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Cassie felt herself melt at JJ’s words. The girl had wormed her way into Cassie’s heart just like her dad had.
“Besides, I gotta teach you how to play catch. I’ve never seen a grown up as awful as you.”
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“Where you been lately, Jenkins?” Trevin, the power forward for the Thunder, asked Jamal. Practice was over, but the two of them had stayed later than the rest of the guys, getting some more shooting in before they played the Grizzlies the next night. Now that Kyle was gone, Trevin was Jamal’s closest friend. They played together in college, Trevin getting traded to the Thunder from Orlando Magic two years before.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Jamal replied. “I’ve been here.”
“Yeah, you’ve been here,” Trevin said, motioning to the court. “But you haven’t beenhere,”he continued, tapping his head. “What gives?”
“Nothing,” Jamal replied. “Just been busy.”
“Busy with that black-haired beauty you kissed on national television?”
Jamal grinned. “Maybe.”
“So you’re the next one in line to bite the bullet, huh? First Kyle and now you. You’re gonna leave me the bachelor and player of the three of us.”
“Man, you know I was never a player,” Jamal said.
Trevin shot him a knowing look. “I know that. But the world didn’t. What’s gonna happen when all the ladies figure out you’re off the market?”
Jamal shrugged his shoulders. “Don’t know. Don’t care. You know what did it for me?”
“What?”
“She likes my kid. Not fake likes. Shereallyhas a bond with her. In fact, they’re shopping right now.Girlyshopping.”
“What?!” Trevin said incredulously. “Your girl in something other than athletic clothes? I don’t think I believe it.”
Jamal laughed. “I’m not sure I believe it, either. But she’s gonna try.”
Just then, Aria walked into the arena, grabbing a sheet of paper off the scorer’s table.
“Man, she’s a hottie,” Trevin said, staring at Aria in her skin-tight short shorts and tank top that gave the guys a peek at her ample cleavage. “I’d like to get to knowthatone.”
Jamal punched his friend on the shoulder. “Remember, she’s a person, man. And a pretty nice one, even though her attire would suggest something otherwise. But her hair suits her. She is definitely a firecracker.”
Trevin raised his eyebrows. “How do you know so much about her? Did you date her?”
Jamal shook his head. “She’s friends with Cassie.”
“Introducing you to her friends already? You’re definitely whipped.”
Aria turned away from the table and gave Jamal and Trevin a wave. “Hey Jamal!”
“What are you doing here, Red?” Jamal asked. “You not go shopping with the girls?”
“Nah,” she replied. “I had to work a shift at the bar.” Aria’s dad owned A Shot of Whiskey, a hip bar in Bricktown. “One of the girls called in sick so my dad asked me to help out. But that means I missed next week’s new routine, so I had to come get the copy that Vanessa left me.”
“Wanna show us the routine?” Trevin asked Aria with a wink. “We can critique it for you.”
Aria rolled her eyes. “No thanks. I think I got this on my own. But you two have fun shooting.”
Trevin continued to stare at Aria’s shapely backside as she walked out of the arena. “I think she likes me,” he said to Jamal with a grin.
It was Jamal’s turn to roll his eyes. “Yeah, her total rejection of you critiquing her routine was a big indication that she wants you, man. I can tell.”
