Page 60 of The Baller

“Where are you? You look gross and sweaty.”

“At the gym working my butt off.”

Her eyes widened, and I already knew what the next question would be. “Is Ace with you?”

I laughed and shook my head; it was no secret that my youngest sister had a mad crush on Ace, while Sienna had already told me too many times to count that she was in love with Tanner.

“No, I’m with my friend, Radley.” I moved the cell screen so she could see Radley in the distance.

“Oooh. Is she your girlfriend?”

My eyes flicked to Radley’s reflection in the mirror. She was near enough, and Maddie was loud enough, that she could hear every word, but she seemed to be concentrating too hard on the curl of the bar to be paying attention.

“No,” I shook my head, and dropped my voice, “but if I tell you something, promise you’ll keep it a secret?”

Maddie drew a finger across her lips and threw away an invisible key, as solemnly as if she was swearing an oath. I believed her; Sienna was the big mouth of the family.

“I want her to be.”

“Lux has a girlfriend!” Her squeal was loud enough that Radley’s head turned to face me, right as I cringed.

Great. Outed by my sister.

“Hey! Shhhhh. You promised.”

“I promise I won’t tell you have a girlfriend.”

“Hey, Snotbag, stop saying ‘girlfriend’!”

She threw her head back with a laugh like she was the funniest comedian to ever walk the planet. I merely rolled my eyes.

“Madison, are you calling to make fun of your big brother, or did you need something?”

She stopped laughing, though the smile never dropped. “I was calling to tell you I won my race.”

“Hey! Way to go! I’m so proud of you. It must be those long, skinny legs you have; no one can out pace them.”

“Yeah, like yours,” she snorted with a laugh. My legs were anything but skinny.

I turned as Radley dropped onto the bench next to me with a smile. “Hey, Maddie, I gotta go, but I’ll call you later, ‘kay? I love you.”

“Love you, Snotbag. Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone you have a girlfriend.”

I closed my eyes, took a deep breath and held in the groan that really wanted to let itself free. “Thank you.”

The screen went black before I could say goodbye.

I knew Radley was staring at me, though I wasn’t quite ready to look up.

It had been a little over a month since I’d seen her in the bookstore, and a matter of weeks since the day I’d taken her to Asher’s. We messaged or talked daily. We’d been on three runs together, and if you counted them – which I did – then this, the Lions gym – was officially our fifth date.

In five dates I hadn’t made any type of move, which had to be a record. I’d never been on five dates before – not with the same girl. I’d make my moves, then move on.

But with Radley, we were a month in, and I’d done nothing more than hold her hand… even though all I could think about was what she’d feel likeinmy hands. Yet I’d been giving her the space I promised, something that got harder and harder every time I saw her, because every time I saw her, she looked at me the way I was looking at her.

Like she wanted me, but didn’t know what to do.

Right now, with her less than a yard away, her cheeks flushed, hair sticking to her head as she dripped in sweat, I knew exactly whatIwanted to do.

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