Page 47 of Game Changer

Jay, Miles, and I are still sweaty from practice, our jerseys stuck to our bodies.

Chloe brings it up the court, her shoes discarded out of bounds. Jay’s watching her, but she’s watching all of us at once. He says something to distract her, and she shakes him off.

Miles is on Brooke. She feints one way, then cuts to get a pass from Chloe.

“Suckers,” Brooke crows.

“Crossovers in a skirt!” Chloe calls.

Brooke grins as she takes Miles deep into the paint.

He’s got his hands full.

“They’re good,” Nova murmurs.

I’m inches away. Because I’m guarding her, I have an excuse to get even closer. “Chloe was MVP and state champion in high school. Brooke's played since she was six because her brother made her. She’s still one of the only people who can guard him because she knows what he’s thinking before he does.”

“Everyone in the league gives him too much credit. He doesn’t think at all,” Brooke tosses.

“That’s cold, sis,” Jay calls from where he’s on Chloe.

Brooke squares up toward Nova, nodding. I let Nova get the ball. She dribbles around me. When she turns to shoot it, she’s not set up. No way it’s going in.

I reach around her and grab the ball with one hand. I could take it without touching her, but I wrap the other arm around her shoulders and drag her back against my body.

“FOUL!!” Chloe and Brooke holler.

“No way,” Miles protests while Jay’s cracking up.

Now I’ve got the ball, and Nova’s pulled tight against me.

“What happens now?” she murmurs, her voice full of anticipation. Her body vibrates against mine, and all I want to do is hold her there.

But I can’t, because it’s wrong, and I promised I wouldn’t. Not to mention how hard I’d get roasted by everyone present.

So, I pull her to the line opposite the basket.

“This is the free throw line.”

“You get it in from here?” she wonders.

I smirk and set her up one step at a time. She takes a deep breath and lobs the ball, missing by a mile.

With a couple of steps, I intercept the ball and grab it out of the air before it can hit the ground. It’s in her hands the next second. “This time, use your legs.”

“She’s five-five!” Chloe contends, shoving Jay’s shoulder. “Let her shoot from closer.”

“She doesn’t need to,” I toss back, confident in her ability. “Do you, Pink?”

She sets her teeth, shakes her head.

“That’s it. Bend your knees. Power comes from your lower body. Trust me.” I step behind her again and run my hand down her side, skimming over her curved ass to her thighs as a reminder of what she can do. “Lower, like this.”

The next throw swooshes through the hoop like it’s powered by invisible angels.

“Yes!” Nova exclaims, pumping her fists in the air.

I barely have time to process my satisfaction before she throws her arms around me in a celebratory hug.

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