Page 51 of My Heart to Keep
Noah was absorbed in his phone. Celia was too.
Marcus, Jasper, Emma, and Ethan had left as soon as the game was done, although Emma promised she would be back to catch up with Celia and me before we left. But I knew the truth. She’d run back to her dorm to fix her hair and dab on some makeup to impress Noah. She had been smitten with him since he’d sat down next to me
“Maiken is probably getting his ass chewed,” Noah said. “He froze.”
It was my fault. He probably thought Noah was trying to move in on me.
“Tell me more about basketball camp. You roomed with Maiken? How come I’m just now learning about this? Did you know he and I were dating?”
Celia looked up from her phone. “Yeah. Did you know they were dating?”
Noah gnawed on the inside of his cheek. “I tried to get ahold of Maiken when I found out my mom took a job in Ashford, but we never connected. He’d never mentioned your name. We didn’t talk about family. I don’t like the subject, frankly.”
Celia and I had both been surprised to see him sitting in the stands. At first, I’d thought I was at Kensington until my gaze had landed on Greenridge’s state championship banners hanging from the rafters.
A door creaked open, causing my gaze to dart to the far end of the gym. My heart nearly jumped out of my chest.
Maiken’s muscular thighs, encased in dark jeans, ate up the space between us as he beelined it for me, unleashing a belly-tingling grin.
I kicked my feet into gear, and then I was running full-out, like I was sprinting to the finish line.
Stopping, he braced his legs, knowing what was about to happen. I didn’t want us tumbling to the floor, at least not on the hard surface. It would hurt his back, and he’d already had problems with his lower spine.
His lips split into an even bigger grin. “I got you, babe.”
Goose bumps exploded on my body, and fireworks went off in my head as I leapt into his arms.
He laughed, wild and free, as his hands went into my hair. “I’ve missed you.”
I peppered kisses along his ear. “I was dying to run out on the court when you were playing.” I squeezed him as tightly as I could. If we stayed like this the rest of the night, I was okay with that.
He gripped my waist and helped me down on two feet. Then he planted his lips on mine softly and tentatively. “I’m afraid if I kiss you, I won’t let go.”
That wasn’t a bad thing. So I gave him a nudge and darted out my tongue. He didn’t hesitate, kissing me hungrily and greedily as though it would be our last kiss for a long time.
In essence, it was.
He tasted sweet and minty, making me whimper.
“You two should really get a room,” Noah said at my back.
“I agree,” Celia added.
“A room alone with you sounds amazing,” Maiken said as he nibbled on my lip.
Reluctantly, I began to pry myself from him until he whispered in my ear. “Give me a minute before you turn around.”
I didn’t have to ask why. I could feel his excitement for me. I needed to distract him. So I asked, “Did you get in trouble?”
He blew out a breath. “Not really.” Then he nodded, giving me the go-ahead that I could turn and face my BFF and Noah.
Noah was staring at Maiken as though he were trying to read him. “Good game, bro.” He stepped closer to Maiken, and the two exchanged a bro hug.
Celia flicked her dark hair off her shoulder. “Maiken, long time, no see.”
Maiken raked his blue gaze over Celia. “You look good after that fall at Quinn’s party.”
“I have a hard head,” Celia teased.
