Page 42 of Courtside

After the fifth sloppy turnover, David couldn’t keep the frustrated “dammit” in.

“What about trying a two man front?”

He looked over at Sage, who was fully focused on the game playing out on the screen. “Who would you put up there with him?”

She frowned. “That’s tough, because you definitely have a bigger team. You’re much deeper in the center than you are outside.” She chewed another bite, clearly thinking deeply about her response. “Honestly, I would say Jordan.”

“Really?” Jordan was a great player, but he tended to hold onto the ball once it was in his hands. It was hard to imagine him giving up the ball, which was what they needed in this situation.

“He doesn’t like to give up the ball, but his confidence will help when it comes to getting through the pressure up top.”

She made a good point.

The game carried on. Occasionally David would pause the tape, scribbling notes for things to work on in practice.

“It just doesn’t make sense.” A play had just broken down when Jordan tried a no-look pass across the lane to Zephyr, their center. David looked over at Sage, who was shaking her head. She continued, pointing with her fork at the TV. “On half of the plays, Jordan is keeping the ball in his hands for too long and taking a bad shot, and then on this one, when he actually has the open lane, he tries to force the pass.”

“Your guess is as good as mine,” David sighed. He was still trying to figure out how to coach Jordan, who was the kind of kid who seemed to carry the weight of the whole team on his shoulders.

David knew something about that.

“Is he stat motivated? Win motivated?”

“It’s mixed,” David replied. “To be fair, I haven’t seen him after a win. But when the team loses and he plays well, he seems just as disappointed as the other guys. When he does poorly, it’s almost like he’s both angry with himself and afraid.” He shook his head. “Of what, I can’t figure out.”

Sage nodded just as her mouth opened wide into a yawn.

“Shit,” David jumped up off the couch. “You’re tired. Right. Sorry. Do you need anything? Give me a minute to change the sheets and you’ll be all set.” He took a few steps toward the bedroom before turning back around. “And I’ve got a spare toothbrush, and soaps and stuff.”Shit. “I…I also have tampons, if you need them.”

Goddamn his stupid mouth.

Sage grinned around another yawn. “I think I’m all set on the menstrual products, but thank you.” She wiped at her face as she unfolded from the couch and stood up. “Do you have a t-shirt I could borrow?”

You’re goddamn right I’ve got a t-shirt for you to sleep in, Lefty.

“Yep. Yeah. I’ll grab you one.” He practically ran to his bedroom, vaguely aware of her soft footsteps on the carpet as she followed him. Moving to his dresser, he opened a drawer and began sifting through his t-shirts. “Big and soft,” he muttered under his breath as his hands fingered at the folded cotton.That’s how women like their t-shirts.He stopped at one of his old Southeastern basketball shirts from when he’d been a player. It was worn to the point that it was almost threadbare, but damn if it wasn’t soft.

He turned, finding her leaning against his open bedroom door with a soft, sleepy expression on her face. He held out the shirt, and it took a monumental effort to not grab hold of her extended hand and tug her against his body.

God, he wanted her.

He stepped back, clearing his throat. “I’ll get the sheets sorted for you if you need to use the bathroom,” he said, pointing to the door across the hall. “Extra toothbrushes are in the top drawer.”

She nodded, that soft smile still on her pink lips as she turned away from him. He watched her, frozen in place, until the bathroom door clicked shut behind her.

He crossed to the bedroom door and shut it, needing a moment to himself.

As he changed the navy sheets on his bed and replaced them with a gray set, he thought about the woman currently in his apartment. He thought about how quiet the anxiety of the day had been since he’d found her on the side of the road. He thought about her comments about the team, about how engaged she’d been watching game tape with him. Howaliveand beautiful she was.

He straightened his duvet and tried to tidy as much as he could. Quickly, he changed into a t-shirt and flannel pajama pants, accepting that he was probably going to have to take a shower in the morning. Grabbing his glasses and the police procedural he was currently reading, he opened his bedroom door and walked back to the living room.

“The room is —”

He swallowed the rest of his sentence. Sage had curled up in one corner of the couch against the cushions. David’s t-shirt hung down, just barely covering her ass and the tops of thighs. Her eyes were shut and the soft sound of her breaths were barely audible from across the room.

David crept forward, careful to be as quiet as possible. While he knew she’d be more comfortable in his bed, he didn’t want to wake her up. He grabbed a fleece blanket that he kept folded on top of the couch and draped it over her, gently smoothing the soft fabric and tucking it under her feet. She shifted slightly in her sleep, murmuring something unintelligible before burrowing down deeper into the cushions.

God, he wanted to… hug her? Cuddle with her? Kiss her nose?

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