Page 16 of The Pump Fake

Jade

Imoved through the locker room as quickly as possible. The need to get back to Cliff running high. The game was something else. How close we let them get to winning was not good, but it did leave everyone filled with excitement. Maybe a little too much excitement?

Closing my locker, I begin to head toward the door when Jessica and Diana stop me. “Hey, Jade. Tonight was crazy, right?”

“Yeah, it was. I’m glad we won, but next time we can’t let it get that close,” I say as I adjust my bag on my shoulder.

“Totally. I’m ready to win again,” Diana says as she puts her fist out to bump mine. Just for a moment, I consider not bumping hers back because in the past she hasn’t always beenthe nicest, but the reminder to “open up” to my teammates runs through my head. I bump hers back.

“We are going to win the championship game once again,” Diana says.

“And this time, Jessica will be with us,” I say gesturing toward our other teammate.

“It will definitely be an exciting time,” she says.

“This time, we will do it even better,” Diana says.

“Alright, ladies, I have to go meet Cliff,” I tell them.

“Oooh, Jade’s going to meet her boyfriend,” they say in unison.

I roll my eyes at them. “Yeah, Yeah,” I say to them and turn to leave once again when Jessica asks, “Hey, does your man have any friends?”

Pausing at her words, I allow them to soak in. She referred to Cliff as ‘my man.’ I can’t help but feel a warm sensation of people knowing that he belongs to me. Instead of dwelling on that though, I think for a moment about Jessica’s question. Then Hunter comes to mind. “Yeah, actually he does. I’ll talk to him. Maybe we can go on a double date,” I tell her.

Clapping her hands together, she says, “That would be great. I haven’t had time to meet anyone yet.”

“Well, if this doesn’t work out for ya, I’ll introduce you to an app,” Diana says, giving Jessica a wink.

I smile at them. There was a time that I wouldn’t even imagine an interaction like this. Maybe I put up my walls too quickly for my teammates, because these ladies don’t seem to be like the ones I had in college. I guess time will tell. Waving to both of them, I say, “For real now, I have to go.”

“Good night, Jade,” they say together.

“Night, ladies,” I say, walking through the doors and heading toward the family area. The moment I lay eyes on him, my whole body heats up. I’ll never get used to the way I feel when I’m around him.

Approaching them, I say, “Hey, guys.”

Cliff doesn’t say anything, he just wraps his arms around waist and pulls me into him. I can feel the heat of his body seep into mine and I can’t help but melt into his arms. Leaning over, he brushes his lips against mine. Every part of me wants to deepen it, but a clearing of the throat stops both of us.

I look over my shoulder and see Hunter staring at both of us. “Good evening, Hunter,” I say, nodding my head at him.

“Good evening. What a great game you had tonight. As your manager, I must say it looks good for you,” he informs me.

“Thank you. It was a little closer than I would like, but we’ll be better prepared next time.”

Cliff kisses me on my forehead, when he whispers, “Of course you will, Elsa.”

“Are you two planning on going out celebrating tonight?” Hunter asks us. “I overheard that a few other players are heading to a bar down the street.”

If he would’ve asked me earlier, I might’ve said yes, but right now in Cliff’s arms, I don’t want to go out and share him with others. No, I want him alone with me. Possibly in my bed.

I look up at him arching one of my brows, silently asking him what he wants to do. He searches my eyes then says, “Not tonight. We’re going to head home.”

“Sounds good, man. See you later,” Hunter replies and starts to head out the door, but before he’s able to leave, I remember.

“Hey, Hunter?”

“Yeah?”

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