I feel a harsh stare on me and glance around to find Maze watching me and Nessa with a weird jealousy that throws me off. I grumble under my breath but in doing so, I catch Nessa’s attention. She glances down and takes in Maze. “Geez, you dodged a bullet with that one,” she says with a scoff.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Maze is full-on stalker-crazy. She’s had a lady-boner for Slade ever since the beginning of time and she does all sorts of shit to get close to him. I’ve had more than my fair share of run-ins with that girl but I’m glad it’s finally over.”
“No shit,” I laugh.
“Yeah, everything to her is about getting with Slade so no offense, but I couldn’t really understand why she attached herself to you so bad when you first got here. It was super weird seeing as though Slade hated you, but she must have seen something that we all didn’t because clearly, her little bullshit plan worked and she got what she always wanted.”
Maze’s betrayal hits me hard. I always thought we had a good friendship building and then to find out she was only in it for a piece of Slade’s dick stung. “Jokes on her,” I tell Nessa. “Slade got into bed with her and she hardly had a chance to scream his name before he tossed her off him.”
“Wait. What do you mean? Did he not let her finish?”
“Finish?” I laugh. “He hardly even gave her a chance to start. It was all a ploy to get under my skin, so the second I caught them, Slade was done and pushed her away.”
Nessa howls with laughter and her eyes fill with tears, streaming down her face as she tries to gain control of herself. She straightens up and wipes under her eyes. “Oh, my God, that was too good, my tummy hurts.” She takes a few slow breaths trying to calm down. “That must have sucked. Imagine running a fucking marathon and being so close to the finish line that you can smell victory and then tripping and eating shit before you have a chance to take home the big prize.”
Laughter bubbles out of me but is stopped when Nessa points down to the doors. “Hey, look. Slade’s family is here. Have you met them yet? His sisters are so adorable.”
My eyes shoot down to the entrance of the gymnasium to find Daniella walking in with two little girls who look so much like their mother. I smile as I take them in, they must only be eight or nine and from the way they both desperately search the court for their big brother, it’s clear that they absolutely adore him.
Daniella glances up to find a space to sit when she stops on me and gives me a wide, beaming smile. “Shit,” Nessa says, surprised. “She must like you. She’s never smiled at me like that.”
I smile and give a small wave before indicating to the few spare spaces beside me. Daniella nods and starts making her way over here as I explain to Nessa. “I’m sure she liked you just fine. Daniella was actually my mom’s best friend back in high school.”
“Are you kidding?” she says, wide-eyed. “Wow, what a small world.”
“You’re telling me.”
“You know, I really am sorry about your parents,” she whispers, not wanting to draw attention to our conversation. “I can’t imagine what it would have been like growing up without them and then having to deal with everything you’ve dealt with since then. I really fucked-up making those nasty comments. You could have used a friend and instead, I was a bitch.”
“You really were.”
“I’m working on it,” she promises.
“What are you working on?” Daniella questions pulling me into a quick hug before leaning over me and doing the same for Nessa.
“I’m trying to be a better person,” Nessa explains. “I’ve been too nasty but I’m turning a new leaf and from now on, all you’re going to get from me is kindness.”
“Kindness is only worth something if you truly mean it,” Daniella explains. “I’m proud of you, but make sure that as you make these changes that you remain true to yourself. Trust me, if you have kindness come right from within your soul, you’ll truly feel like you’re making a difference, but if it comes from anywhere else then it’s fake and no one wants that.”
Nessa beams at her while I nod my head in agreement. “Wow,” I say, impressed. “That was deep.”
“Oh, stop,” Daniella laughs. “When you get to my age you start to really understand what’s important in life and if I can share that with the young women of the world and try and make their lives just a little bit brighter, then that’s exactly what I’m going to do.”
“You’re too good for this world,” I tell her, glancing around her to see the girls. “Hi, I’m Skylah. I’m a friend of Slade’s. What’re your names?”
