Page 49 of Who’s Playing You (In The Nick of Time #1)

NICK SOBA

“ M y long lost brother! Come over here asshole, and give me a hug!” That’s what was yelled at me from the fifty yard line from none other than my best friend, Nik Papas. “Loving and I were seriously starting to wonder if you were sent into WITSEC or something.”

He grabbed me and gave me a big bear hug. “Missed you too, buddy,” I replied and meant it.

“Look at our boy,” he started as he assessed me. “All grown up. How ya’ feeling today? Ready to go? Any injuries or anything?”

“Nah, man. I’m good to go. I hate that I have to make you lose your first official game in the pros though, sucks to be you,” I couldn’t help the full-on grin that took over my face.

“Ahh, fuck you asshole. I see New York hasn’t beat the cocky out of you yet. Well, maybe my team and I can.”

“Not likely,” I replied.

“Well, we’ll leave it all out on the field. How about that?”

“Fair enough.”

“So then, where’s this infamous Scottie?

Loving’s pissed by the way that I’m meeting her before him.

You wouldn’t believe the phone call I got after you introduced the two of them,” he says as he shakes his head in an unbelieving way while laughing.

“He said that in all the years that you two were fucking around in those,” he got closer to me and whispered so no one would overhear, “sex clubs, that you never once touched a woman, or a man for that matter. So imagine our surprise when after all this time, in a matter of weeks after you leave our sights - BAM! You’re talking marriage and a baby in a baby carriage!

Shit, Nick, we thought you’d lost your fucking mind for sure. ”

“Well, I haven’t,” I replied feeling indignant.

“Oh calm your tits. Geez, so touchy. Must be something in this New York water or something because look at you - all wound up so tight. I thought getting some on the regular was supposed to have the opposite effect… or wait! Wait a minute. Have you two not bumped uglies yet and is that why you’re so… ”

Before he could continue I cut him off, “For the love of God, would you shut the fuck up?!” To which he just laughed.

Now it was my turn to lean in, “Would I have told you two dickheads that I was working on knocking her up if we weren’t having sex?

Maybe you missed that day in biology class when the birds and bees were explained, but the P has to go in the V for that shit to… ”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah Mr. Bachelors of Sex Ed. Whatever. So where’s the little lady? You’ll have to get a picture of me with her so I can send it to Loving.”

“I’m seriously reconsidering introducing you,” I began but he bent at the waist, laughing.

“Aww come on. Don’t be such a sensitive little bitch, introduce me to your lady friend, the future Mrs. Diva.”

“I swear to God and all that is sacred to you, Papas, if you say or do anything…”

“Would you relax? Your mother taught me manners just as she did you, so why don’t you show yours right now and make some introductions? Hmm?”

“Speaking of my mother, she’ll be here soon too.”

“Ooooo, Mommy Soba! I bet she’s looking fine as always,” to which I just glared at Nik.

“Oh come on, your mom is hot. You know it, I know it, everyone knows it. Why do you think I like my women older? It’s all because of your mom.

Your dad is one lucky fucker. Ooo! You think she’ll get on one of those lists now that you’re in the pros and she’ll get like ranked or rated?

One of those pros players’ hottest moms lists?

I bet she’d beat all those other MILFs out. ”

And with that remark, I turned my back to him and walked off the field - full-well knowing he was right behind me, laughing the entire way.

Fucker .

The double doors to the VIP suite were open and all I could hear was Mr. Banks’ loud laugh. Figuring Scottie probably wouldn’t be in the middle of all of the noise and chaos that usually followed The Rage’s owner, I began searching for her on the opposite side of the room.

Coming up empty, my eyes returned to Mr. Banks, and the group of people circled around him. And sure as I’d pushed my cum inside Scottie just this morning, there she was: right in the middle of all of the noise. Sandwiches between Mr. and Mrs. Banks - and my parents.

Oh fucking hell.

I had tried to time it so that I’d be up here to get her, show her around, and introduce her to Nik. By the time we would have been done doing all of that, my parents would have arrived and my plan was to introduce them then.

But that carefully laid out plan appeared to be well out the window by the looks of things.

Of course my mom spotted me first, “Nick!” she beamed at me. “And Nik! Oh my gosh, what a surprise,” she said as she approached both of us. “Nik, I didn’t think I’d get to see you, seeing as how you’re over in enemy territory,” she said to my brother from another mother before she started laughing.

