Page 15

FIFTEEN

ELI

I have no idea what the hell to say as we get redressed, so I say nothing. I just lean against the cold concrete wall, knocks still pounding outside the door, watching as Becca tries to unsmear her makeup.

Our eyes meet in the mirror.

“You know…you’re lucky I’m on birth control.” She wipes a finger under her lip.

My stomach drops. I was so lost in the moment of finally being with her that it wasn’t even a thought in my mind.

I grimace. “Yeah, logical thought wasn’t really happening. I’m sorry.”

She stares at me for a second, rubbing her lips together. “It’s okay.”

Heaving a sigh, she spins, leaning against the counter I just fucked her on. My dick twitches at the memory.

The door bangs again from someone’s fist, only this time we don’t laugh. My chest wrings tight knowing, when we walk out of this room, things will go back to how they were. Becca twirls her hair around her finger and starts to leave. I step in front of her before she can twist the handle.

“Wait. Are you… Are things—” I blow out a breath.

She gives me a small smile, shaking her head. “Eli, don’t.”

My jaw clenches and I nod. “Yeah. Okay.”

She pushes past me. My stomach twists violently and I grab her wrist, her pulse jumping under my fingers.

Becca stops, sucking in a breath. “Let me go.”

“Shit.” I drop her arm. “I just… Can we try and be friends? There’s no rule against that, is there?” I’m grasping at straws and I’m confident we both know it, but I can’t go back to the way things were. Not now. Not after this.

She gazes at me, chewing on her lip, those fingers still playing in her strands of hair. I shove my hands in my pockets to keep from doing something she’ll probably punch me for, like grabbing her face and kissing her.

Finally, after what feels like a thousand stilted moments, she nods, a small grin peeking out. “I guess you wouldn’t be the first asshole I’ve been friends with.”

Something that feels a lot like relief pours through my veins, loosening the knot in my stomach and dousing the lump in my throat.

“I’ll see ya later.” She cracks the door and slips into the crowd.

A girl bursts through right after, scoffing when she sees me and rolling her eyes.

Maybe I should be embarrassed. It’s obvious what we were up to, but I can’t find it in me to care, so I give her a big smile and squeeze by.

When I get back to the bar, Connor and Sarah are in the same spot I left them in, and both of their heads snap in my direction as I walk up. Connor’s eyes widen as he looks me up and down, a smirk lining his face like he knows exactly what I was up to.

“Hey, buddy. Where ya been?” His voice is loud, straining over the sound of the music.

I paste on a grin, not caring how obvious it is that my hair is damp from sweat and my clothes are wrinkled. “Just needed some air.”

Sarah leans over, resting her hand on my arm and speaking into my ear. “I ordered you another drink.”

“Thanks.” My nerve endings are sensitive from being burned by Becca’s touch, and I grit my teeth to keep from jerking away from Sarah’s.

I thought fucking Becca would get this need out of my system, let me regain some damn sense.

It wasn’t like this back when we were kids.

Or maybe it was and I was too focused on the ball to notice.

Either way, it doesn’t matter. I indulged in the temptation, and now I need to take whatever this feeling is and tamp it down. I’ve worked hard to get to where I am, and being involved with a student will definitely mess that up.

Only, she doesn’t feel like a student to me…she feels like more.

I shake off the thought, reminding myself that she’s out of reach.

But it doesn’t stop my eyes from scanning the room, searching for a hint of fire.

* * *

It’s finally practice season. Thank God. I’ve been busy preparing drills all day, and I’m looking forward to my schedule being busier. No downtime to focus on impossible things. D1 basketball is no joke; it’s the crème de la crème in both coaching and players.

There’s no time for distractions.

I’m repeating that fact like it’s a damn mantra when I see Becca while I’m sitting in my office. Through the windows looking to the outside, my gaze catches on her walking by with Jeremy . She’s grinning wide, a genuine, toothy smile. My chest twinges, wishing that smile were mine.

I watch them until they disappear, the green slime of jealousy dripping down my heart.

Christ, get it the fuck together.

Shaking it off, I try to focus. It works for a few minutes, but before long, my mind strays back to the couple on the sidewalk. Tossing my pencil onto the desk, I sigh, searching my computer until I find his profile.

Jeremy Higgins

Senior

I stop reading and shove back from my keyboard. What the hell am I doing?

My cheeks puff out with a heavy exhale and I grip the roots of my hair, elbows resting on the desk. I need to get over my issue with him, because the fact of the matter is that I shouldn’t be having an issue with him in the first place. He’s the point guard. The “floor general.” The de facto leader of the whole team. I won’t let whatever this feeling is get in the way of coaching him to his full potential. This is what I’m here for, not to get carried away with a girl I grew up with who I don’t even really like. Or at least, I didn’t.

By the time I make it onto the court thirty minutes later, my nerves have taken over, washing away the remnants of my jealousy, and for the first time in days, a little bit of control slips back into my grasp.

Players are spread out, some stretching, others shooting hoops.

The smell of basketball is in the air.

Coach is standing off to the side, talking to Becca, and my footsteps falter before I regain control of myself and make my way toward them.

“Eli, how ya doing?” Coach asks as I approach.

I glance at Becca and my stomach jumps. Apparently, she doesn’t have a similar reaction because she’s completely unfazed by my presence, and I’m not sure whether to be insulted or relieved that she doesn’t seem to care. “Feeling great, Coach. Ready to get this season started.”

He slaps my back, bobbing his head. “I’ll introduce you to the team, then let you do a little speech. Get the boys ready to go. Just make sure to let the freshmen know this isn’t high school ball.”

I nod, tapping my clipboard against the side of my leg. Adrenaline pumps through my veins and I bounce on my feet, my whistle jostling against my chest. I’m ready.

Becca snorts and my head whips in her direction. “What’s so funny?”

Her hand covers her mouth, green gaze sparkling. “Nothin’ funny. You’re just cute. Bouncin’ around like a little boy on Christmas mornin’.”

My lips curl up and I take a step toward her, zings of electricity sparking beneath my skin. “Cute, huh?”

Her eyes narrow playfully. “Don’t let it feed your ego, Big Head.”

I stand there like an idiot, smiling at her.

She fidgets, looking around the room. “So this is it, huh? Time for me to shine with all this newfound ballin’ knowledge I got.” She taps her head.

“That’s right. Don’t let me down,” I tease.

Becca stands there staring at me for a few seconds, until it’s me who wants to fidget, and then a slow grin spreads across her face. “Wouldn’t dream of it… sir. ” My head spins and my heart jolts.

Is she flirting with me?

Honestly, I’m not sure how to process that, and I’m scared to focus on it for too long, to figure it out. If I do, then I’ll have to admit that, for the first time in my life, I want to say fuck basketball .

I’d rather steal her away and show her all the ways she makes me feel.

But not everything in life goes the way you want. So instead of chasing after her, I lock it up tight, just like everything else, and head to greet my players.