The closer of the two gets to her feet and gives me a smug look that reminds me so much of her brother. Her chin rises and I prepare myself for whatever it is that she needs to say. “My brother told me that you’re not his friend. You’re his girlfriend.”
Her sister chuckles and I glance to Daniella for some help but she simply sits back and lets me handle this on my own. “You know what?” I say with a wink. “He’s right.”
They each suck in a deep breath and break into uncontrollable fits of laughter. “Ewww, that’s so gross. Do you two kiss?”
I wiggle my eyebrows and grin, not needing to say a single word to convey my answer. They instantly lose their tiny minds as Daniella shakes her head in exasperation. “This is Emma and Rain,” she tells me. “And clearly, they were very excited to meet you.”
“I’ve been excited to meet them too.”
The Aston Creek Mambas come tearing onto the court and the crowd instantly start cheering on their team, drawing my attention away from Daniella and the girls. Slade comes out with a ball already in his hand, but truth be told, I don’t even think he realizes it’s there. The way he moves with it comes so naturally that the ball is just an extension of him.
Damian and Blake come out and a wicked grin pulls at my lips as Blake scans the stands and his eyes fall to mine. He makes his way to the very center of the basketball court, stands up straight, and raises his chin.
Eyes bounce around the gymnasium, trying to work out what the hell he’s looking at when he drops down into an extravagant bow, sweeping his arm around in a greeting fit for a queen. “Your Majesty,” he says in an old English accent, making the crowd burst into fits of giggles at his expense.
Blake’s eyes come back to mine and I nod in appreciation, making him shake his head before he takes off at a jog around the court, scooping up the ball for a quick warm-up.
“Blake, I take it?” Daniella questions, leaning over so she can be heard over the crowd.
“Sure is,” I say proudly.
Daniella’s eyes light up as she watches him move around the court. “Your mom would have loved this. Seeing both Slade and Blake on a team together.”
“I bet,” I smile proudly, watching the two boys who seem to have a massive impact on my life.
The game has finally started and I watch in awe at just how good they are. I don’t understand how it gets me every time. I know they’re good, I’m their biggest cheerleader yet every time I watch them move as a group, I’m completely blown away.
The boys work together on plays and if a ball misses the basket, someone is always there to catch it on the rebound. I know things are a little strained between Slade and Blake off the court, but that bullshit seems to get put aside every time they play and it warms my heart to see.
“I’ve been thinking,” Daniella says, leaning toward me once again. “I’m going to come clean to Slade. He needs to know who he is and where he comes from, but I’m going to need to work up to it.”
I nod. “I think that’s a great idea.”
She gives me a tight smile and I realize just how hard it was for her to reach that decision. “I’m also going to help you with Lucien. Whatever it takes, we’re going to put that man behind bars so he can’t hurt anyone else.”
My eyes fill with tears and I meet her gaze. “You really mean that?”
She nods. “I sure do
. It’s going to be hard and I’m sure at times I’m going to want to back down, but if we don’t do this, it’s going to continue to bring us down. I’ve spent years being afraid and it kills me to think that the same could happen to you. You’re Chelle’s little girl and if I couldn’t have been there to help her, I'm going to do everything I can to help you.”
The tears fall from my eyes and I lean in to pull Daniella into a tight hug. “Thank you,” I tell her. “You have no idea how much this means to me.”
“No, thank you, Skylah. Without you, I never would have found the strength, but I have and because of you, I can start moving on and close this horrid chapter of my life. I want to be there for my family and I want to be a role model for my girls. I don’t want them thinking that it’s acceptable to hide from things that scare you. I want them to grow into strong young ladies just like you.”
I pull back and meet her eyes. “My mom was really lucky to have a friend like you.”
“No, I was lucky to have her.”
Daniella reaches over and squeezes my thigh and after giving her a smile, I turn back to my boys only to find Slade’s suspicious eyes already on me, but more importantly, on his mother’s hand on my thigh. Clearly, he just saw our little moment and I don’t doubt that the second this game is over, he’s going to demand an explanation.
