King of the Court

by Melanie Munton

  “No particular reason,” he replied nonchalantly. “Just that old saying about history sometimes repeating itself. I think it might apply here.”

  The hell it did.

  It never would.

  Although I didn’t have a clue what he meant by history. That could mean any number of things. But Reese’s reaction to him told me that it was more personal. If I acknowledged any of this, though, or let him know how insane his words were making me, he would have the upper hand. Ammunition. And he might just use it to go after Reese for real if he saw how much it bothered me.

  “You know, Warren. I can remember a time when you weren’t the biggest asshole on the planet. So, trust me when I say that history never repeats itself.”

  I walked away to the sight of his lips thinning and a scowl forming. Ha. You were affected by that one, weren’t you, dickhead?

  I climbed the rest of the steps and stomped over to one of the empty seats at the end of a row. Reese sat off by herself a few rows in front of me, more empty chairs between us. I wouldn’t have been surprised if she felt the laser beams I was burning into the back of her head. I knew I was going to lose my mind if I didn’t find out what exactly had gone down between her and Warren. I now had a single-minded focus on obtaining that one vital piece of information but could do nothing about it.

  Or could I?

  “You good, man?” Jesse asked from beside me.

  I think I nodded, but I was so zoned in on Reese there was no way to be sure.

  He clapped me on the shoulder. “Forget, Warren. You know him. It’s the same old shit every year. Just gotta block it out.”

  “I can handle him.”

  He clearly heard something in my voice and decided to leave it alone. Smart man. I sat there for several minutes, tapping my fingers against my leg, my knee bouncing up and down, not paying attention to anything else in that arena except her. Whether or not I should confront her. I had no right to ask my questions. And I’d be breaking my own rule to keep my distance from her. My future with this team basically depended on it.

  But I had to know.

  Because if she’d once belonged to Warren—my all-time archenemy—if she’d once been his girl…

  I really wasn’t sure how I’d handle that.

  But it would certainly give me a whole new reason to hate him.

  Fuck it.

  I climbed over the rows separating us and fell into the seat right behind her.

  11

  Reese

  “What’s the deal with you and Trey Warren?”

  I jumped, my notebook flying off my lap, at Cam’s heated words that were growled right in my ear. Where the hell had he come from? His face was in partial profile out of the corner of my eye. But I refused to turn all the way around and face him.

  “Excuse me?”

  “You and Warren,” he snapped impatiently. “What was all that about?”

  I dug my nails into my palms, tamping down my frustration. I already felt unsettled from seeing Trey; I didn’t need Cam adding to my frazzled state.

  “There’s no deal there,” I told him. “And even if there was, it wouldn’t be any of your business.”

  I felt him bring his face even closer to mine. He needed to back off. Someone was going to see us and get the wrong idea.

  “Then how do you know him?” he bit out.

  I pictured that muscle in his jaw ticking away as he asked the question.

  “We went to high school together in Blue Lake. We knew each other back then. So what? Big deal.”

  He grunted, sounding like he wasn’t buying that explanation. “Are you friends with him or something?”

  I almost laughed out loud at the idea. Me and Trey friends. When dinosaurs once again roam the earth.

  “Uh, no, not quite. I haven’t seen him in years.”

  He went silent for a moment. I could practically hear the wheels spinning in his head. “He said you two had a history. What did he mean by that?”

  Now my head whipped around in outrage. “You guys were talking about me?”

  His expression was hard, unyielding. Skull-cracking was the term that came to mind. “What. Did. He. Mean?”

  Oh, this joker thought he could intimidate me? Strong-arm me into revealing personal details about my life? When I didn’t owe him a single, solitary fact? I don’t think so.

  “There are boundaries here, in case you’ve forgotten,” I said in a stern voice. “And you’re crossing pretty much all of them right now.”

  He acted like I hadn’t even spoken. “Did you guys hook up? Or were you actually together?”

