Page 20 of One Unexpected Gift

“There’s a bit of a height advantage there.” Skylar snagged the ball from Nick and dribbled it between her legs.

“Says the basketball star.” Gina batted the ball away and chased after it.

“You played ball?” Nick asked.

“In high school, which was a hundred years ago. I’m a little out of shape now.”

“I wouldn’t say that.” His gaze dropped her to her shapely legs. They were encased in jeans, and she had work boots on, but he’d bet she was still good.

“We’re splitting up the couples,” Brooke said.

“Why do you get to be the boss?” Gina came back with the ball.

“Because I’m the gym teacher. Nick, Bryce, Charlie, and I will be on one team, and Owen, Drew, Skylar, and Gina, you’ll be on the other.”

Nick wasn’t sure about everyone’s skills, but she’d split up Bryce and Owen, which seemed fair since they were the biggest, and Brooke and Skylar were on different teams, which also seemed fair. Brooke had the height advantage being almost six feet, and Skylar had the experience. As for the rest of the players, Nick hadn’t a clue of their skill level.

But they also didn’t know about his either. He’d keep his collegiate ball years under his hat until after the game.

Owen and Bryce tipped off, and Drew got the ball first, batting it over to Skylar who made the quick and easy layup.

“This is so unfair,” Charlie whined. “I suck at basketball.”

“It’s okay, baby.” Owen patted her backside. “I still love you.”

“No fraternizing with the other team,” Brooke reprimanded.

The teams were evenly matched, all eight of them huffing and puffing after a solid thirty minutes of play. They kept themselves matched up with girls to girls and guys to guys, but when Skylar stole the ball from Charlie, Nick left his position on Drew and jogged after Skylar toward the other side of the court.

She went in for what she thought was another easy layup until he hurled himself in front of her, getting a piece of the ball.

“Oh, that’s such a foul,” she said.

“Please. That was all ball.”

Skylar had her hands on her hips, her chest heaving up and down while she caught her breath. Nick mirrored her position, only his hands were on his knees.

“Was not.”

“Was too.”

“You touched my wrist.”

Nick inched closer to her, his voice low. “Darlin’. When I touch you again, there’ll be no doubt about it.”

She opened her mouth to argue, then clamped down her lips before storming off to get the ball.

“Good block, Pierce.” Bryce patted his back. “We still lost by four though.”

“How about a rematch at The Zone tonight? First round’s on me,” Nick offered.

“Works for us.” Drew hugged Brooke to his side.

“We’re game.” Bryce dropped a kiss on Gina’s head.

“Olivia may want to come along,” Owen said, “unless we need her to babysi—”

Charlie stepped on his toe. “Sorry, honey.” She looked at Owen funny. Nick couldn’t decipher their body language. “We’re a definite maybe.”

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