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Her eyes narrow the smallest amount, pen tapping at her bottom lip in the most adorable way as she gauges me before Rory gets her attention again.
Lame.
Throwing my feet over the armrest, I sink farther down into the seat with a loud sigh, making myself more than comfortable.
Originally, the plan was to grab a snack and then hit the court outside but knowing everyone’s content in here, I suddenly have a change of heart.
Aiden’s fulfilled playing with his toys, and I’m the same. The flirty glances I’m sending his mother’s way when Rory isn’t looking more than appeasing.
Hailey reciprocates every single one of them. I’ve gotten a pair of crossed eyes, hair tucked behind the ear, and once—the best one—I’ve gotten that adorable dimple of hers to pop out.
Her attention is quickly averted back to her task the more times my grin has to grow coy. Minutes pass and then we’re repeating the cycle all over again. This goes on for a while and eventually, the arm tucked behind my head goes numb and I use my one good one to pull out my phone to give her a break.
It’s not long before I feel her watching me again, but this one’s different than the ones before. I pretend I’m oblivious, but I can feel the heat behind her gaze. It starts small, but then, like a spark, it grows.
If Hailey was the hurricane, then I’m the one who withstands it.
Stretching, I arch my arm the millimeter it takes my shirt to ride up. The tinted lines she’d created when she clawed her nails across my abs in the car barely visible anymore.
No matter, the low waistband of my shorts is doing me more than enough favors the more they droop, compressed to my hips.
Because I’m a slut for a compliment, my flickering eyes find her shuttered ones. And just like that, everything else ceases to matter. My pulse charges beneath my skin, matching the dance of raw electricity in her gaze.
I’m such a tease that I live for this crass, all-consuming energy.
A surefire way to stroke my ego—heck, any male’s pride—is to get this look, but with her? With Hailey, I not only want to never drop the line but hook her closer.
She’s as taunting as she is alluring and she has no idea the power she continues to hold over me.
One moment I’m basking in the sunshine that she is, drawn and held captive to her attention. The next doubt settles in, clouding the warmth with misery and the truth. The sharpened blades of her deceit slice me from the inside out.
I blame myself for encouraging this facade when I shouldn’t. My hesitancy must radiate off me enough because the fever that’s nestled itself behind her vision has feathered to less than a flame. Still, even in this way, she’s stunning…
I swallow but it’s as thick as corn syrup.
Hailey stays, sitting silently, not understanding my jumping reactions any more than I can grasp what’s happened between us. This shift.
I told her I could get her off, and I plan on holding myself to that promise if it’s what she wants. Better me than someone else. It’s…this…it’s all so confusing.
Bzzt. Bzzzzt. Bzzzzzzt!
The vibrations from an incoming call, the momentary break I need from these shifting thoughts. Even more perfect is the name that’s popped up along with it.
A sigh of relief would not fulfill this wave of appeasement I have.
Going pro is my dream. Basketball is my future. It’s the only certainty that I can control the outcome.
I need to focus.
No distractions. No surprises. Only discipline.
I press the phone to my ear after hitting accept. “What’s up, Coach? Miss me? Long time no chat.”
thirty-six
Hailey
“Iguessit’sonlyfair.”
