by E. M. Moore
I start to stroke him. “You deserve it.”
He pitches his hips forward in time with my strokes. A brief moan passes over his lips before he stops himself. Because I can, I release him briefly to move past his shorts and grab just him. The silky skin of his cock gliding through my fist. Alec starts to tremble. “I don’t think I’ve ever wanted anything as bad as I want you, Tessa. Not even baseball.”
My heart constricts before locking eyes with him again.
“Oh fuck.” He places his hand over mine, directing the pace. His hips move against me forcefully until he shivers and hot liquid spreads out over my forearm. He fights against any sort of noise, forcing his mouth shut as he trembles his release onto me. After he comes down, he takes his hand away from mine until he’s caged me in on the bed. I haven’t removed my hand from him, and he glances down. “Let me get something to clean us up with.”
I pull my hand away, and he quickly grabs another piece of clothing from underneath the bed, catching the evidence from dripping onto the bed from my forearm. He wipes me up, then goes to the bathroom. While he’s gone, I glance around the room and find Sloan staring at me. I swallow hard. He just smiles. “Not going to lie, that turned me the fuck on.”
Oh, dear God. These Ballers are going to ruin me.
25
Bad things happen in boys’ cabins. Or is that good things? It’s hard to know the difference when it comes to the Ballers.
When Alec falls asleep, I carefully extract myself from him, go to the bathroom to put my now damp clothes back on, and leave. The rain has quieted down a lot, and I haven’t heard any thunder in about an hour. I go straight for the cafeteria. Just eating those few cookies Sloan offered us isn’t cutting it as far as meals go. When I walk in, my dad and Jacquin are in there eating. There’s a hot meal in front of them and it’s then that I realize that the lights are on.
“Hey,” my dad says. “We were wondering if anyone was going to show up.”
“I think we all conked out,” I tell him, giving him a smile and hoping it’s not a smile that says I just jacked off Alec Christopoulos. Maybe not just jacked him off, but within the last couple of hours.
“Get something to eat and come sit down here. Jacquin and I have been talking about you.”
My throat closes, but I try not to show how apprehensive that makes me. The lady in the kitchen smiles as I’m offered up barbecued chicken and macaroni and cheese. I get myself an iced tea at the fountain and then sit next to my dad at the table he and Jacquin share.
“Listen to this,” my dad says. It’s clear he’s excited about something. “Remember when we were talking about how we were going to get you back at RHS without any of the nonsense, I think Jacquin found a way.”
I flit back and forth between the two of them. How is Jacquin involved in this at all? I don’t like that he seems to know a lot about my situation. “Oh yeah?”
“I think since this is basketball beef, it should be played out on the basketball floor,” Jacquin says.
Funny. I’ve been saying the same thing.
“I say you and Lake make a bet.”
“Not just Lake,” my dad intervenes. “All of them.” He starts naming them off while bending his fingers down. “Linc, Christopoulos, Ivy, and Irving, too.”
“Dad, they’re not—”
“No, it’s okay,” Jacquin says. “This will work for all of them.” He turns toward me. “If you take Shooting Guard MVP, O’Brien has to leave you alone for all of next year.”
I tilt my head at him. I search their gazes to make sure they’re serious. “That’s great. I’ve tried to get Lake to make sure this is handled on the court. That’s why I was willing to ride the bench until I proved myself, but we, apparently, all know how that worked out.”
“He won’t be able to resist this offer. He thinks he can’t lose.”
“Yet, he’ll say that it’s rigged. If I win, he’ll just say my dad gave it to me. He’ll never follow through. He won’t even take the bet.”
My dad leans forward. “Tess, Pumpkin, this is a way out. Trust me as a basketball player when I say that we’ll all take bets, especially if it’s one we think we can’t lose. Then, all you have to do is win MVP. You’ve done it before. I know you can do it again. If you win, they have to leave you alone next ball season. They can’t use any of their influence to have you ride the bench. It’ll be fair this year.”
