Page 86 of Brick Wall
I squeeze his hand in thanks. He looks at me in appreciation, but then lets go of my hand and folds his arms around his chest, hugging himself instead.
“Really? Must have had an easy bracket,” one guy teases in return.
“Nah, man. She’s the real deal, and this is her third year with the program,” Sebastian says in return.
“Impressive,” another teammate retorts.
The guys ask me a few questions about volleyball and my team just to be polite, and when I’m engulfed in sharing a story, Sebastian quietly steps away.
I finish my thoughts, but I quickly excuse myself in search of Sebastian.
Quinn’s mansion is enormous, but it’s a chilly December night, and luckily, the party is strictly inside. Although the basement is large, it’s primarily open concept, which makes it easy to search for someone. However, I can’t seem to findSebastian.
I do find the host himself, Quinn Banks.
“Hey, Quinn! Have you seen Sebastian?” I ask him near the stairwell door.
“I haven’t. Sorry,” he says quickly. “Have you checked the gym?”
“Where we played basketball that time? No…” I let that last word die off slowly.
“Here,” Quinn says, while placing two bottles of alcohol on the gorgeous wooden bar top. “I have a feeling he might be there. I’ll show you how to get there.”
I follow him upstairs, through a back door that leads to his garage, and then through another back door. This house is far too big, and I have no idea where I am, but as we open the familiar door to the indoor gym, I hear Sebastian’s low belly laugh.
Here he is, playing basketball with an elementary-aged boy. Although at the moment, playing basketball is very generously put.
Sebastian is rolling on the floor, and the little boy is doing a similar pose. The basketball is between them, so I guess they are trying some new moves.
“Dad!” the little boy excitedly screams while running full force to the man standing beside me. Quinn lifts him in the air and swings him around the court.
Sometimes, I forget that Quinn Banks is a dad. Despite being one of the biggest quarterbacks in the league, he tries to keep his personal life, well, personal. However, that’s pretty hard to do when you are a three-time Super Bowl MVP linked to a British model and mogul, Cordelia Clarke. However, Cordelia, who goes by Cordy, and Quinn were never married,and they split when his son was very young, if I remember the gossip correctly. I don’t usually follow it, but it’s hard living in Boston without hearing how Quinn is currently single and is an eligible bachelor.
“Where’s Grammy?” Quinn asks his son.
His son leans towards him and loudly whispers, “She was gettingreallytired.”
“Yeah, I bet,” Quinn says with a smile. “Why don’t you and I go check on her and make sure she’s okay?”
“That’s probably best,” the boy says in a very serious tone, matching his dad’s.
“See you later, Crab!” QB’s son says with a hug to Sebastian before disappearing into the house with his dad.
“Crab?” I raise my eyebrow in question.
“He watchedThe Little Mermaidthe day before he met me,” Sebastian explains while getting up from the floor, rather slowly, with the ball in his left hand. He then casually dribbles the ball without making eye contact with me.
“Ah,” I say in understanding.
“Soo, what are you doing out here?” I casually steal the basketball away from him and dribble the ball under my legs like the show-off I am.
“Just shooting some hoops with Charlie,” Sebastian says as if it wasn’t obvious.
“Does your coach know you’re playing another sport right now?” I can’t help but tease. “Some coaches forbid that, especially during playoffs.” It’s never good to have a player get injured, but especially when they are fooling around and taking unnecessary risks. I ask my players to keep it smart, especially in season.
“Basketball is low contact, I’d say, wouldn’t you, Coach?”he says, wrapping his hands around my waist, while trying to steal the ball from me. “Are you going to tattle?” his hot breath whispers in my ear, and I shiver in response.
I slowly shake my head, because words once again escape me. Fuck, I’m so worked up with minor contact from Sebastian. I’m pathetic.
