Page 21 of Forecheck
“What can I say?” Brent said with a shrug. “I’m an old-fashioned kinda guy.”
“Well, then,” I said. “Don’t keep me waiting on your call long.”
“Don’t worry, I won’t.” Brent bent and pressed a kiss to my cheek, setting the nerve endings there alight. “See you soon, Berkley.”
“Bye,” I said, and watched his retreating form until the sliding metal door of the loft entrance blocked him from view.
Not two seconds later, my phone rang.
I Think You Forgot Something
Thanks to my crazyass game schedule, Berkley and I weren’t able to make plans for a date until nearly a month later, and I honestly thought I’d go insane if I didn’t see her soon.
Since Halloween, we’d been texting nonstop—though I was a little miffed she hadn’t told me her birthday came the following week until after it had already passed—but it wasn’t enough. I wanted her up close and personal, where I could touch her, gauge her reactions to our conversations.
The day before, she’d texted me again, still trying to get me to divulge where I was taking her.
Berkley: Where are we going? What should I wear?
Me: Where we’re going is a surprise, but wear something nice.
Berkley: Nice like…nice jeans and a cute top, or nice like a dress?
Me: A dress.
I’d be damned if I missed the opportunity to see this girlreallydressed up. The glimpses I’d gotten of her legs on Halloween had haunted me. I wanted to run my eyes—and hands and lips—across her bare skin, wanted those legs wrapped around my waist while I…
My phone pinging again pulled me out of my dirty thoughts, and not a moment too soon. I had to be out the door for practice in ten minutes, and I didn’t have time to deal with a spontaneous boner.
Although, thoughts of her ass in my lap as we grinded on the dance floor at the loft still plagued me, had me taking my cock in my fist on more than one occasion, her name on my lips as I spilled my release.
Berkley: A dress it is. Can’t wait ??
Me: Me either! See you tomorrow ??
The following evening, I pulled my truck into a spot marked VISITOR out front of Berkley’s building and made my way to her floor, a bouquet of flowers in my hand.
On the drive over, I’d had to regularly remind myself to breathe, and I hadn’t been able to stop nervously drumming myfingers on the steering wheel. I genuinely couldn’t believe I was about to take Berkley on our first date. If somebody would’ve told me a few months ago that this was going to happen, I would’ve told them they were crazy. I wasn’t a shy person, and I wasn’t afraid to be singled out in front of large groups of people. I was, after all, a professional athlete; showmanship was my bread and butter. But something about Berkley tripped me up, turned me back into that awkward thirteen-year-old boy about to ask the girl I had a crush on to be my date to a dance for the first time.
When I reached Berkley’s door, I paused to collect myself, wiping my sweaty palms on my dress pants and inhaling a steadying breath before knocking. A loud bang sounded from the other side, and a few seconds later, Amelia opened the door. Kimber was sprawled out on the floor behind her.
“Hi, Brent,” Amelia said, sounding out of breath. She moved aside to let me in.
“Hi…” I said slowly, taking in the scene. Since I knew Berkley lived alone, being confronted with the cavalry was unexpected. Either she was nervous about our date, or her friends invited themselves over to see her off. I didn’t know her well enough to decide which.
Kimber rose off the floor, rubbing her right side. “Bitch hip-checked me to get to the door first,” she said by way of explanation.
I raised a brow at Amelia, who merely shrugged in response.
“Are those for Berk?” Kimber asked, motioning to the flowers.
“Oh, yes.” In the commotion of coming inside, I’d forgotten I held them. “Will she like them?”
Both of her friends offered me soft smiles. “They’re beautiful, and she’ll love them. She should be down any second.”
Amelia moved down the hall and yelled, “Berkley, your gentleman caller has arrived! Do come down and greet him!” in a terrible British accent.
I couldn’t help laughing. These girls were crazy, but the comfortability they had around each other reminded me of me and my teammates.