Nik was quick to wrap my mom in a hug, “Aww, come on Mrs. Soba. Don’t joke with me like that. I thought you’d be up here wearing my jersey for a change.”

“Your next game, I certainly will, alright sweetheart?”

“Fair enough. Hey! It’s the big guy. How’s it hanging Mr. Soba?”

My dad came between my mom and Nik and wrapped him up in a big hug. “Geez, what am I? Chopped liver?” to which my mom began laughing and hugged me.

“Jealousy doesn’t suit you,” she simply stated, but I was barely listening because past her shoulder I saw Scottie being monopolized by Mr. and Mrs. Banks.

After releasing me from her hug, my mom followed my line of sight and said, “Ah, yeah, so you might want to go and rescue her.” And then she gave me a knowing look.

As I approached the Bankses and Scottie, a look of pure relief flowed through Scottie’s entire body. As Mr. Banks saw me, “There he is! You ready for this, son?”

I gave him a curt nod, “Mr. Banks. Mrs. Banks. Yes sir, as ready as I’ll ever be. I’m confident in our team.”

“I guess we’ll see when ya lay it all out on that field, now won’t we? And Nick! Son, you’ve been holding out on us. You’ve been keeping this young lady all to yerself, which, if you ask my wife, is a crime against the whole art community - and probably humanity.”

“Oh, Atticus,” Mrs. Banks admonished him and gently swatted his big belly. “But also,” she began and gave me all her attention, “he’s a million percent right. This young woman is… why she’s amazing!”

I put my arm around Scottie and couldn’t help but grin. “I’m fully aware. I’m glad others see what I see. She’s the most amazing person.”

Mr. and Mrs. Banks continued to praise Scottie a few more times before I was able to steal her away and steer her towards where my parents and Nik had congregated.

“This must be the infamous Scottie!” Nik beamed at her once he saw us approach. He stepped forward and the fucker stole her from my arms, wrapping her up in not just a bear hug but literally picking her up off the ground.

As he put her down I was quick to scoop her back under my arm, my parents both just stood there, expectantly with eyebrows raised. “Mom, dad, this is Scottie. My girlfriend.”

“Oh man! I’m here for the meet-the-parents too?

” Nik was gleefully doing a little dance.

“Loving is going to be furious. I fucking love this. Maybe I should get him on FaceTime,” he mumbled as he went to grab for his phone but realized he was already suited up in his Warriors gear.

Giving up the search for his phone he continued, “Go on, go on. Ignore me.”

I just gave him a long stare while my mother looked from Nik like she expected nothing else but for him to behave like this, before looking at Scottie again. Meanwhile, I felt Scottie shaking from nerves if I had to guess.

“You finally did it, huh?” my dad said.

Scottie, Nik and I all looked to my dad. “Did what?” I asked.

“Asked her out. Took ya long enough, geez,” he said while chuckling and looking to my mom.

“Seriously!” my mom replied while also letting out a laugh, Nik joining them now.

Scottie was shuffling from one foot to the other, uncertain of how this was all playing out. “I mean…” I began, totally not knowing how to respond.

But my mother being the saint she is, came to my rescue, “Scottie, since that first time you came home with Nat, this one here,” she said as she gestured to me, “was all goo-goo-ga-ga over you.”

“ Mommm ,” I began, but then realized that I didn’t care anymore if Scottie knew that I’d been pining for her for so long.

“Oh hush, you’re a grown man. You can own your actions. And ever since then, don’t think that we didn’t notice your crush on this beautiful, sweet and smart young lady.” Hearing this, Scottie visibly relaxed in my arms.

“Now come with me Scottie, you and I are going to catch up,” my mom began as she pulled Scottie from my arms. “Besides, don’t you two have a game to play?” she said as she raised her eyebrow at us.

Nik, ever the kiss-ass, “Yes, ma’am!”

“Good luck to both of you. Play smart, but above all, play safe. And have some fun, would ‘ya?”

With that, she stole Scottie away and dismissed us.

“You heard the lady, it’s time to play ball,” my dad said as he patted both of our shoulders and followed the girls over to a seating area by the window.

“Well, I’d say that that went well,” Nik said.

“A little too well… I think my mom just stole my girlfriend, and I didn’t even get a good luck kiss from her.”

“I’m sure your mom will still give you one.”

I just glared at him. “I meant from Scottie , you dipshit!”