“She made us fucking soup last week,” he mutters.
I cock a brow. “Was it good?”
A tendon snaps in his jaw. “It’s always fucking good.”
“It’s okay to be scared, you know,” JJ taunts up ahead, observing our quiet exchange.
Beside him, Eliza nods, a solemn expression on her face. “I’m proud of you for just showing up today. Facing your fears.”
Alright, that’s it. Time to eat your words, gorgeous.
I glance at Anson. “Blitz,” I tell him.
Then we explode down the court.
JJ comes up to defend Anson, but he whips the basketball to me, and I’m barreling to the basket before Eliza can catch me. In it goes.
“Two points!” I shout at Lala, who scribbles on her notepad.
On JJ and Eliza’s next drive, Anson steals the ball and sinks a three-point shot. Suddenly, they aren’t smiling anymore. But I am.
JJ passes the ball to Eliza, and I crowd her right side, forcing her to dribble with her weak left hand. She tries to skirt around me, but she runs straight into my body with anoof. A little growl escapes her throat as I force her to retreat.
The ball fumbles in her hand.
“Sorry, baby,” I apologize. Then, like a shameless bastard, I swoop in, steal the ball, and sink another basket.
16 to 18.
Lala groans in despair on the sideline, while Eliza shoots daggers with her eyes. I wink right back, then watch as she and JJ conspire at the end of the court. He argues against something she says, but she persists. She isn’t taking no for an answer.
“Get ready,” Anson murmurs.
JJ dribbles up to him, deceptively slow, then starts to move. Eliza darts past him, forcing Anson and I to switch defense. I see their next play form before it sets in motion. Remember it well from our game in June, when I’d run Eliza over.
She’s about to set a pick.
Considering how badly I’d laid her out last time, it’s no wonder JJ resisted her plan.Stubborn woman.
Feigning ignorance, I chase JJ as he moves. In my periphery, Eliza stops in my path, bracing for impact.
And I give it to her.
Ducking low, I scoop her up and over my shoulder without breaking stride.
“Grayson!” she yells, hands scrambling for purchase on my back. I lunge as JJ shoots, going for the block with my free hand.
An epic play—if I actually made it. But the ball brushes just past my hands, swooshing into the basket. JJ throws his hands up in victory, hollering like he’s won the NBA finals as Lala cheers and storms the court.
“Grayson, put me down!” Eliza shouts, legs jerking against me. Instead, I secure my grip on her thighs. “JJ, help!”
But her teammate’s occupied down the court, heftingLala up on his shoulders. A second later, they’re running victory laps around the court, her wild giggles filling the air as she holds onto JJ’s head.
Anson watches them, shaking his head in annoyed disappointment—but I catch the quirk to his lips. It broadens into a smile when JJ speeds up, sending Lala into a fit of squeals.
Eliza must be appreciating the scene too, because she stops struggling against me.
I jostle her once, then start for the parking lot.
