Page 104 of Friend Zoned

“Hey, yourself. I’m all alone in your big bed. Why can’t you be here with me?” She pouts, and I groan. We got home by noon yesterday, and I spent the rest of the afternoon at practice. If we win the next set of games, we’ll be going to the Finals, and I have to give it all of my attention. After last year’s loss in the last game, the team is pumped to win it all this year.

“I’m sorry, but it’s going to be a long day and a long night. I don’t think I’ll be home until nine.”

“Your work schedule is so disrespectful but fine. I’m going to dinner at my parents’. I’m sure my mom will send you some, so meet me at my place after work.” She stretches on the bed, and the covers slip, revealing her bare nipples. All I want is to wrap my lips around one.

“I don’t want you there by yourself. Come back home after dinner. I don’t want you there while I’m away either. I don’t trust him,” I tell her.

She waves me off. “Quintin should be worried about me kicking his ass, not the other way around. And I will if I see his face again.”

My office phone starts to ring, and five emails pop up on my desktop at the same time. I have no choice but to ignore those for now. The wedding was really at the worst possible time, and those two days have me scrambling to catch up.

“Baby, you are not fighting a man. Don’t even think about it.”

“Quintin is a complete shit bag, but he’d never put a hand on me. That might be his only decent quality. Look at what I did to him when I found out about his affair.”

“Yes, but things have changed. I don’t want you engaging in any conversation with him whatsoever.” When she just stares at me through the phone I prompt her agreement. “Okay?”

“Okay. Not that I could with that bodyguard you have following me, which is a waste of money, by the way.”

“Well, I have plenty, so don’t worry about it. I have to go but promise me you’ll come back to Tribeca tonight. Tell your mom to pack extra food because I’ll be hungry.”

“If I do that, she’ll accuse me of not feeding you, even though you’re a grown ass man who is nine years older than I am.”

I want nothing more than to go home and climb into bed with her, but I can’t. I’d settle for talking on the phone all day, but I can’t do that either. “Promise me,” I insist.

She holds a hand up like a girl scout and says, “I promise.”

“I’ll see you tonight. Now, tell me you love me.”

“I love you.”

“I love you too.” I blow her a kiss and end the call just as my cell phone vibrates with another call. It’s one of my assistant coaches telling me I’m needed on the court.

Chapter 56

Jeannie

“They win?” my mom asks the instant me and my dad start to cheer in the living room. She joins us, and the three of us hug and scream. This is it. The Mischiefs are going to the NBA finals. He’s in Orlando right now, which means he won’t be home until the middle of the night, but they did it. It seems like he’s been gone forever, but the reality is, it’s been four days. Four days that feel like four hundred. I hold my breath while the Mischiefs hug each other and shake hands with the losing team. Chastain, who’s the team captain speaks. While I help my mom clean up, I text Aiden, congratulating him on the win and telling him how much I miss him.

I text my driver, and he responds back saying he’s fifteen minutes away. While I wait, I watch while Aiden and some of the team talk about their victory and how eager they are to play the first two games at home. All I can think about is how he’ll be home for the next ten days. He’s already warned me he’ll be busy, but the thought of having him in bed with me is everything.

“Aiden says he’s going to take me to the baseball game,” my dad says. I nod at him. He’s told me that twice already. I catch my mom’s eye and she rolls hers. Dad’s never cared for sports before.

“Here.” Mom hands me a big bag filled with leftovers, and when the driver arrives, they both stand at the door until he pulls away.

It’s just about four o’clock in the morning when I hear the front door open. I fly out of bed, quickly rinse my mouth with mouthwash and run out of the room. I collide with him in the middle of the hallway, jump in his arms, and wrap my legs around him. He tosses his bags to the floor, and his lips land on mine as he carries me to the bedroom. Clothes are removed and tossed aside in record time. He falls on the bed, and I land on top of his hard, naked body. I forget everything but my man and lose myself in him until the sun rises.

“Someone looks tired,” Layla says the next morning. I let out a yawn nodding in agreement. “I guess you were getting it in,” she giggles. I take a slow sip of my cappuccino and hope the caffeine will hit my bloodstream and wake me up.

I never fell back asleep after Aiden came home. We made love then talked until he fell asleep a couple of hours later. I had to get up soon after to get ready for work. He was in a deep sleep when I kissed his forehead before leaving home. His house, I mentally correct myself.

“Anything I need to be aware of?” I ask her.

“Only the knife in my back since you didn’t take me to the wedding with you. The only pictures I’ve seen are the ones on your phone and the few they’ve posted online.” She’s brought up the wedding every single day for the past couple of weeks. She drops herself on the chair in front of my desk. “You are such a tease. One minute, you have me hanging out with New York royalty, and the next I’m slaving away at this hotel while you go without me. I’m like Cinderella. Except there was no fairy godmother to save me from my drab life.”

“Are you done?” I ask her. “I might be able to make it up to you.” She sits up straight and waits for me to speak. “I’m going to Denver for the third and fourth game, and you’re coming with me.” Her hands fly to her chest, and her mouth hangs open. I pat myself on the back for finally striking her speechless. “And Vickie’s throwing a big end of season party for her husband, and you’re invited.”

She gasps in the small office before jumping out of her chair to hug me. “You’re the best.” She kisses my cheek and runs out after I tell her to get her butt back to work.

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