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My friend growls, lunging for the ball, but she spins away, making quick work of scoring another three-pointer.
The score is now tied at eleven, but it doesn't stay that way for long.
Mikayla is relentless and makes quick work of running Asher ragged. He manages a couple of lay-ups, but she demolishes him on three-pointers. The second the ball swishes through the net to make the score twenty-three to eighteen, we all start jumping in victory.
Casey springs onto Liam's back like we've just scored a winning goal in hockey. Riley and Connor are both cheering while Mikayla gathers the ball and skips past Asher with a girly grin.
“Here you go.” She hands the basketball over, batting her eyelashes at him.
He glares at her, muttering, “Well played,” but as she skips over to me, I see his lips twitching. There's a glow of admiration in his eyes, and I can't believe she's mine.
I catch her in my arms the second she's within reach, loving the way her legs tuck around my waist. I hold her securely with one arm while cradling the back of her neck with my hand.
“I fucking love you.”
She laughs. “I fucking love you too.”
Pulling her down to my mouth, I show her with a searing kiss that owns us both. Her tongue swipes against mine, her legs tightening around me as she clings to my shoulders and deepens the kiss.
I moan against her mouth, already calculating how fast I can run from the court to my bedroom, when a loud screech from the fence pulls us apart.
“Mikayla Evelyn Hyde, you stop that right now!”
Mick rips her mouth away from mine with a gasp, her entire body tensing as she gazes over my shoulder. I turn with her still in my arms and spot an immaculately dressed woman clipping her way onto the court.
“Oh shit,” Mick whispers under her breath.
“Who is that?”
“My mother.” Mikayla wriggles out of my arms. I set her down but keep a protective hand on the back of her neck until she murmurs, “Wait here, okay?”
She moves away from me, and I'm about to ignore her request. The woman storming toward us right now looks mega pissed.
But then my lil’ mouse turns and fires a pleading look at me. “Please. Just… stay here. All of you.” Her eyes brush over my friends, and we nod, respecting her need for privacy.
Against the instincts firing through me, I watch her run toward what feels like obvious danger and hold my ground. But I'm not taking my eyes off her for one second.
CHAPTER47
MIKAYLA
“Hey, Mom.” I try to keep my voice light as I slow to a stop in front of her.
She narrows her glare on me, a laser-focused look that fries my insides. Her nostrils are flaring too—never a good sign.
“What are you doing here?” I run a hand down my ponytail, wondering what she’s most annoyed about.
Was it the fact that I was playing tongue twister in public with Ethan? Or maybe it’s because I’m hanging with a bunch of guys—something she’s always hated me doing. Apparently, ladies don’t hang out with a bunch of sweaty men. It’s improper.
Yeah, we’re in the 2020s and my mother is still using words likeimproper.
I’m pretty sure if she had her way, she’d be strapping me into a corset and making sure my ankles were covered.
“Who is that?”
“Um…” I glance over my shoulder and cringe at Ethan before turning back to just say it. “That’s my boyfriend.”
“Hm.” She lifts her chin. “You’ve never mentioned him.”