  I laughed, shaking my head in disbelief. “I love how that’s the first thing that pops into your head. You hear those words and you automatically assume I must have had sex with him. Your impression of me isn’t too flattering.”

  He stabbed his hand through his hair, mussing it all up. Damn, but he looked good like that. Like he’d just rolled out of bed.

  “Then why would he have implied it?”

  “Why would you believe anything a guy like Trey Warren says?” I asked incredulously. “He’s not exactly known for being honest and noble. Did you ever think that maybe he was just trying to get in your head?”

  His eyes snapped to mine. “Why would he think saying something like that would mess with me?”

  I pinned him with a look. “Good question. Why do you care about this at all? Why would it bother you if he and I had ever been together?”

  I actually wanted to hear the answer. His reaction wasn’t making a bit of sense. None of his behavior lately had been, and I was in a constant state of confusion around him. It was like he’d invented the phrase hot and cold.

  His brow furrowed, his eyes flitting between mine. Assessing. “It doesn’t bother me. I just would have expected you to have better judgment than that. The guy fucks anything that moves.”

  “And you don’t?”

  I regretted the words the second they left my mouth. But it was sort of the truth, right? He was photographed with a different girl every weekend. He couldn’t tell me he hadn’t had sex with any of them.

  His features slackened, as if shutting down. Was that…disappointment? Surely not.

  “Only anything with tits,” he said woodenly.

  He said it like it was expected of him to say something crass, whether or not he actually meant it. Was he being a jerk on purpose?

  “Charming,” I muttered.

  “Does that surprise you? I mean, clearly I’m in the same category as Warren, so it shouldn’t come as a shock when I’m being an asshole. Right?” He leaned forward once again, his hot breath skating over my neck. “It seems I’ve also made an unflattering impression.”

  I squeezed my eyes shut as I heard him climb back over the rows of seats, returning to his seat.

  No matter what my gut told me about him, I had to believe that the partying playboy persona the media had propagated was an accurate depiction of his character. I needed to believe that he was an insensitive slimeball who only used women for their…ahem…holes. True, it may have been unfair to use his reputation against him. But if I actually allowed myself to see the kinder, sweeter side of him—if one existed—I would most likely crumble under my attraction toward him.

  It was petty of me, but I’d rather throw his mistakes back in his face than have to own up to my own.

  Like my history with Trey Warren.

  We never had sex—not for a lack of trying on his part—but we had made out. Once. It had been at a party when we were freshman. In my defense, I’d never had a boyfriend in my life, I was a wide-eyed freshman at her first high school party, and Trey was cute. Not to mention the fact that he’d been planting his seed in me for months up to that point. Figuratively, not literally. He’d been flirting with me in the halls, charming me between classes, complimenting me every chance he got. So, when he approached me at that party wanting to dance, I’d been starry-eyed.

  I hadn’t realized then how
drunk he’d been.

  Next thing I knew, I’d been heavily making out with one of the most popular guys in our school in one of the empty bedrooms. He moved so fast I hadn’t noticed when my shirt was suddenly pushed up to my neck and my skirt was rucked up my thighs.

  But then he’d tried taking it further. Much further than I’d been ready to go at the time. He’d done all he could to convince me to give in, saying he wanted me to be his girl and he liked me so much. That I’d turned him on to the point it would be cruel to leave him hurting like that. He’d be my boyfriend if I just gave him what he wanted. He didn’t fully comprehend no until I’d shoved him off me and dashed out of there.

  By Monday, everyone at school knew me as the world’s biggest cock-tease. At least, those had been Trey’s words. He’d gotten his revenge by spreading all kinds of awful rumors about me. Needless to say, the flirting and complimenting had stopped and I’d wised up. It was my first lesson in deplorable male behavior, and one I would never forget.

  From that point on, I’d learned how to dish it out. Trey and I’d had an ongoing battle for the rest of high school. He hadn’t given up on trying to get into my pants, despite how hateful he was to me. I’d seriously bruised his ego by refusing him, since I’m pretty sure no other girl in that entire school ever had. He’d seen me as a challenge, one that he’d never backed down from. Hell, I’d even had to fend him off on graduation day.

