by Muse, M. W.
She laughed out loud, shaking her head as she approached him.
“I won,” he said cheerfully.
“Where’s your car?”
“I parked on the other side of the gym. I figured it’d be more convenient when I get out of practice this afternoon. Plus, I wanted to see your face when you realized you’d lost,” he said, laughing.
“That’s not very nice,” she chided playfully. “You shouldn’t gloat like that.”
“I’m terribly sorry, baby,” he said, still chuckling.
She sat down in front of him and put her backpack on the bench beside her. “So what do you want?” she asked with a smile.
“Huh?” River’s eyes narrowed briefly. “What are you talking about?”
“You won. You have to get some kind of prize for winning.”
“Oh,” River said with a smile. “Well, what would you have asked for if you’d won?”
She hadn’t come up with a prize if she’d won. She figured she would just tell him she’d hold her prize in reserve until she came up with what she wanted. No way was she going to give him that idea, though. But since she hadn’t won, she could tell him something, in an effort to be flirtatious, that she never would’ve really picked. “A backrub,” she said softly, staring at him. The last thing she wanted was him rubbing his hands on her, but she needed him to visualize that action.
“Oh,” he breathed. “I’m sorry you lost.”
“Me too,” she whispered as she stared at him through her eyelashes. Then she shifted her position and looked at him fully. “So, what do you want?”
He got a devilish grin on his face while he quickly rubbed his hands back and forth. She kept her breathing even and braced herself for the worst. She had no idea what he’d ask for. If he were a gentleman, she wouldn’t have to worry about it, but he was a monster. There really was no telling what he’d come up with.
“I think…I’d like to give you a ride to school tomorrow.”
That was unexpected, so she laughed in relief. “You have practice in the afternoons. You want me to sit around until you get out? That’s not very—”
“No, silly. I wouldn’t make you wait around for me. I don’t have practice on Thursdays. Coach doesn’t want to work us too hard the day before a game.”
“Oh.” She smiled. “Okay.”
Calli walked up, and they all chatted until the bell rang. The first half of the day was much like yesterday. They were all busy in class, so they didn’t have time to talk. Lunchtime was again the highlight of the school day—or the darkest part of the school day, depending on how she wanted to look at it.
They all went to a local burger place for lunch. Calli drove this time since River’s car was parked by the gym, and he sat in back. Conversations circled around the upcoming game and Calli’s routine until they reached the restaurant. When they went inside, Thad, Seth, Ellen, and Kate were already seated. They got in line and placed orders before sitting in the three empty chairs.
Everything had been going smoothly. They’d all been chatting and laughed while eating. Then Ellen cleared her throat. “I heard you dumped Adin.”
Legacy dropped her chicken sandwich and stared at the heifer. “What’s it to you?”
“I just didn’t think you’d be that stupid.”
She grimaced while she crossed her arms over her chest.
“Ellen,” Thad whispered, and shook his head, seeming embarrassed at her tone.
Since they were seated at a round table, she could see River and Calli staring at her, both readying themselves to jump in.
“It really is none of your business, Ellen. I figured you’d be happy about it anyway.”
“Why?” she scoffed.
“Because he never liked you. He thought you were superficial.”
Calli let a short laugh slip, and Ellen’s eyes shot over to her and back at Legacy. “I-I don’t care what he thinks about me. He was obviously out of your league. You were a fool to let him go.”
She sighed, picking up her sandwich. “I’m a big girl, Ellen. I don’t need your concern,” she said as she took a bite. Everyone went back to eating, but the tension was still clearly noticeable.
On the ride back to school, Legacy didn’t say much. She just looked out the window. During summer, she’d had to get used to people finding out her and Adin dating. Now, she’d have to get used to people learning not only was she not dating him anymore, but she was the one to break it off.
When they got back to school, River walked her and Calli to English before heading to his class. Her thoughts were still heavily focused on lunch, though.
“Are you okay?” Calli asked once they took their seats.
She took a deep breath. “Yeah,” she said on an exhale.
“I’m sorry about how Ellen acted.”
“Don’t be. It’s not your fault,” she said, looking away.
“I know, but she hangs around us because she follows me around like a little lost puppy dog.”
“I know you mean well, Calli, but I’d really rather not talk about Ellen…or Adin.”
When the bell rang at the end of the period, River quickly caught up with her and walked her to her next class. He didn’t say anything about lunch. She knew he sensed she was still bothered by her encounter with Ellen.
Legacy sat in the only class she didn’t share with either Calli or River, but unfortunately, she shared it with Ellen. They didn’t talk. She had nothing to say to that bitch, and she was sure the feeling was mutual.
When she got to gym, Calli and River walked toward her, but River turned into the guys’ locker room as Legacy and Calli headed into theirs.
“River is freaking out about you,” Calli said.
“What? Why?”
“He asked me if you mentioned anything in English, and when I told him what you said, he seemed really worried—especially since you had calculus with Ellen.”
“I’m fine. We didn’t talk.”
