Page 42 of Sack

“…thirty-six… thirty-seven… thirty-eight…”

A basketball arced through the air and landed in the hoop. Again and again.

And then he saw the player. Colt should’ve known. Only Linc could draw such a crowd.

A collective boo filled the air as the ball hit the rim, bouncing out instead of in.

“Forty-two. Not bad. Not bad.” Linc’s disembodied voice floated over the din of others. He emerged from the group accompanied by back slaps and well wishes.

“Colt, my man, did you see that? Almost beat the record.” The brightness of Linc’s grin could be seen from space.

“Record?” Ivy asked.

“Jackson,” Colt answered, “a guy on the team. He holds the record for most free throws with fifty-six.”

“Well, hello there. And who might you be?”

Ivy tilted her head to look up at Linc and gifted him one of her beautiful smiles. Colt’s jaw locked.

“Hi, I’m Ivy.” She held out her hand.

Linc took it but instead of giving it a shake, he started to bend forward. No fucking way. Colt snatched Ivy’s hand from his before his lips could make contact.

They both looked at him as if he were insane. Ask him if he gave two fucks. No, he did not.

“Ivy,” Colt said, pulling her closer to his side, “is rebranding Colt’s Kids and giving it a stronger media presence.”

“I see.” Colt didn’t like Linc’s tone or the way he eyed his possessive hold of Ivy.

“What?” Did that sound defensive?

Linc held his hands up in a placating gesture.

Guess so.

“Nothing. Just hoping it brings more recognition to the charity. It’s a great cause.”

Starting to feel like he was making a mountain out of a molehill, he gave Linc a brief nod. “Thanks, man, I do, too.”

A boy walked up to them, holding out a ball. “Can I get your guys’ autograph?”

Ivy snapped their picture, and they both signed while she snapped a few more.

“Thanks!” The kid ran off.

“I’m going to head out. Got a hot date tonight and I better get in a nap.”

“Thanks for coming.”

“Any time.” Linc’s face turned serious. “I mean that.”

Colt nodded. “I know.”

Linc turned his attention to Ivy. “It was nice meeting you.”

She gave him another fucking smile. “Same.”

Linc gave them his back and raised a hand, calling over his shoulder, “Later.”

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