Page 75 of The Fadeaway
She presses her smile to mine. “Do I finally get to see your lair?”
“Oh yeah. There’s lots more ravaging to be done.” I’m already picturing a week filled with Katrina naked and in every place and position I can dream up when I remember I have a meeting with Sara Icoa tomorrow. “I’ve got a few things to do with the team and Sunday is movie night with the roommates but come over. Blair crashes more often than not so you can be my plus one.”
“I thought you promised ravaging. Sounds suspiciously like hanging out fully clothed.”
She says it in a teasing manner but shit she’s right. We had sex and instead of moving on, I want to pencil her in to every free minute I have. And hell yeah I plan on ravaging her as often as possible, but that’s not all I want to do with her.
I guess I’m quiet for too long because she shifts. “You okay? Sorry, I was just kidding. I’d love to hang out.”
Plant a kiss to her temple and tuck her in close beside me. “Just tired, I guess. Been a long day.”
She yawns in agreement.
“Night Kitty.”
* * *
Katrina
“This place is insane,” I say to Blair as she leads me around The White House. The guys are getting movie night set up while I get the grand tour. It’s the coolest place I’ve ever seen, and I was so not prepared after seeing the shit hole the baseball guys live in.
“Joel’s family bought it and turned it into a mini version of the basketball dorms of some of the larger universities. I heard Kansas has a barber shop in theirs.”
“Seems a little like overkill.”
“Right? But the guys love it. They even have custom bedding, not that they care about that, but I think it’s awesome. Wes is sad about moving out next year. I guess Z will too so who knows who will move in and take their place.”
“What happens when Joel graduates?” I ask.
She shrugs. “I’m not sure. If he ends up going pro next year instead of playing his senior year, Nathan would be the only one left.”
My heart drops. If Joel goes pro next year? I didn’t even know that was a possibility. To be fair, I hadn’t asked. I’ve carefully avoided any conversations around the future. I haven’t even allowed myself to ask him what his plans are next weekend because I don’t want to come across as clingy. But the way my hands shake I know my heart has started wishing and hoping for more regardless.
We stop in front of the last doorway. “And this is Joel’s room. I’ve never –”
“Not so fast.” Joel runs from the top of the stairwell and jumps in front of her. “Access denied. Only girls allowed here are the ones who put out.” The smile on his face falls as if he’s realized the bad joke.
It stings to think about how many girls he’s let in past these doors, not gonna lie, but I force a laugh and eye roll and place a hand to my chest dramatically. “So charming.”
“I, uh, got us out of movie night,” he says.
“Lucky dogs. Wes is pumped about the newMission Impossible. See ya later.”
“Thanks for the tour,” I call after her.
She disappears down the hall and Joel pulls me to him. “Sorry about that. We don’t have to stay here if you don’t want to.”
“Don’t be ridiculous.” At the thought of being denied the full Joel Moreno experience, I realize this is exactly what I signed up for. Hot sex and fun, no strings attached. “I will most definitely put out.”
He nips at my top lip. “Before you put out, I have a surprise.” He opens the door and pulls me in after him. “Come on.”
He doesn’t flip on the lights, but he doesn’t need to. The whole back wall of the room is floor to ceiling windows that let in the Arizona sun and give a view of the backyard. French doors lead out to a small balcony and there’s a single chair where I try and picture Joel sitting by himself. Why not two chairs? I know the answer to that without asking, but it makes me a little sad.
His bed is huge, and I see the custom bedding Blair was talking about – white with blue stripes and the Roadrunner mascot.
“Wow. My apartment could fit in your room.”
He looks around like he’s never noticed how big it is and shrugs.