  When he’d addressed me on the steps earlier, I’d been so caught off-guard I hadn’t had a chance to think of the most appropriate reaction to seeing him for the first time in years. I’d been lost in the memory of what had happened between Cam and I on the plane that encountering Trey had shocked my entire system. Including the part of my brain that was wired for snappy comebacks.

  Plus, I hadn’t wanted to make a scene in front of everyone, inviting them into my business. Opening old wounds was one thing. But all these guys—especially Cam—knowing about one of my weakest, most embarrassing moments? I wasn’t really down to deal with that yet.

  But seeing Trey had brought a whole other issue to the forefront. I’d fallen for the popular, incredibly good-looking, cocky type once before and had gotten seriously burned for it. Despite the obvious differences between Cam and Trey, they definitely had those three qualities in common. If I gave in to Cam’s flirting, would I get burned the same way I had all those years ago? It had been a harsh lesson, but an important one. If a guy wants more than sex from you, then he’ll make your relationship about more than just sex.

  My conversations with Cam thus far had consisted of dicks and…the size of dicks.

  At this point, nothing convinced me that Cam would be after more than just sex with me, and I wasn’t willing to be another notch on his bedpost.

  I pulled my phone out of my jacket pocket when the ringtone cut through my thoughts.

  “You are dead.”

  My mouth spread into a smile. “Why, Sydney, darling. To what do I owe this glorious pleasure?”

  “Replacing salt in the sugar container?” she shrieked. “You know the Holy Grail, Reese. You never mess with my morning coffee. My whole day was screwed up at eight o’clock this morning. Hope you’re happy.”

  I stifled my laugh behind my hand. Syd always had a full thermos of coffee on her way into work every morning. And she used a ton of sugar. It was such an easy, obvious prank it was really on her to have not safe-guarded herself against it.

  “Just tell me this,” I said, gathering myself. “How much of it did you spit out on your first drink?”

  “All of it!” she shouted. “I had to immediately change into my extra outfit as soon as I got to work. I had salty coffee all over my new gray skirt!”

  I just laughed harder and louder. “God, why didn’t I insert a camera on your dashboard?”

  “A storm’s coming, Reese. You’ve been warned.”

  She hung up and I broke into another fit of giggles. I didn’t know what I would do without those girls. I swear it was like we all had a sixth sense about each other sometimes, always knowing when the other one needed a spirit boost. And Syd had called at precisely the right time, what with my inner turmoil causing me more emotional stress than I was equipped to deal with.

  After I’d caught my breath and come back to Earth, I looked to my left and saw Trey staring right at me. His mouth split into a lecherous grin. Then he blew me an air-kiss. Eww…

  Somehow, I knew Cam had seen the whole thing from his seat behind me, watching the two of us intently.

  I tipped my head back.

  So not equipped for this.

  12

  Reese

  I dropped my purse and threw myself face down onto my hotel bed.

  I was exhausted.

  The guys won their game 71-50—continuing their undefeated season—which meant spirits had been high during the bus ride back to the hotel. But the game had been particularly aggressive, and I hadn’t stopped moving the entire time.

  Dillon had mildly sprained his ankle in the second quarter, so he’d be on crutches for at least a week. Colt had gotten a bloody nose in the third quarter but thankfully, it wasn’t broken. And Krys had started to get back spasms during the fourth quarter, something he told me he’d been dealing with over the past year.

  Side note: Cam hadn’t spoken a single word to me since our tense conversation in the stands. And he’d been the most aggressive one on the court. I mean, he’d really gone full force throughout the entire game, just dominating the lane. I had to wonder if it had anything to do with Trey and the fire I’d seen in his eyes when we were talking about him.

  My “uniform” for games ran between team official or straight-up business casual. Which meant either a team polo and khaki pants or a nice blouse with pants or a skirt. Heels or flats, depending on my mood. And today had been the wrong day to wear a skirt and heels. Note to self, never go business casual at a day-long tournament. I should have known better.

