Page 131 of The Baller

“Does this mean you’re a Lions fan now?” she asked, sinking into the couch as she sat back.

I shook my head. “I’m a Lux fan. But you know what? They’re not bad, and the guys kind of remind me of Ben and Henry.”

“They’re not as messy,” she laughed, twisting around to the window, “and I like their view. Are you staying here now?”

“Sometimes,” I shrugged. “It’s the holidays, and Lux can’t stay in the dorms.”

“And you’re sure you’re being safe?”

I knew the question was coming and I could do nothing to stop it, but there was no way I was discussing sex with Lux while we were sittingon his couch, with two Secret Service agents at the door. My mom had the worst timing. “Mom! Yes! I already told you.”

“Radley, I’m still your mom, and I’m still going to ask.”

“Did you ask Ben and Henry?” I hissed.

“I did.”

The face she pulled made me think their conversation went as well as this was going. I needed to change the subject. One thing about my mom; she loved gossip, and nothing was more fun than gossiping about my brothers.

“Ben told me Henry is sneaking around with a girl from his work. Did you know that?”

Her brows shot up in interest. “No, I didn’t. What’s her name?”

“He didn’t tell me.”

My mom reached behind her, plumped the couch cushions, and wriggled herself back into them. “What else you got?”

I wracked my brains, between school and being here, I hadn’t had access to a whole lot. Unless you counted… “You want to know a secret?”

“Of course.”

I glanced over at the elevator; the boys were all downstairs, not that it would matter. He’d probably ask my mom to put in a good word. “You know Tanner Simpson?”

She nodded. “Shortstop? The one who doesn’t stop eating?”

I laughed. Yeah, that was an accurate description. “Yep, that one. He’s got a massive crush on Millie. When we went skating, he got down on one knee and fake proposed in front of everyone at Rockefeller Center.”

It took a lot to shock my mom, but this news had her eyes almost popping out, along with a gasp that dissolved into a loud laugh. “Oh man, I bet she was mad.”

“So mad.”

“What else?” she asked, when she’d finally stopped laughing.

“I got nothing. What about you?” I shook my head and shrugged. Her eyes sliced to the right, before her smiled widened into a smirk that creased her whole face. I pointed right at her. “You do! Spill it.”

“Ben snuck a girl into the house before the holidays, and they managed to trip an alarm. Secret Service locked the place down. She was standing on the balcony in a sheet, hiding behind Benny. Your dad didn’t know where to look…” she giggled, kicking her feet back. “If he finds out you know, just blame it on Jake.”

“Okay,” I replied before I remembered the funniest story I had. I couldn’t believe it hadn’t been the first thing I’d told her, or that I’d forgotten. “Did you hear about how Lux and the boys thought Jake was a creeper when we first met?”

Her head tilted in question.

“It was the night we met. They saw him following me and thought he was up to no good. They tried to stop him.”

Her mouth dropped to a perfect oval.

“Yeah, Jake kicked all their asses,” I giggled.

“Wow, no wonder you like him,” she replied quietly, “and I can understand why. He’s certainly someone to have in your corner.”

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