Page 21 of Love at a 7-Eleven

I maintained a good pace on the rink, and I skated what must've been a hundred laps—just enough to get my muscles warm and get the benefits of getting out my adrenaline. I left the rink without doing any jumps or spins.

I had my skates strapped over my shoulder as I made my way to the stairs that would take me to the second-story walking track. I walked up there and then stood near the edge of the track to look over. I found Caleb's group with no effort.

Three different groups were playing at different goals on the gym floor, and Caleb's group was on the far side. He was playing a half-court game. They were playing with teams of three guys, and Caleb was on Marcus's team. They weren't playing hard, but they were all athletic guys. It looked like a competitive game even though they were going light.

I found little Kevin sitting on the sidelines with a guy I didn't know. He was an older gentleman, someone I assumed was Marcus's dad or another family member. I wanted to get closer, but it was easy to be discreet and see them from where I was.

I watched for what must've been three minutes. It was enough to appreciate that Caleb had natural athleticism. No one was trying to be Michael Jordan out there, but I could tell by Caleb's movements that he had more skills than a self-proclaimed nerd should have. I knew he was muscular, but I had never seen him move like he was moving on the court. His shirt was tight-fitting enough that I could see the muscles underneath as he moved. As if I wasn't attracted to him enough. I found myself feeling flush and decided I would only watch for a minute.

I glanced around, trying to seem casual. I wasn't the only person standing at the rail. Marcus was famous, and my brother always had other big-name athletes at his gym. Others were watching the action below.

Caleb picked up the bottom hem of his shirt and lifted it, using it to wipe the sweat off of his forehead. I saw abs. Goodness gracious. He had abs, and I saw them. I knew he did in the series, but it was different seeing it in person.

I hadn't even had the chance to fully take in the sight of them when he glanced up at the balcony. The players were talking to each other and seemed to be taking a water break, and Caleb glanced upward. I saw it when he caught sight of me, and I felt like I wanted to transport myself so that I could be next to him. He gave me a quick nudge of his chin along with a two-fingered wave. I waved back. But just like that, people were talking to him, and I knew he had to look away. He had smiled at me, though, and he waved. He had glanced up here hoping to see me.

I watched for a few more minutes. Caleb glanced up when he could, but it was only for a second or two at a time.

I left while they were playing. I knew I wouldn't get to talk to him, and my levels of attraction were already at an unreasonable level, so I took off, heading to my apartment. I would see him later at the diner when he wasn't so sweaty and wonderful.

Chapter 8

Caleb

Caleb had kissed Lila Decker that day in her brother's office. It was a brief moment of contact, but it was enough to make him certain of how he felt about her. Relief and happiness had flooded his body when he noticed her standing on the second-story walking track. He had wanted her to watch them play basketball. She was beautiful and wonderful, and the fact that he wanted her so badly was new and unusual for him.

Caleb tried to think of it as a good thing, but then his inner thoughts would begin to become divided. He had always been a strong-minded, strong-willed individual. He had mental fortitude and integrity, and he didn't like to feel torn inwardly.

But there was another person involved in this—one that he hadn't told Lila about.

Her name was Bailey, and she was his best friend and a gigantic help in his life and his career.

There was never anything physical between them, but she had feelings for Caleb, and he knew it. She kept them carefully in check, but it was a known fact that she had feelings. He did not have a romantic relationship with Bailey. He never had. He did have a friendship with her, though, and he knew that if he started dating Lila, that would be compromised.

It was amazing meeting Lila and discovering feelings he didn't know he had. But this had turned into a difficult situation for him, one that he had not expected to deal with on his trip to Chicago. He called Bailey when they got back from the gym. Caleb went to his side of the house as he held the phone to his ear, waiting for her to pick up.

"What's up? Where've you been, dude?"

"What do you mean?"

"I've got that last UCLA video edited and set to publish."

"Thank you."

"And I watched the one you just sent from Chicago. It's really good."

"Thank you," Caleb said.

"You seemed like you were in a really good mood," Bailey said. "Not that you're not usually in a good mood. But I don’t know, I saw your teeth showing more in that video. I think you were looking extra happy." She was being lighthearted with him, and he hated it. It was meeting Lila that had made him smile. He wanted to tell Bailey the truth, but that would kill her. Bailey loved him with all her heart, and she had put her feelings aside to maintain their friendship and working relationship. It would shatter her to learn that he had feelings for someone else. His heart ached because he wanted to tell her about Lila, and he just couldn’t.

"Yeah, I liked Kendrick," he said, laughing a little. "Maybe that's why I was smiling. And it's nice being here. Kevin's having fun over here. It's good to see that."

"I loved what I saw so far. Kendrick was great. He's likable on camera."

"I know, I was thinking the same thing. He's new to the team this year, but Marcus said he likes him already. He knows they'll be friends."

"Yeah, I could tell he was sincere."

"I know. He's real."

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