Page 82 of Dark and Dangerous

“I know what I did,” she cuts in.

“It was in the back of my van. You told me to pull over at that abandoned factory on the way home from a game…”

“I remember,” she says, laughing quietly. “I was there too.”

“Youdidblow my mind.”

“My dad can probably hear everything you’re saying.”

My smile slips immediately, and I sit ramrod straight as she gets comfortable opposite me, her legs crossed, and I match her position. She takes a bottle, pours some of its contents into her palm, then dabs her finger into it before smearing it across my forehead. I narrow myeyes at her, but remain still as she does it again, this time on my cheek. “Did I agree to this?”

“You got lost in the whole blowjob thing.”

“Right.”

She scoots closer, but it’s not close enough, and so she adjusts each of her legs until they’re over my knees. I settle my hands on her thighs while she resumes “fixing my face,” my nose scrunching when she smooths the white stuff over it. For some reason, her eyes light up at that before placing both hands on the side of my face and squeezing.Hard. “You’re so cute,” she says in this high-pitched voice I’ve never heard before. “I just want to squeeze you and shrink you and keep you in my pocket forever.”

I chuckle, and she continues her task, remaining quiet as she does. I try to remember my life before her. The nights I’d spent alone out by the creek because I didn’t want to go home. Or the nights I’d spend in the half-court, pushing myself to the brink of absolute exhaustion because I knew that basketball was my only way out.

It still is.

But now, I’m not in such a hurry to leave. The problem is, I don’t know how Harlow feels. I’d had meetings with other schools before, and tonight was the first time she’d ever asked about them. I know I’m leaving the decision late, but it’s hard to make a choice.

Most guys in my position change schools for better opportunities, and that means they get to play the best of the best, so if they stand out, it actuallymeanssomething. I didn’t have that option. I’m hit or miss with colleges because it’s hard for them to see my potential when I’m not challenged the way other players are. I’m well aware of this—which is why I’d always been prepared to double down and prove my worth. But the more time that passes, the fewer options are presented to me, and I don’t know what to do.

“All done,” Harlow says, pulling me from my thoughts.

I pat my face, feel the moisture there. “It’s fixed now?”

“Yep.”

Never, in my eighteen years, did I ever think I’d be spending my Sunday nights doing whatever Harlow just did to me, but here I am.And I know that I have to deal with the wholeelephant in the roomthing, but I just don’t even know where to start or how to go about it. I’ve tried, multiple times, and failed at every turn.

Harlow grabs all the face shit and starts to move away, but I grab her legs, stop her. “His name is Rowan.”

She freezes mid-movement, eying me sideways. “Your secret lover?”

“The scout from LSU.”

She drops what she’d been holding and sits taller, giving me all her attention. “And?”

I gauge her reaction as I tell her, “They want to fly me out there to check out the facilities. See if it’s a good fit for me. The problem is they’ll have a senior next year in a similar role, so I probably won’t get as much game time as I want, which means not that much exposure…”

“So, you might have to do two years?”

“Yeah.”

“Is that a make or break for you?”

I shrug. I’d always planned to do my one compulsory year before the NBA draft, but I’ve enjoyed the college classes I’m taking, so I’m not all that worried right now.

“Can I ask you something?” she asks, getting more comfortable, and I nod in response. “Why are you so secretive about all of it?”

I don’t know if I’d call itsecretive. I’ve just been waiting forherto bring it up, which she hasn’t. Until tonight. “It’s not like you’ve asked about it before, and besides, you’re not exactly open about your plans, either.”

“Jace… I just started taking my life seriously less than a year ago. I have no idea what I’m going to do, but it probably won’t be college.”

“Okay.” I sigh, frustrated that the words don’t verbally form as easily as they come to my mind. I mutter, “Things were so much easier before you came along.”

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