn’t there before. “Well, you did pass the background check. That’s more than I can say for most of the guys I’ve dated.”
My eyebrow arches. “So, we’re dating now?”
She shrugs, but her shoulder bumps lightly into mine. “Let’s not get carried away. I don’t have the best track record when it comes to romance, remember?”
I nod. “Same here.”
And that’s good enough for now. At least we’re moving in the right direction.
When the elevator doors open, I take her hand without thinking.
She doesn’t pull it back. Her fingers lace with mine, naturally, like we’ve done this a thousand times.
Our team may have lost this tournament, but I’m definitely not going home a loser.
I feel like I’m on top of the world as we step into the lobby.
Of course, I didn’t fully think this through.
The guys spot our entwined hands immediately.
“Ohhh,” Miles says, dragging the sound out with a grin. “I see someone got upgraded from the ‘just friends’ department.”
I shoot him a pointed look.
“Wow,” Adler chimes in. “Finally. Froggy found his Princess Charming.”
“Do we throw rice or Twix bars?” Beaumont asks with a puzzled frown.
Harper doesn’t encourage them—and neither do I. This thing we have is still very new, and I don’t want to scare her off. Given my poor choice in friends, however, that may be easier said than done.
We enjoy brunch without any more teasing, focusing instead on the food and reminiscing about the tournament. We take the opportunity to congratulate the Stars team again before saying goodbye to everyone, wishing them a good summer.
“So, what do you guys usually do until fall?” Harper asks. “It’s rare to meet grown-ups who have summers off.”
“Well, we’re never really off,” Hawthorne says. “July usually, yes—but this year was different with the tournament.”
“Yeah, we normally start training again mid-August,” Miles adds. “But we’re still working out, even during the summer. At least, I am. Some of us like to lounge by the pool more than others.”
“Vacations are meant for decompression and relaxation,” Adler says firmly. “Beth and I are going to Hawaii right before preseason, and you can bet I won’t work out that week.”
Beth hides her laughter behind her hand. “That’s what you say every time, and then you end up racing some poor kid in the pool or lifting weights at the hotel gym.”
“I do not.”
The table erupts with laughter
“It must be hard to leave it all behind,” Harper says.
“Yeah.” I nod. “But it’s important that we rest. We barely have time off during the season.” I set my eyes on her. “What about you? Are you doing anything?”
“Nope. I don’t really have an off period at work. I do have paid vacation days, but I never use them.”
“Maybe we can enjoy that time together,” I whisper so no one else can hear.
She smiles, squeezing my hand under the table. “I wouldn’t be opposed to that.”
Yeah, if I wasn’t sure before, I am now. I came out of this trip a winner after all.