Page 25 of XOXO, Valentina

“Forever,” she said with a sigh. “My husband died when Shane was two.”

It was hard to know what to say. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay.”

We fell silent when the game started up again. The next few possessions were a battle as each team fought hard for the win. We held our breath while the other team missed a three-point shot.

Gabriella covered her eyes with her hand. “I can’t watch,” she said.

I took my arm from around her shoulder and pried her hand loose from her face. “Watch,” I said, lacing our fingers together. “You’ll regret it if you don’t.”

She clutched my hand. “I really can’t watch.”

But she did. Neither of us could tear our eyes away. The final ten seconds seemed to last forever. We hardly breathed as the clock ticked down to zero. The small closet heated with our rising temperature. When the final buzzer sounded, Gabriella’s mom flipped the phone around to show her face. She was an older version of Gabriella with the same dark hair and eyes.

“We won!” she shouted.

She yelled so loud, Gabriella had to turn the phone off. Without the glow of light, we were back in the darkness. I heard the unmistakable sound of her choking back tears and shifted to put my arm back around her shoulder.

“It’s okay.” I squeezed her close, amazed at how perfectly she fit against me. “We won.”

She sniffed. “I just wish I could have been there.”

“I know.” I hugged her tightly. “You can’t do everything. You’re doing the best you can.”

“I just hope it’s enough.”

“It is, Gabriella. Trust me. It is.” I stroked her arm. “You can relax now,” I said. “The game’s over.”

She pulled away. “I need to get back to my office. Everyone will be wondering where I am.”

And I needed to get back to the tuna salad. “Mr. Collins said you’ve been extra stressed,” I said. “Maybe you can blow off some steam tonight since the game is over.”

She laughed softly. “I don’t have the time. It’s shopping day, and Shane will be back in a few hours.”

“Maybe you can indulge in one of those naughty paperbacks you love so much.”

Her laugh ended on a choking sound. “What?”

“Maybe something with lumberjacks…”

Her shoulders stiffened. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

I smiled in the darkness, turning my body toward hers. “You know exactly what I’m talking about. You read porno books.”

I heard the sharp intake of her breath. “What?”

“I may have peeked at your book when you left me alone in your office. I saw the real cover.” Even better, I’d gotten a glimpse of the private Gabriella. The one she kept hidden under those conservative clothes. “It’s okay to have a sensual side,” I said. “So what if you’re a single mom and the leader of a school? No one expects you to stop living.”

“Who says I’ve stopped living?” She scoffed, but her body softened against mine. “I live plenty.”

“Oh, yeah?” I curled my hand around the nape of her neck, my blood warming at the memory of how she’d kissed me at Goodfella’s. “When was the last time you did more than read about sex?”

“None of your business.”

Her voice dropped an octave, soft and sultry—so sexy it made me want to pop the buttons on her blouse and press my lips to her throat. Tension pulsed between us, beating faster than my wild heart. “You could make it my business,” I said.

Her palm rested on my chest. “That would be highly inappropriate.”

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