Page 52 of Friend Zoned

“Jeannie! Good to see you.” For someone who’s not very tall or very big, she’s strong. She squeezes me tight before she pulls away. She’s in her husband’s jersey, and she’s as pretty today as she was on her wedding day though her stomach is starting to show now. “Who’s this?” she asks, looking at Layla, who is now standing as still as a statue.

“This is my friend, Layla. We work together, and she likes basketball. Layla, this is Vickie Chastain.”

Layla stares and doesn’t say a word, but Vickie hugs her, and she finally relaxes.

“I played basketball in high school,” Layla blurts out. A blush spreads across her light brown cheeks. “It’s nice to meet you, Mrs. Chastain.”

Vickie makes a show of looking around the stadium. “Mrs. Chastain? Colt’s mother’s not here. I’m just Vickie. I’m glad to have company tonight since my sister and dad couldn’t make it. How about some drinks for the two of you? I’ll have to live through you guys.” She points at her round belly. She flags someone down, and we both order beers.

“I’m going to name my firstborn after you,” Layla whispers to me. “In fifty years when I have a kid. Hell, I’ll kidnap one off the playground and change their name to Jeanine.” I elbow her in the ribs, but she’s too busy looking around to elbow me back.

“So, how are things between you and Aiden?” Vickie asks. She gives me a knowing look while she sips on her ginger ale. I feel a blush creep up my neck.

“Things are great,” I admit. “Caught me a little off guard, to be honest.”

She smirks at me. “So, the girl who came to a wedding dressed all in black and sat by herself reading a book wasn’t looking for a relationship?”

“I’m so embarrassed now. I’ve been through a divorce, and it was ugly. And my mom called me the night before to inform me that I’d be going with her to your wedding. It was a protest. I didn’t mean to offend anyone.”

“Girl, please. I would have done a lot worse if my mother had done that to me.” She wraps her arm around mine. “I’m glad things are working out between the two of you.”

“Oh my God, they’re starting!” Layla yells.

“If you say oh my God one more time,” I warn her. She ignores me and stands, booing the other team loudly. Once the Mischiefs are called out, she screams and yells like a rabid fangirl. I look to Vickie who shrugs at Layla’s reaction. When her husband is called out, the stadium goes wild, and so does Vickie, who yells and screams his name.

Aiden and the other coaches come out last. He looks around, and I think I know the exact moment he sees me. He points and winks in my direction. I do the same. The next couple of hours goes by in a blur of excitement. Aiden is in a navy-blue suit, white shirt, and no tie. About an hour into the game, he takes off his jacket and rolls his sleeves up to his elbows, putting his tattoos on full display. Right before halftime, he gets into another screaming match with a referee when he calls a foul on one of the Mischiefs. He points and screams at him until someone pulls him away. Even from here, I’m turned on by his anger. It’s like another side to him that I’ve never seen, and a part of me feels bad for the person on the receiving end.

By the time the buzzer rings for halftime, the Mischiefs are ahead by ten points, and in the end, they win the game.

“Come with me,” Vickie says. We follow her to the court. While she hugs her husband, I feel strong arms wrap around me from behind.

“Hey, baby,” he says against my ear. “I have to do the press thing but follow him.” He points to a man standing a few feet away. “He’ll take you to an office, and I’ll see you out before I head to the airport.”

Chapter 28

Aiden

“Coach,” Chastain says after our session with the press. “I need you to stop sending my wife gifts.” He’s all smiles.

“It’s not a gift. It’s a damn edible arrangement sent as a thank you.”

“A thank you for what?” He wiggles his eyebrows. “I guess you made your move, huh?”

“Let’s not act like a couple of high school girls.” I ignore him and walk down the hall to the small office I use when I’m here. I hear Chastain’s laughter the entire way. Jeannie’s there with Layla, who I had forgotten all about.

“Did you enjoy the game?” I ask Jeannie. I curse the fact that I have to leave here and get on a plane instead of taking her home with me for the night. I had her in my bed just this morning, but that feels like a million years ago.

“I did. I don’t think Layla’s recovered yet.” From the corner of my eye, I see Layla reading an old sports article framed on the wall. She’s not paying any attention to us. “But I’m going to miss you so much while you’re gone.” She gets on her toes and kisses me. I wrap my arms tightly around her and deepen the kiss.

“I’ll be back in two days, and then I’ll be here for the next four.” Someone knocks on the door and gestures for me to go. I hold Jeannie’s hand and Layla follows us down the narrow hall and through the door that leads to the back of the stadium. While the team gets on the bus to go to the airport, I walk her to my waiting car. Layla gets in while I kiss my girlfriend for the last time for two days.

I’m the last to board the bus, and when I get on, everyone catcalls, including Chastain who is normally the mature one, but apparently not tonight. Wakowski runs to the front and offers me a fist bump. When I tap my fist with his, the entire bus erupts into cheers. I shake my head, sigh, and take a seat.

The plane doesn’t land in Teterboro until after one in the morning. The entire team is tired and grumpy after a loss. It was a bad loss too. One where the other team beat us by fourteen points. The entire mood on the bus and on the private plane was quiet and somber. It’s a short flight, less than an hour, and I spent it rewatching the game and making notes for the players. I’m exhausted. The two days I’ve been gone seem like a lifetime, and by the time we land, and I get into my waiting car, I’m eager to be back in my city. And my woman. There’s only one place I want to be, and Jimmy pulls up to her building about forty minutes later. It’s almost two in the morning, and part of me feels bad that she’s probably been waiting up for me, but the selfish side is eager to take her in my arms.

I text her once I’m standing in front of her building, and the door buzzes a few seconds later. I curse the slow elevator, but when I get out, I run to her front door. She’s waiting at the entrance, and she throws herself in my arms when she sees me. I drop my bags on the floor, push the door closed with my foot and carry her to the bedroom. I drop her on the bed and start to take off my clothes. Once my coat is off, she reaches for my belt and helps me with my pants. I’m naked seconds later, and I peel off her black silk robe. She’s naked underneath, and we fall onto her bed. It’s tiny compared to mine, but it will have to do for tonight. I attack her mouth and roughly grab one of her breasts. She climbs on top of me, and my hands run down her back to cup her full ass. She kisses me hungrily, and I feel myself swell with need. She straddles me and wraps her hand around me. Seconds later, she’s sliding down my hard dick. She stops when I’m only halfway, and I give her time to get used to me. Once I’m deep inside of her, she puts her hands on my chest and starts to ride me. I grab her hips and help guide her. I know I’m big, and I know her ecstasy must contain a little bit of pain too.

“Oh, baby,” she moans. She has her head thrown back and her eyes closed. “God, you feel good. Why did I wait so long to let you fuck me, huh?” I close my eyes and thrust deep into her pussy. “Oh,” she groans. I slap her ass hard, and her eyes fly open and lock into mine. I slap her again.

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