Page 87 of Loving the Legend
I turn my face to kiss him. He deepens the kiss, exploring my mouth in a way that rarely ends with us still clothed.
We end up grabbing lube and frotting until we orgasm, and then we fall asleep, spent, clinging to each other.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
It’s been three months since Sid and I became official, and damn, it’s been amazing. I get all the hype surrounding the honeymoon phase. We haven’t been able to spend as much time together as I crave, with our teams competing in the playoffs. The precious time we’re together usually results in us spent and naked, wrapped up around each other. We traded keys to each other’s places to slip in and out as our schedules permit.
I worked my ass off and feel good about my regular season performance. I averaged twenty-one points, six rebounds, and five assists per game, beating the stats of all other rookies, though Jeff Banks—my friend from my college days—came in a close second. You’d think joining a league with veterans and All-Stars would humble him, but he still shows out every night like he’s back at Duke.
In early April, I won the NBA Rookie of the Year Award, an annual award given to the top rookie of the regular season. The winner is selected by a panel of American and Canadian broadcasters and sportswriters who cast first, second, and third place votes. The votes are worth different points, and the player with the highest total points wins the award. To celebrate, Sid surprised me with a getaway to Mo’orea, where he booked usa remote villa. Tommy and Kieran joined us. When the four of us weren’t in the ocean, Sid and I were holed up in our room, making love like there was no tomorrow, having been separated for weeks, grinding to finish the regular season. We’d both gotten tested before we stopped using condoms.
Now the playoffs are almost over. It began with sixteen teams, the eight best from the NBA’s East and West conferences. The winner of each conference progresses to the NBA Finals Championship Series to compete to become the Finals champions. It’s what we all compete for, season after season. Not only does the championship team win a trophy, but a gold ring encrusted with diamonds is awarded to the team’s players, coaches, and members of the executive front office. The ring is a valuable symbol of a team’s victory.
Both the Knights and the Marvels advanced to the playoffs given our high rankings, but the Bay Area Hawks defeated my team in game five of the semi-finals. While we fought hard, it was a long shot for us to take it with both Tevin and Malik out for the series with injuries. Sid’s team made it to the Finals for a matchup against the San Antonio Finches. In game four, Sid posted a whopping fifty-two points with eight rebounds and seven assists, banking half of the Marvels’ fourth-quarter points.
Tonight’s game is the sixth of the series, and Sid could take it all. The Marvels lead the series with three wins to the Finches’ two. Everyone is confident that the series will go to game seven as San Antonio is unlikely to go down without a fight, not to mention they have home-court advantage. I’m not stupid enough to count Sid out. If anyone could get it done tonight, it’s him.
The Marvels came out strong, moving the ball well, creating open looks, and fighting hard to defend the basket. In the first half alone, they banked fifty-nine points. The Finches defendedtheir home well, too, which is why there’s less than a minute left on the game clock, and the Marvels are down one point.
Sid passes the ball to Justin, who has a wide-open shot. Justin jumps and releases the ball, falling backward. The second he releases it, I can tell it’s too strong. I grab my temples as the ball ricochets off the rim. I expect the Finches to catch the rebound, but Sid flies in out of nowhere and slams it in with a left-handed dunk.
“Yes!” I yell, fisting the air.
The Finches take possession and post a layup despite the Marvels’ defensive maneuvers. The Marvels are down a point again when Sid catches the ball and posts a two-pointer.
That’s it, babe!I clap.Just like that!
The Finches point guard is wide fucking open and takes possession of the ball. He’s about to release a corner three when he’s fouled by Kristian, the Marvels’ power forward.
“Nooooo, Kristian! You idiot!” I yell. Their point guard makes two of the three free throws, bringing San Antonio back in the lead by one point.
Fuck! I clasp my head.
It’s the last possession…
“End it here, Sid! C’mon!” I bark at the television.
Sid takes the next possession.
This is it…
He dribbles left and hesitates as their point guard advances on him. He cuts right, crossing the ball behind his back.
I suck in a breath as he almost gets jammed up when their center pushes in and attempts a steal.
Eleven seconds left on the clock…
Sid’s quick! He cuts the ball between his legs, then spins left, barely shaking their center, who is on his heels.
Ay! Watch your back!
He glances over his shoulder like he hears me before gluing his eyes on the rim.
I pace the room, trying to figure out his next move.
The crowd screams for the Finches to defend their turf when Sid hits a crossover and charges forward.
Every muscle in my body is strung tight. “What are you doing, babe?” He’ll have to power through a row of men to get even remotely close to the rim.