“Yeah, but, Legacy, River was on edge throughout calculus. He didn’t pay attention to the teacher. He kept shifting in his seat like he was aching to get out of there to check on you.”
“I’ll talk to him after school. He mentioned me coming over to his house to learn how to play basketball. I’m not sure if he forgot about that, but I’ll use it as my reason to come over.”
“What about Medusa?” Calli asked, worried.
“He said she was out of town.”
“Oh, okay. Well, I’ll give you his gate codes before we leave.”
“Thanks. How about we hang out at the mall after school?” Legacy could use the distraction.
“Sounds good,” Calli said with a smile.
They finished changing into their gym clothes and parted ways when they left the locker room. She saw River huddled with his team on the court, but his head shifted in her direction when she walked out. Their gazes held and she offered him a small smile before turning her attention to her own class.
After school, Calli followed Legacy home, so she could change into some yoga pants and a sweatshirt before heading to the mall. She wasn’t sure if her instructional lesson on basketball would include a hands-on approach to learning, so she figured she should be prepared.
They chatted at the mall, and by the time they left, Legacy actually started feeling a little better about her encounter with Ellen. She knew what kind of person she was, so that was probably the worst experience she’d have to endure about her breakup where her classmates were concerned. At least she could take comfort in the fact that that encounter was now over.
Legacy followed Calli into her neighborhood and used the codes her BFF had given her to get into River’s estate. His car was parked out front, so she parked beside him, leaving plenty of room to play at the basketball hoop.
She walked up to his front door and rang the doorbell. After several seconds, the door opened, and River stood with a confused expression on his face that slowly morphed into relief.
“Hi.�
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River stepped toward her. “Hi. I’ve been so worried about you since lunch. I went by your house when I got out of practice, but you weren’t home.”
“Yeah, Calli and I went to the mall. That helped put the Ellen business behind me.”
River nodded, but it looked like he was deep in thought. She figured if she got right to the point of her visit, he’d let it go.
“Anyway, I’m here for my basketball lesson, coach.” She smiled.
River chuckled and stared at her briefly before stepping aside. “Come in. I need to change.”
She waited by the door while he ran upstairs and put on something more appropriate for a basketball lesson. While she stood in his foyer, she stared at all the paintings on the wall in the lavishly styled den off the main corridor. This art collection had to be worth millions just by itself. She saw a Picasso, Monet, Renoir, Jackson, and several exquisite pieces by lesser known artists.
She was so completely riveted that she hadn’t heard River walking back down the stairs.
“What are you looking at?”
Startled, she gasped and turned around as her hand flew up to her chest. River had on some athletic pants and a long-sleeved t-shirt, carrying his tennis shoes. “Er, the paintings,” she said a little breathlessly.
“Did I scare you?”
“Er, I just didn’t hear you coming back down.” She shrugged.
He sat on the bottom step to put on his shoes. “What had caught your attention to the point that you hadn’t noticed this god of man walking in?” He winked at her as he tied his second shoe.
“Ha. Ha. The paintings, you self-righteous prick. They had to have cost a fortune.”
River feigned being shocked. “Me? I never said I was self-righteous…and they were.”
“I, er, used to paint when I was growing up,” she blurted out without thinking, though she didn’t miss he hadn’t corrected her on the prick comment. “I stopped when I got in high school. I just didn’t really have the time for it anymore.”
“I didn’t know that,” he said softly.
“Not many people do.” She shrugged, turning back around to gaze at the artwork again, wondering why it had been so easy to open up to him. Anger reminded her why she was here, and it wasn’t to gawk at paintings and blab about herself. She needed to get her act together.
Chapter Five
River jumped up and grabbed Legacy’s hand. “Let’s go.”
He led her outside and into his garage to get a basketball. Then he talked while he dribbled in front of the goal.
“The team with the ball is offense. The team without the ball is defense.”
“I’m not an idiot, River,” she said, putting her hands on her hips.
He chuckled and held the ball. “I know, baby. But with basketball, possession changes extremely fast. You’d be surprised how often the cheerleaders get yelled at because they’re cheering for the wrong team.” He started dribbling again. “There are different types of baskets that can be made. This is a layup,” River said as he demonstrated. “You want to try?”
“I think I’m not coordinated enough to step into a throw like that. I’d rather start off trying baskets with my feet firmly planted on the ground.”
“Okay,” River said with a chuckle.
He proceeded to tell her, and show her, the difference between walking and traveling, why and how one would get to throw free throws, the various positions, and other throws.
“Right here is about where the free throw line would be.” River threw the ball in. “Nothing but net,” he said with a chuckle.
She gave him a quizzical look.
“It means that the ball didn’t hit the rim when it went in.”
“Oh.” She smiled.
“Your turn,” he said as he handed her the ball.
She squatted like she was going to throw the ball in.
“Wait.” River walked over to her and took the ball. “Spread your legs a little. Hold the ball like this.” He handed her the ball back and wrapped his arms around her. “Like this.”