“That doesn’t mean the girls will stop, Dad,” I tell him, reminding him of the fact that the problem wasn’t just the Ballers. It was their bitches, too. If my plan works, and I walk into RHS with all of the Ballers, minus Lake, at the start of the school year, there’s no way they’re going to let me get off easy. They’ll hate me even more, for sure. They thought they won, and if I come out on top again, all bets are off. I can just see it now.
“But we can talk to the school about that. You know I handled that badly last year. I won’t again. The school will need to step up and make sure that doesn’t happen.”
He seems so hopeful that it’s difficult to tell him that I don’t think it will work. I mean, it could, but I highly doubt Lake will take the bet. He thinks that everything I have has been given to me by my dad. He won’t risk it. I’ve tried to tell him to keep it on the court before, and he didn’t listen.
Jacquin shrugs. “I’m with your dad. My friends and I are always betting one another. In fact, one of them owes me big time for getting into the draft this year.” He smirks, and he’s so sure of himself. In the Ballers, I find that hot as sin. In him, it’s just a turnoff.
“I’ll think about it,” I tell them. “But Lake and I are far from friends. He doesn’t trust me, and I don’t trust him.”
My dad shakes his head. “It’s just a shame. The six of you on that team could be something. Even Ryan says so.”
I almost choke on a bite of chicken. My gaze lifts to my dad, but he’s not even looking at me anymore. Ryan thinks that? Why does that make my heart beat faster?
I know the answer; I just don’t want to admit it to myself. Ever since that year at camp, I’ve been searching for his approval one way or another. I didn’t want to believe that he’d do that to me. Maybe that’s why everyone assumes I like Ryan the most. I just have the most to prove to him.
“Some people just can’t get out of their own way,” Jacquin says. “It’s sad when you think about it.”
The door to the cafeteria opens and we all look up. Ryan Linc walks in, rubbing his eyes. When he sees just the three of us there, he’s taken aback for a moment before he catches my eye, then quickly moves on to my dad’s. “I’m glad you two are here. Go get your food, Ryan, then come sit with us.”
I stare back at my chicken, only I feel the heat of someone’s gaze on me. Glancing up, I find Jacquin’s eyes set on mine. I look away immediately because he makes me feel uneasy. When Ryan sits down beside Jacquin, Jacquin excuses himself, saying he has to go call his grandma. My dad’s the only one to tell him goodbye. Ryan and I are just staring at one another. If I keep this up, my food is going to get cold.
“Alright, so,” my dad starts. “Ryan, your mom’s coming up tomorrow. The two of us thought it would be a good idea to all go out to dinner tomorrow night.”
Ryan and I still haven’t talked much about what happened between my parents and how it directly affects his mom. He’s the first one to say it sounds good to him, so my dad turns toward me now. He looks hopeful, and there’s really no way I can get out of going anyway. “Sounds good, Dad.” Maybe it won’t be as bad as I think it will be.
“Excellent. I hope the storms have passed. I wouldn’t want your mom driving up in that.”
“Yeah, it was intense,” Ryan agrees.
He picks at his macaroni and cheese the same way I’m picking at my chicken. My dad doesn’t stick around too long. He tells us he’ll text us both later with more information on the dinner. When he leaves, I look up at Ryan. “I don’t think my dad even remembers the year that I liked
you at camp.”
“Liked?” he asks. He raises an eyebrow in a challenge.
“You know what I mean.”
“I’m kind of glad he doesn’t, to be honest.”
“Really?” I ask doubtfully. “I thought you didn’t like this whole situation either.”
He sighs. “It’s not ideal. But my mom deserves someone like your dad.”
I can’t help but narrow my gaze at him. He just freaking cheated on her yesterday for crying out loud.
“He said it was all a misunderstanding.”
“I’m not saying it wasn’t,” I tell him. “He explained everything to me, and my mom pretty much said the same thing. She kissed him. She kissed him because she misses him.”
Ryan winces. “That’s the only part that I don’t like. Your mom’s nice.”
“My mom’s great,” I tell him, finally pushing the tray away.
