Page 68 of Crossroads of Love

Walking into the high school gym with Tatum and Mike beside me, I feel excitement and nervousness build. Jayla is starting on varsity today, and I couldn’t be prouder of her.

“I’m just saying,” Tatum says as we walk toward the bleachers, “if Jayla plays anything like her mom did, these kids better be ready.”

I snort, giving her a playful nudge. “She’s way better than I ever was.”

“You’re being modest,” Mike chimes in, grinning. “You were a beast out there. I was scared to play against you in a pickup game.”

“Don’t inflate her ego more than it already is,” Tatum teases, nudging Mike with her elbow.

I am about to fire back when I catch sight of Gavin standing near the door, surrounded by a few of the basketball moms. Something about the way they hover around him, smiling a little too brightly and talking a little too close, makes me roll my eyes.

Of course, they are all over him.

Tatum notices him, too, elbowing me as we get closer. “Oh look, there’s your man, being swarmed by the PTA.”

I laugh, shaking my head. “He’s a grown man. He can handle it.”

As soon as Gavin’s eyes lock with mine from across the gym, he turns his full attention on me. My heart does that familiar flutter it always does when he looks at me like that.

Oh look, my vajayjay has to jump in on the party too.

“You’re the brightest shade of red right now.” Tatum giggles.

Gavin excuses himself from the group of moms and starts walking toward me. I can feel the heat creeping up my neck.

“Shut up,” I mutter, but I can’t help the smile tugging at my lips as Gavin reaches me.

Before I can say anything, his arms are around me, and he’s pulling me into a tight hug. I breathe him in, the familiar scent of his cologne and the warmth of his embrace calming my nerves.

“Hey, beautiful,” he murmurs against my ear.

I pull back slightly, grinning up at him. “Hey, yourself.”

Gavin’s hands linger briefly at my waist, his thumb brushing against my hip as he looks me over, like he hasn’t seen me in days even though it was only a few hours ago. He pulls away soas not to make it super noticeable between us. His eyes darken slightly, that familiar heat sparking between us.

“You look incredible,” he says, his voice dropping lower as his gaze sweeps over me.

“I’m wearing jeans and a T-shirt. Calm down.”

He grins, leaning in a little closer, his lips just a breath away from mine. “Doesn’t matter. You always look incredible.”

My stomach flips, and I bite my bottom lip, feeling that magnetic pull between us grow stronger. His hand slides to the small of my back, pulling me even closer, and my breath catches in my throat.

God, how does he always manage to make me feel like a teenager with a crush?

“Can I kiss you in public?” he asks.

I hesitate for a moment, thinking of all the gossip that will be swarming through town, but I don’t care.

“Yes.”

He leans in and presses a soft kiss to my neck, just below my ear, sending shivers down my spine. He gently brushes his lips against mine. My pulse quickens, and I can barely focus on anything other than how his lips feel against my skin.

Someone clears their throat, which makes both of us freeze. Gavin reluctantly pulls back, his hands still resting on my waist as I turn to see Tatum standing there with her arms crossed.

“Jayla is glaring at the two of you right now.”

I immediately snap my head toward the basketball court, my eyes scanning for my daughter. Sure enough, she’s standing with her teammates, her arms crossed and a very unimpressed look on her face as she watches Gavin and me. I can practically hear her voice in my head:“Mom, really?”

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