Page 134 of The Baller

My mouth dropped. Working in a rare bookstore surrounded by original works of art – it had been my dream, but just that – a dream, one I never thought I’d ever get to fulfill.

“Wow, yes, please. I would love to come and work here!” I beamed, bending to kiss Asher’s cheek. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” Asher replied, his face much pinker than it had been, which didn’t go unnoticed by Lux.

“Just remember, she’smygirlfriend.”

“How could Ieverforget?” he drawled. “Radley, come over next weekend and bring your essay with you.”

“I will.”

“Good. Now, I have to get back to work.” He tapped his cane against Lux’s chest, and added, “Though don’t feel like you have to go.”

Lux was still grinning down at me as Asher shuffled back through the door behind him. “You wanna stay for a bit longer and look around?”

I shook my head. “I can look whenever I want now. Millie’s probably wondering where we are.”

Lux eased his sleeve up to check his watch. “Yeah, come on. Let’s go and celebrate the final day of this year before we get to spend our first full year together.”

“The first year of forever.”

His lips pressed against mine as he opened the door. “You got that right, Goldilocks.”

“Millie, remember, don’t go trying to make outwith me at midnight, okay? My boy, Parker, and I have made a pact.”

Millie lifted the champagne glass to her lips. “I’ll try to contain myself.

“I’m just saying, we’re ten minutes out. You’ll be alone at midnight; your natural impulse will be to kiss me, but I’m telling you I can’t, because I made a pact with Parker.”

Her dark brown eyes pinned his baby blues. “I can assure you, there will be no impulses.”

“Okay.” Tanner shrugged, like he knew better, and headed back inside to the party.

I chuckled into Lux’s arm which was wrapped around me, and even though it was close to freezing, the patio heaters lining the terrace had me almost sweating, but the alternative wasactuallysweating inside.

When Lux said we were going to their friend’s apartment, I hadn’t realized his friend was a teammate, and the apartment was actually a penthouse in the West Village, high enough to see the Statue of Liberty in the distance. I also thought it would be a relatively small gathering of friends, but there had to be close to one hundred and fifty people here, including our group of eight, because Holiday had decided to join us at the last minute.

Most of them were inside – hence the steamed-up windows and sweat – and where a very rowdy game of beer pong was being played in the games room around the side. A DJ had been set up in the kitchen, along with a very comprehensive bar and fully catered snacks, including everything from fried chicken to popcorn, all being handed around by festively dressed wait staff.

The second we walked through the door, Lux had taken me around to meet every one of his teammates before pulling me outside to avery comfy seating area which included beanbags and blankets, and some industrial sized heaters. We hadn’t moved since.

Millie put her glass down and leaned back into the cushions, wearing a look I knew very well. Trouble.

“That boy is so goddamn arrogant,” she said slowly, her voice tinged with amusement, twisting to watch him disappear into the crowded room.

I quirked an eyebrow. “What are you up to?”

“Me? Nothing. Nothing at all.”

I narrowed my eyes.

“Anyway, I don’t want to stay here watching you two make out.” She pushed out of her chair and shrugged off the thick blanket she’d been wrapped in. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I have ‘nothing’ to get up to.”

“Come back at midnight!” I called after her, only to be ignored.

“I think Tanner might have met his match,” whispered Lux as we watched Millie walk – no,stride– purposefully toward the bar.

As she cut across the room, a ripple of heads turned as she passed. From the front, all you could see was Millie; dark waves bouncing with each step, a slash of red lipstick against her porcelain skin, and long legs stretching out. Her short black dress was entirely unassuming – mid thigh, long sleeves, high neck – but everyone whose gaze stayed trained on her as she walked by was treated to a different view. Cut to rest just above her ass, revealing a toned back I’d spent the afternoon fake tanning, and little else.

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