“Not many women would let me into their home after what happened.” He pushes my tray back at me. “You should eat. You’re pushing it too much on those runs. I think you’re losing weight.”
My mouth drops. I had actually noticed that there was extra room around the waistband of my shorts earlier, but how the hell could he tell?
“If you’re going to run like that, you have to eat more. Remember, fit doesn’t mean skinny.”
“Are you seriously giving me a talk about diet and exercise? I grew up with the king of diet and exercise.” I’m not exaggerating either. My dad went to school for nutrition. Not only does he have the sports related experience, but he actually knows what he’s talking about academically too.
“I guess he’s rubbing off on me.” He looks back to his plate again with an almost bashful grin. “I hope you didn’t give him too much of a hard time earlier.”
I make an annoyed noise in the back of my throat. “And I hope you did.”
He smirks. “I’m sure my mom gave him enough hell.”
We’re just joking, but I can’t help but be affected by what he just said. My dad being with anyone else is going to take some serious getting used to. Then there’s the whole issue of when my mom starts dating. From what Ryan’s saying, it seems like his life is just starting to turn out right while mine had to crumble for his to get that way.
“I don’t know if I’ve said it before, but I’m really sorry about what happened between your parents, Tessa. Mine divorced when I was little, so I get it.”
Why does he have to be so nice sometimes? It does crazy things to my insides.
I don’t respond because what do you even say to that? I don’t really want to bond with him over the fact that we have broken families. Instead, I pick my fork up and start eating again. At his request, I even go back up and get some more chicken. It’s another fifteen minutes or so before anyone else shows up. Sloan walks in, dropping a kiss on my temple before heading up into the line. Alec, Hayes, Lake, and River are behind him.
I know I should probably leave to give them some time alone, but I can’t help but stare at Lake and wonder if the plan Jacquin came up with would work. I have to admit that it’s better than any plan I have because I don’t have one. I only have two paths to take. Either take Lake down, which I guess could be construed as making this bet with him or let it all go.
I’m not usually one for letting things go though. Once I set my mind on something, I follow through.
When Lake sits, I’m still staring at him. Finally, he looks up. “Take a picture, Dale.”
My cheeks burn. “It’s okay, sweetie,” Sloan says. “You can stare at me all you want.”
Ryan leans over and says something to Lake who nods. Whatever it was he said, Lake doesn’t say much throughout the rest of the meal. When we’re finished, I happily go back to my room all by myself. Sometimes being around all of them is exhausting, and on top of all that, they make me nervous.
It’s like stepping up to the foul line and waiting for the ball to drop.
26
Like one big happy family, my dad wants us to drive to the restaurant together. I get out of it by telling them I need to do some stuff in town before going back to camp, so I delay the inevitable awkwardness for at least another fifteen minutes. The only thing I didn’t plan on happening is Ryan standing next to my car as I’m walking up to it to leave. He has sunglasses on. Aviators, of course, that make my knees wobble as I walk up to him.
“They said you were driving by yourself, so I thought I could hitch a ride with you.”
It’s suddenly a lot hotter outside than the eighty-degree weather would imply. “You’re putting it off, too?”
“No, I just thought they might like some alone time considering what happened.”
I forgot. He’s used to being with my dad and his mom. This is just another day for him. Actually, for all of them, I’m the only extra factor. Damn. Why does this suck so much?
I unlock the car and we both get in. It’s like an oven inside, so I put the top down quickly and blast the AC. It’s been so long since I’ve driven it that the interior has that stale, stagnant air feel. Ryan looks comfortable already though. He’s got his arm outside the door as I reverse from the parking space and drive toward the small town.
When I’m alone with Ryan, sometimes it feels like it’s three years ago all over again. I can almost forget other things have happened between he and I. “How come you don’t let me drive your car?” Ryan asks. “Alec said you let him drive it.”
“Maybe because Alec was nice to me.” I look over and give him a teasing smile. I mean, it’s totally true, but I guess I’m in a forgiving mood right now.