Chapter 6
I walk down to Slade’s place after hearing the rhythmic sound of a basketball hitting the pavement. Considering Blake passed out the second he got home from the game and that the sound is faint rather than torturously loud like when it happens right outside my bedroom window, I knew it had to be Slade.
After grabbing my jacket, I sneak out the window and take off at a brisk walk, hoping the fast movements will help to warm the chill that seeps into my bones.
The light coming from his home shines bright enough that I can just make out his shadow moving around his empty drive. He holds two balls, one in either hand and passes the balls between his legs as he strides toward the basket that’s been bolted above his garage door.
He shoots, sending one of the balls flying through the hoop with ease and he instantly collects it, reminding me for the millionth time, just how talented he is.
I start making my way down his drive as he turns and begins dribbling the balls again. He comes to a startled stop when he realizes he’s not alone and guilt pours through me for sneaking up on him, especially as we’ve been waiting for a threat from Lucien.
“Sorry,” I murmur, easing him. “It’s just me.”
He props the balls against his hips and makes his way toward me with worry in his eyes. “What’s wrong? Why are you up? It’s past midnight.”
“Nothing’s wrong,” I tell him. “I just heard you playing and thought I’d come and sit with you.”
His eyes bug out of his head. “Shit, you could hear me all the way down there?”
“Yeah,” I laugh. “It echoes right down the street. I’m surprised you haven’t had shit left on your doorstep by pissed off neighbors.”
“Damn,” he murmurs, stepping into me and brushing his lips over mine. “Do you want a blanket or something?”
“No,” I smile, loving how he cares. “I’m good.”
“Okay,” he says slowly, sounding as though he doesn’t believe a word I say. He turns on his heels and gets back to work. The balls alternate between his legs, sometimes he bounces it behind his legs, and sometimes in front. It’s mesmerizing.
“How do you do that?” I question, laying down on the grass and slipping my arms under my head as I watch him.
He glances over at me. “What? This?” he asks, doing the exact move that has me amazed. I smile and nod and he does it a few more times just to show off. I laugh as he strides toward me. “I’m just that fucking good.”
“Ha. Ha. I bet you spent hours upon hours practicing that and I’m sure you caught yourself in the balls a few times too.”
A devilish grin spreads over his face and he turns and launches the balls toward the hoop. They fly in a perfect arc, one after the other and shoot through the basket with skilled ease. “Admit it,” he says, turning back to me and dropping down onto the grass beside me. “You like the way I handle my balls.”
“Oh, definitely,” I say, my tone dripping with sarcasm. “Seeing you playing with your balls day in and day out just gets me so hot.”
At my smartass comments, he grabs hold of my arms and hoists me up onto his lap. My legs fall on either side of his until we’re face to face and I take the opportunity to kiss him deeply, loving the feel of his lips on mine.
I pull back to find his curious eyes on mine. “You saw me dominate during that game, right?”
“Uh-huh. You kicked their asses,” I tell him proudly.
He nods, not denying it one bit. “You know, I saw a few things during that game too.”
“Really, now?” I question, my eyes lighting up as I know the exact few things that he’s talking about.
His eyes narrow on mine and the curiosity pours out of him in waves. “So, do you make habits of hugging random strangers at basketball games, or do you know my mom and I’ve missed something?”
“I know your mom,” I tell him before amending myself. “Well, sort of.”
“Okaaay,” he says slowly. “You’re going to have to help me out here because I’m pretty fucking sure I never introduced you. Actually, I’m positive I didn’t.”
I smile wide, curling my arms around his neck. “Your mom was my mom’s best friend in high school. They went to Aston Creek High together.”
“Holy shit,” he gasps, wide-eyed, clutching onto my waist. “Your mom was Chelle?” I nod and he carries on. “How the fuck didn’t I put that together? Mom always talks about her best friend who passed away years ago and had two kids but she must have sugar-coated it so I wouldn’t know just how horrible it was.”