She nodded as he stepped away. She threw the ball. Not only did it not make it in, but it didn’t even hit the hoop or the backboard.
“That’s what they call an air ball.”
She looked at him, and his lips twitched like he was fighting a smile.
She scooted closer.
“You’re not far enough back,” he chided playfully.
“So?” she said without looking at him, fixing her gaze on the goal. She tried again. This time, she actually hit the side of the rim.
“That’s a brick,” River said with a chuckle.
She shifted her position and tried again. This time, the ball hit the hoop, bounced off of the backboard, and made it through.
“Yea!” She jumped up and down while she clapped her hands.
River laughed while he retrieved the ball—the “rebound” as he called it earlier. “Let’s play one-on-one.”
“Huh?” Surely he was joking.
“We’ll play each other,” River said while he was rolling the ball off his fingers, into the air, and catching it.
“You can’t be serious. There’s no way I’d win.”
“It’s not about winning, Legacy. It’s to show you how to play.”
“Er, o-okay.” This was going to be highly embarrassing. If any videos showed up on YouTube, she’d strike his ass down with the strongest lightning bolt she could conjure.
She got the ball first, but River was all over her. “I can’t get around you,” she squealed, trying not to laugh.
He reached around and slapped the ball out of her hand and made it in.
“Two points.” He stepped to the side and bounced the ball over to her.
She held the ball in her hand while she glared at him.
“Start dribbling,” he ordered.
“As soon as I start dribbling the ball, you’re going to take it away again.”
“Of course I am.” He smirked. “But when I get the ball, you try to stop me from making it in.”
She nodded while she started dribbling the ball. He came over to her, and she turned around, holding it.
“You’re walking, Legacy. Dribble the ball.”
She dribbled the ball, and River reached for it again. She grabbed it and moved away from him again.
“That’s traveling. Dribble the ball when you move.”
She did so, and River came for it again. This time, he got it, but she jumped in front of him, trying to take the ball back. He dribbled to the side. She lunged over to that side. He quickly dribbled to the other side. She jumped over to that side.
Before she knew it, they were both moving from side-to-side so fast that the wind picked up. Her hair whipped around, but she stayed focused on the ball. River finally moved so fast that he was slicing through the wind as he dunked the basketball. As he landed, he turned to face Legacy.
“You’re cheating!” he said, laughing.
“I’m not cheating.”
“You were moving faster than human speed.”
“You did too! I watched you make it in. No human could have moved that quickly.”
He wagged his eyebrows. “That’s four points.”
He bounced the ball over to her. This time, she tried even harder to keep him from getting the ball, and it took him a little longer to get it, but he did eventually. She tried to block him, and again, they started moving faster than human speed. River was all over the court, and she was right on his heels. She finally reached for the ball and was able to put her hands around it. They both struggled with it, the wind howling and wrapping her hair around her face and against River’s. Finally, she knocked the ball loose, and they both dove for it. River stumbled over, and she fell on top of him as the ball rolled out of bounds.
They both laughed uncontrollably while she slid partly off him, looking up at his face. Their laughter slowed while they struggled to breathe normally, smiling widely.
But
as she stared at him, his smile faded.
As did hers.
She knew instantly he was acutely aware of her being on top of him, his hands still on her waist to keep her from hitting the ground when she fell. His breaths became shallow as his chest heaved below her. The look in his eyes was unmistakable. He gently clutched her waist as he moved his head closer to hers, wetting his lips, staring intently.
Then he stopped and laid his head back down against the concrete, still watching her closely, sweat trickling along his brow. She knew he wanted to kiss her, but he was trying to keep himself in check. Because she had let go of her anger and inhibitions for the sake of her goal, he wasn’t the only one who wanted to kiss in this moment.
She leaned closer to him and heard him take in a breath. His eyes quickly searched hers as she neared him. When she licked her lips, his eyes fluttered shut. She brushed her lips against his and kissed him. His heart was hammering below her, but the rest of him lay motionless—well, except his mouth.
He kissed her back, matching her gentle touch with his own feather light caress.
When she slid her hand up to the side of his neck, he banded an arm around her, and they both deepened the kiss just slightly.
She was trying not to think about what she was doing because she knew he’d feel the change in her energy. But she unwittingly thought about it, not because she was worried about her scheme, but because she suddenly felt like a horrible person for what she was doing to him.
She broke away from the kiss. “Sorry, sorry,” she muttered, without looking at him as she clumsily stood up.
River jumped up, putting his arms around her. “Don’t be sorry, baby. I-I know you’re confused right now,” he whispered. He was trying to be supportive, but as he held her, his head nuzzled her hair, and she could feel his body trembling and heart crashing in his chest.
She stood still while River’s hands soothed her back, thinking how she was going to be able to get through this. She wasn’t the type of person to treat someone like this. She knew what she was doing would eventually hurt him. She wanted him to hurt. She needed him to hurt—as much as he’d hurt her. Not only did she hate him for making her do this, but she hated herself for allowing this to happen.