“I can be nice.” His hand reaches out to drag the backs of his fingers down my cheek.
Flames scorch my skin in his wake. I brush him off though. “Nine times out of ten you’re not nice.”
He’s staring at me now. I peek over to see if I can get a grasp on what he’s thinking, but all I can see is my own reflection through his mirror-like glasses. I turn away quickly, pulling my hair to the side of my shoulder and holding onto it, so the wind doesn’t whip through it too much. Otherwise, it’ll look like I haven’t even bothered to brush it by the time we get to the restaurant.
“I like your hair down,” he says softly.
“You’re just saying that because you want to drive my car.”
“I don’t want to drive your stupid car, Tessa.”
I swallow. Okay…
A few minutes later, I pull into the parking lot of the restaurant, and we both get out. It doesn’t look like it’s going to rain anytime soon, so I leave the top down and just make sure there’s nothing visible in the car for someone to reach in and steal. I highly doubt this small town is rampant with theft, but you never know.
My dad’s car is already in the lot, so I take a deep breath and head for the front door. Ryan beats me to it, opening the door for me and holding it, so I can walk in first. He’s taken his sunglasses off now, so I can finally see the look on his face. It’s intense to say the least. It makes a shiver start at the base of my spine and stay there. Oddly, this seems like a date. If it was just Ryan and I going out, I feel like it would be exactly like this except my dad and his mom wouldn’t be waiting for us at a table in the middle of the room.
They both get to their feet when they see us. His mom is the closest to the door. When I walk up, she actually holds her arms out to give me a hug. I go into them like a tiptoeing cat. The slightest movement might make me want to bolt in the other direction. Doing this, acting like this is okay, seems like I’m betraying my mom. Realistically, I know that’s not the case, but it isn’t as if I can forget about the fact that my parents were together for years, and that if my mom had it her way, they’d still be together. Quickly, I move on and raise on my tiptoes to give my dad a kiss on the cheek before sitting in the chair to his right.
The waitress comes over. She’s a girl our age who’s more than likely waitressing during the summer for some extra cash. She’s all eyes for Ryan, but he barely lo
oks up at her, which is so different than I imagined. We order right away, and Ryan’s mom, Leslie, launches right into asking us questions about basketball camp. I can tell she’s so proud of Ryan for his accomplishments, and she’s also doing the best she can to include me in those. “So,” she says, her pinky tapping on her water glass. “What are your chances for overall MVP this year?” she asks him.
My dad chuckles, but the questions only make my skin grow warm in embarrassment.
Ryan squirms in his seat. He peeks over at me. “I have a good shot, I think. Top two, definitely.”
I tilt my head at him, surprised he said that. “Top two? Who do you think could beat you?”
He takes a sip of his water. My dad leans back in his chair, crossing his arms over his chest with a smile. “Um, you?”
I recoil, my mouth dropping slightly. “Seriously?”
He shrugs. “Huh.”
“Come on, Tess,” my dad says. “You’re not one to usually act so modest.”
“Oh, I’m not trying to,” I assure him. “I think I have a good shot, I’m just surprised Ryan thinks so.”
It’s Leslie’s turn to look taken aback. “Ryan always says how good you are.”
“Mom,” Ryan says.
“Well, it’s true.”
“I think Ryan’s my worst critic,” I tell them honestly. “Otherwise, I don’t understand why I didn’t get any playing time this past year.”
“Can we not do this?” Ryan asks no one in particular.
“Well, Ryan wouldn’t have anything to do with that,” Leslie says.
She looks at me inquisitively, and I just shrug. She’s so out of the loop when it comes to her son. She probably thinks he walks on water, too. Why not? Everyone else at the school does.
Thankfully, we’re saved by the waitress delivering our dinners. Dad and Leslie start small talk again with Dad asking about her job, and she, in turn, asking about how running the camp is going. I pay attention only because it seems like there’s a brick wall to my right. The tension coming off Ryan is so thick that if I punched the air between us, the universe would probably crack right down the middle.