  Now my back was hurting from walking around in heels all day, and I wanted nothing more than to chuck my push-up bra out the window and never wear one another day in my life.

  My phone rang. Without looking, I reached out and snagged it off the bedspread, where it had fallen when I’d collapsed.

  “Helmmoo?”

  Yes, that was said with my face buried in the pillow.

  “Reese, honey? Are you there? Do you have bad service or something?”

  Mom. I rolled over and stared up at the ceiling. I was so tired, I couldn’t even muster enough energy to act more excited to talk to her.

  “Hey, Mom. Yeah, sorry. My phone’s been kind of spotty in the hotel.”

  “That’s okay. How’s it going down there?”

  As long as I stayed away from the one person I couldn’t seem to avoid, not too bad.

  “Pretty well,” I said. “The team won their game today so everyone’s happy.”

  I could hear the television in the background and figured she was watching her Hallmark movies. That channel made up her entire list of DVR recordings.

  “That’s good. Still liking your job?”

  Aside from my hands being sore from working out so many cramped muscles, yes. Strangely, though, I liked the aches in my limbs. It made me feel like I’d been doing good work, accomplishing something.

  “I really am,” I answered. “I’m learning a lot and the guys are great to work with.”

  She paused and I knew what was coming. “And your father? You two getting along all right?”

  I’d signed on to this job for the experience. Not to play mediator between my parents. I was not going to be caught in the middle of their drama like I had been when I was a teenager. My dad had never seemed to encourage it. It was always my mom who was just itching for a reason to bash him or cause a stir.

  I wouldn’t give her a reason to bite.

  “It’s been nice spending time together,” I said, figuring that was positive enough without hurting her feelings. “I’m glad I took the
job.”

  She hummed in her throat. “I’m happy to hear it, then.”

  She spent the next several minutes describing what I’d missed at Thanksgiving. Not much. Another one of my cousins was pregnant. Grandpa was pretty sure he dropped one of his blood pressure pills in the stuffing, but it was never recovered. Then she described the entire plot of her favorite Hallmark movie of the week that I just had to watch. No need to now since I knew the beginning, middle, and—surprise!—the happy ending.

  “I’ll have to call Grandma and Grandpa tomorrow and apologize for missing the turkey festivities.”

  “Are you okay, hon?” she asked, that motherly concern oozing from her voice. “You sound different.”

  Because today had just been a weird ass day. Between Cam’s cryptic questions and Trey’s unnerving attentions, my mind was tangled up in knots.

  “I’m just tired. I think I’m going to go down to the pool and relax for a bit.”

  “Okay, hon. Get some rest. I love you.”

  “Love you, too.”

  I’d only said I was going down to the pool as a way of getting off the phone. Don’t judge me. That woman could talk for hours if I let her. But now the idea didn’t sound half bad. I was pretty sure they even had a hot tub, which sounded even better. Ten minutes later, I had my black bikini on and was riding the elevator down to the ground level. A nice long soak in the hot tub and then sprawling out in my king-size bed sounded like heaven.

  I was relieved to find no one else in the pool area. I laid my towel over a nearby chair, piled my hair on top of my head, and eased myself down into the comfortably steaming water. We had two more days left of this tournament, if we kept winning. If I could just survive those forty-eight hours, I’d be home free…and Cam free. Or at least, I wouldn’t be confined to the same hotel floor as him. Every time I stepped out of my room, I prayed I wouldn’t run into him.

  At the same time, I prayed I would.

  It was horribly confusing.

  I heard a string of male voices coming down the hall and seconds later, the door to the pool area opened. Could I not have just five minutes by myself? Seriously? I should have just settled for the bathtub in my room. The four guys stopped in their tracks when they spotted me in the hot tub by myself. I recognized them as players from Southeast Georgia College, who NCU would be playing tomorrow in the quarter-finals.