Oh, wait. She can’t be with him because he’s holding himself away from her clinging body and scanning for guests over her shoulder.Who are you looking for, Damon?
Finally, our eyes lock, and I inhale sharply.Oh yeah. Thisis why I keep holding out for him. Because, for whatever reason, I’m struck dumb every time I see him. My skin starts tingling immediately, and I wonder for the millionth time if this means my little problem won’t be a problem with him. My body never felt like this with Andre. Not even before…
No. I’m definitely not thinking aboutthatright now. I take a sip of my punch, which is definitely spiked, and raise my eyebrow in challenge.Your move, Damon.
Something comes over his face when he notices his brothers surrounding me. Is it…possessiveness? That’s probably just wishful thinking. Either way, I can’t help but hold my breath when he rolls his shoulders back and starts making his way towards me.
Chapter eight
Damon
Part of me thought Cory was bullshitting when he said he’d invited Kendra to come tonight. He may have toned down his asshole ways recently, but he still loves to bust people’s balls. He knows I like Kendra. Fuck, he was there when we met, and I went from freezing like a deer in the headlights, to kinda, maybe,barelyspitting some game, to basically running away. He’s been teasing me about it ever since, but something must’ve happened at Denise’s the other day, because he’s really kicked it up a notch, sending gifs of people choking and shooting air balls next to pictures of Kendra.
How ironic that after playing professional basketball for years, one of which was spent talking to a picture of Kendra like she was my fucking imaginary friend, I’m still scared to shoot my shot. Well, no more. I put on one of the three outfits I have to wear to the club, thanks to some clutch fashion tips fromHenry via FaceTime, and stormed in here ready to sweep her off her feet.
Only now I’m the one stumbling. She’s wearing a short, ruffly dress that’s just daring me to slip my hands under it, showing off what seems like miles of smooth brown skin. The front of her dress is just as dangerous, revealing cleavage that looks soft, pillowy, and ready for me to plunge my face into. She’s got on heels that bring her within inches of my mouth, and lip gloss I’m tempted to smear with a kiss in front of everyone. Especially my brothers, who are standing way too close to her right now. I’m immediately off-kilter.
But off my game or not, I’m already walking towards her. Already making my way through the crowd, dapping a few friends as I pass, until I’m standing right in front of her, mesmerized by her mischievous smile.
“Hi,” she says, almost coyly.
I’m so awkward when I say “hi” back, I’m surprised my voice doesn’t crack.
“You’re lucky you showed when you did. I was about to leave.”
I don’t know if I am lucky, seeing as the meager dating skills I’ve picked up over the years evaporate whenever she’s around. With the women who normally hung around league bars or the locker rooms after games, I didn’t really have to try. They were down for a littledine and dash, and I was happy to oblige. That’s clearly not the case with Kendra.
I smile wide, hoping it hides my nerves.
“Oh no. You were leaving? But it’s still so early.”
She bites her lip, and I will my hands not to reach out and grab her. Nothing can stop my pupils from dilating as far as they’ll go, though, trying to take in every ounce of her.
“Well, I already talked to everyone, had some drinks, ate a burger. Why else would I stay?”
She’s looking right at me, and now is the moment of truth. The moment when you stare down the defender and decide if you’re going to charge for a slam dunk, or fake right to pass and let your teammates have the glory. Tonight? With her in that dress? After all that buildup? I’m taking the shot. If it’s an air ball, so be it, but I’m no choke artist, no matter how many gifs Cory sends.
“You haven’t talked to me,” I answer. Her eyes get darker; she likes that. From the corner of my eye, I see my brothers discreetly edge away to give us some privacy.
“And now that you’re here,areyou going to talk to me? I’m surprised you’re even standing here, given how much you like to hide in the back and disappear without even saying ‘hello’.”
I shake my head with a rueful grin. Of course it couldn’t be that easy, not with all the times I’ve done just that.
“I wasn’t hiding,” I defend. “I was just trying not to be a distraction.”
She throws back her head and laughs; a full belly laugh that nearly brings tears to her eyes.
“What’s so funny?”
“Damon, you may as well have walked on the runway with me as much as you blended into the audience. You were the tallest person in the room, and you usually looked like you ran there when everyone else was dressed for paparazzi. I saw you every single time.”
I rub the suddenly prickly hair on the back of my neck.Shit.
“Well…uh,” I sputter. Her smirk turns devious. OK. So she enjoys watching me squirm. “I’ll admit I’ve been a bit standoffish—”
“A bit?” she scoffs.
“OK, ok. Alotstandoffish.“ I lift my hands helplessly. “I mean, c’mon. Look at you! You’re not just beautiful; you’re literally a supermodel. If not for my brothers ragging on me about how I acted that night, I would’ve thought you were an alcohol-fueled hallucination.”
