Page 67 of Fast Break
“Thank you so much for coming out to support us,” I say. “It means the world to me.”
“I know, darling,” Amy replies as she pulls me in for one last hug before she guides Gran out of the stadium.
It’s just me and Quinn then, plus a sea of Dukes supporters, but I see nobody but him. I never do. He’s smirking at me, that half smile I am so in love with out in full force on his beautiful face.
“You look fucking hot by the way,” he says in a deep undertone that shoots thrills down my body.
“What, all hot and sweaty like this?” I grin, knowing exactly how much he likes me like this.
“Exactly.”
“Well, you know I was just named MVP of the league,” I mention, looking up at him from under my lashes. “Do I get a reward for that?”
“I’ll give you anything you want, baby,” he promises, his words sending my blood positively boiling. I never understood that expression about undressing someone with your eyes, but I got it then.
“Wait for me,” I order, noting most of the team have already headed to the locker room. I head there now, needing this shower to cool my blood for reasons entirely unrelated to the game we just played.
The locker room is in a celebratory mood, Trey and Vince belting out the school song from the showers and making me laugh as I strip off and duck under the water.
I’m pulling my blue jeans on, soaking up the atmosphere when Vince calls my name from the other side of the locker room.
“Hey, ah, I know you’re the league MVP and all that but just wondering if you mind if I take a shot at Chanel tonight?” he asks. He’s pretending nonchalance but I see under that bravado to the nerves he’s concealing.
“Course, man,” I assure him. “You know there was never anything between me and Chanel.”
“So you keep saying but there was a little something, right?” Vince presses, head cocked to the side.
“Maybe something one sided but not from my side,” I admit.
“So, I won’t be stepping on any toes then …” Vince asks cautiously.
“I promise there is no stepping on any toes. You have my full blessing,” I assure him. Vince lets out a nervous whoosh of air and I feel kind of pleased that it seems maybe this thing with Chanel can finally be put to rest where it belongs. But in its place is something else edging up inside me, something that wants me to stake my claim on my true feelings—which are becoming impossible to hide.
I glance at Trey, noting the quiet interest in his eyes as he watches my conversation with Vince, and I know that now is the right time for this. I clear my throat, nerves instantly flying to my gut which are a hundred times worse than the pre-game jitters.
“Actually, there’s um, something I wanted to tell everyone,” I say, wishing the nerves out of my shaky voice. The guys all look up at me expectantly, all of them here including the full bench, so this announcement will be more widely publicised than I probably intended. I feel Trey butt up against my shoulder and I know why he is there. I take no small measure of confidence from the fact I have him at my back. Quite literally in this case.
“I um, wanted to tell you all that I’m, um, dating Quinn,” I say, getting the words out before my confidence fails. There is a beat of heavy silence before Kye and Marco whoop and Kye pats me on the shoulder, the one not currently being guarded by Trey—who no doubt is eyeballing the rest of the team for their responses. But I see nothing but smiles and thumbs up from most of them while Vince is scratching his head, looking slightly lost.
“Happy for you, bro,” Kye says.
“About time you told us,” Marco adds.
“Wait, you knew?” Vince asks, eyes bouncing between me and Marco.
“Yeah, duh,” Marco scoffs. “Quinn Dayton didn’t just become the Dukes’ number one ticket holder because of your impressive layups.”
“JT’s ball handling skills on the other hand …” Trey drops into the conversation and everyone laughs.
“Hey, I thought you were on my side,” I say with mock indignation.
“Course I am,” Trey laughs, arm draped over my shoulder. “I’m always on your side, cuz.”
“I know,” I tell him, everything feeling so perfect and so right, like this was the moment my life had been heading towards all along. This is fast becoming the best day of my life but I know it’s not even over yet. Not by a long shot.
Look at me, quietly stepping outside of the closet I’ve been shoved into all my life to openly claim the boy I love with all my heart.
CHAPTER 24