I nod. I know I haven’t really gotten to know Daniella much but protecting her kids from the ugliness of the world sure seems like something she’d do. “I met your mom when I was sneaking out of here on Sunday morning,” I say, making him cringe as he realizes his mom knew he had me in his room all night. “Well really, I actually met her when I was a kid, probably you too as well.”
Slade goes far away and I study his face, wondering what the hell happened when he grins back at me. “I think mom has a photo of us as kids. Well, at least, I think it’s us.”
“Seriously?” I ask, grabbing his head and making sure he can’t look away.
“Yeah,” he laughs. “I’ll have a look in the morning. I’m sure mom might have a few things of your mom’s. I’ll have to check and ask where she keeps it all.”
My eyes fill with tears as the emotions take over and Slade instantly crushes his lips to mine. “Don’t cry, Virago. I meant for that to be a happy thing.”
“It is. They’re happy tears,” I tell him.
“Really?” he laughs. “I didn’t take you for the happy tears kind of girl.”
“Shut up. I’m not, but…you know.”
Slade’s fingers come up and brush over my cheek as his eyes soften and gaze into mine. “It’s your mom,” he finishes for me.
I nod. “Yeah…it’s mom.”
He pulls me back into him and after brushing his lips over mine, he leans his forehead against mine. “Was Nessa trying to cause trouble? Just say the word and I’ll handle it. Nessa is my problem, not yours.”
“Believe it or not,” I tell him, watching his facial expressions closely, knowing he’s probably not going to like what I’m about to say. “Nessa is growing on me. She came to tell me that she won’t be a problem for us and I think I believe her. Actually, I think I might even befriend her.”
“What?” he groans. “Her? Fuck, babe. You have really shitty judgment when it comes to friends. Do you not remember the whole catfight thing and the comments she made about your parents?”
“I know, but she was sincere and we talked through all that shit,” I explain.
“You know, it takes a big person to come and face me with an apology the way she did. I respect that. She’s feisty and strong, and that makes her my kind of people. Besides, you wouldn’t have kept her around if she was a bad egg.”
He cringes and I know I’m right. “You realize I’ve fucked her….a lot, like not just once or twice. Are you sure you want to keep that around? You’re not going to get jealous or anything like that?”
I roll my eyes. “Did I ever give you the impression that I was a jealous person?” His lips press into a tight line and I don’t doubt that he still doesn’t like it. “I don’t care that you fucked her in the past, all that matters is that you’re with me now and as long as you have no plans to fuck her in the future…”
His eyes bug out of his head. “Oh, hell no.”
“Then we’ll be fine,” I continue. “Unless you have other reasons? Like she’s not going to show up in my bed in the middle of the night asking to suck my toes?”
“Where the fuck do you come up with this shit?”
My brows dip low as I narrow my eyes. “It’s a very serious question,” I warn.
Slade groans and gives in. “No, there will be no toe sucking from her. She’s cool and as far as I’m aware, she’s loyal to a T. As long as you’re sure she’s not going to cause any issues between you and me, then I’m cool with it.”
“Good,” I grin wide. “Because I was going to do it whether you liked it or not.”
Slade throws me down on the grass and comes down over me. “You’re going to be so much fucking trouble,” he tells me, dipping his head to my neck and kissing me there, making my eyes roll into the back of my head as my arms curl around his neck, holding him to me.
“Come on,” he tells me, pulling back ever so slightly so he can see my face. “Why don’t you stay here tonight? You can sneak out early in the morning before Shay realizes you’re not there.”
“How scandalous,” I gasp. “I feel so used.”
Slade groans and gets up, pulling me up after him. I hardly have a chance to get steady on my feet before he’s tossing me over his shoulder like a ragdoll and heading for his door. “I can walk,” I grunt, sliding my hand down inside his loose sweatpants until I’ve got a good handful of his strong, sculptured ass.
Lost Girl: Aston Creek High (Book 2) Page 5