Page 19 of Baller's Surprise Baby

“If you care about her, you’ll do the right thing and cut her loose.”

14

Everly

Two weeks. That’s how long it’s been. Two weeks, nine games for Ryder - six of which were away games - five doctor appointments for Aunt Sharon, and fourteen days of texts and calls.

Ryder and I have fallen into a rhythm. He lives for basketball. I live for Aunt Sharon and work, and somehow our schedules never quite line up, but every morning we text and every night we talk anywhere from ten minutes to two hours. I’ve learned the names of all his teammates and endless terms for all sorts of sprints and drills and weight room exercises.

In the meantime, he’s learning about Walter Looss Jr, Neil Leifer and Charles M. Conlon, a few of my early inspirations when it comes to sports photography. When we’re not talking shop about our various interests, we’re playing silly drinking games, making bets, and teasing each other. One night we even set up a watch party for John Wick, because: Keanu Reeves. Need I say more?

So, combine this with the extremely vivid memories of the best sex of my entire life and it’s a severe understatement to say I’m excited that today’s photoshoot will be a new feature on Ryder at his apartment. Apparently he has a nice one, and the director was looking for something steamy and intimate. I’m not surprised at the direction the shoot has taken. Athletes are gorgeous, and they operate physically on a level the rest of us mortals can only dream of experiencing. So photo shoots tend to find a way to celebrate their athletic form.

If I’m perfectly honest, I completely understand why someone would want to photograph Ryder’s naked body. The man is built! And after having experienced it up close and personal I can confirm he’s the stuff of fantasies. I check my bag and then make a mental note to swing by the office at the stadium and hand pick the lighting equipment since I understand we’ll be setting up for a shower scene. Yeah, baby! Only it stinks that it’s never a truly intimate scene since these kinds of projects require a team. Still, I plan to take a little extra time when we’re done and see what Ryder’s plans look like for the rest of the day.

When I arrive, I meet up with some of the other team members and my director, Ed, in the building lobby. After a quick tally of equipment and an outline of the agenda we head to the elevator where Ed enters a code and we ride to the penthouse apartment on the thirtieth floor. It’s a luxury apartment building and if I wasn’t already impressed with the indoor fountains and the soaring ceilings on the ground floor, Ryder’s apartment is primed to finish the job.

I’m not the only one gawking when we step inside. The penthouse is built with raised ceilings so that the sitting area has a clear view up the stairs to a walkway and loft, and on the other side floor to ceiling windows show an unparalleled view of the city. It’s a beautiful property, breathtaking really, but it’s Ryder who captures my attention. He greets us all with a warm smile, offering drinks and waving everyone in. I suddenly imagine myself floating up to the ceiling like Charlie in the old Willy Wonka film, because giddiness is bubbling up inside of me at the sight of him and I feel fit to burst.

As everyone steps further into the apartment and makes their way into the sitting area, I hold back and Ryder stays close, reaching out a hand toward mine and then dropping a quick peck on my cheek.

“Hey Curves, how are you?” He murmurs for my ears alone.

“Curves?” I raise my brows at him. This is a new one.

“Daryl calls you ‘Curves and Cam,’ and he’s not wrong.” Ryder waggles his brows and then winks at me. I chuckle and then let him lift the heavier items I’m carrying as we step further in.

“Would you like a drink? Is there anything I can get you?” Ryder offers, and I take a water. Soon, Ed has everyone coordinated and we spend the afternoon getting the shower steam just right, spritzing and drying and towelling Ryder until we’ve gotten all our shots. It’s a beautiful bathroom, spacious, well lit, and I find myself eyeing the oversized jacuzzi on more than one occasion.

The shower is perfect for today though. It’s outfitted with a skylight and a waterfall showerhead, not to mention multiple other shower heads on either side, making it easy to get the right distance, angles, and lights in a setting far more elegant than anything we would have shot in the stadium locker room.

The lighting is different when the air is full of water, and using natural light makes for a lot of fun. When we find the sweet spot, I can’t help but feel pink in my cheeks. Half of our shots are in profile or from behind, but for the close ups we want eye contact, and when Ryder turns his eyes on me, I’m fit to melt through the floor.

I know exactly what he’s thinking too. There’s no denying the fire there, the hunger, and I will myself to behave like a professional when everything in me wants to jump his bones right here and now. One painstaking hour later Ed calls it a wrap and I finally catch a break. I chitchat with the techs as I pack up, and the first moment he’s free I dart over to Ryder and pull him aside. He’s put on a t-shirt and shorts, but his hair is still damp, and the fringe of his eyelashes is standing out in a way that makes him exceedingly kissable.

“Hey, Ryder.” For some reason my words are coming out all breathy. “Great shoot today. You were phenomenal.” He smiles and throws me a casual wink.

“That’s what I do.” His humor is familiar to me, and I can’t say I’m surprised at the response.

“So, I was going to grab a bite for dinner, and wondering if you’re free to join?”

He smiles at me for a minute more, but then I see his eyes drop and he seems to hesitate.

“That’s…that’s really kind of you. Thank you.” When he hesitates further, I realize he must have a conflict, but his next words are a surprise.

“Look, Everly, I’m not sure this is the best time for me to be dating.”

I stare at him, nonplussed. The last time we saw each other in person he kissed me good and hard, and he’s called and/or texted every single day since. He must see the confusion on my face because he stammers a bit and continues.

“It’s just that I’ve been thinking, and the timing isn’t right. I’m in season, and…well, that’s pretty much it.”

“So, you want to stay…friends?” I ask trying to figure out how this is going to play out now that he’s made all this effort to smooth things over with me and show me how he feels.

“I think it’s for the best right now.”

I hate this. I hate that I want him, and he clearly wants me, and I got my hopes up. I really thought there was something between us, and I was coming to cherish it. So, I grit my teeth, preparing to leave with some kind of dignity intact, but I can’t help one last comment.

“Well at least you didn’t ghost me this time.” And with that I stomp toward the door, not caring whether anyone notices, because I’m done.

---