Page 52 of The Tip-Off
“Hey.” His fingertips graze my elbow and my attention snaps fully to him. “It’s assigned seats.” He hands over a ticket and I notice Blair holds one too. “I’ll be back as soon as I can. Don’t have too much fun without me.”
We stare at one another, each taking the other in, electricity humming between us until Wes calls after him.
“Back soon,” he mutters and follows after Wes.
Blair and I find our seats. A girl in a halter dress with shoulders like a linebacker hands us a program. It’s thick, pages and pages of Valley athletes and a schedule for the night. Zeke was right – this thing is going to last a really long time. Fine by me so long as Zeke brings all that tall, dark, sexiness back and sits beside me… or on top of me, pulls me into a corner. My thoughts run away with possibilities.
When the guys return, they bring with them the rest of the team and their dates. Mario and Vanessa are sitting with the baseball team, but V waves and promises to find us after the awards.
A flask is pushed into my hands just as the lights dim. I give Zeke a questioning glance and he looks a little sheepish. “It’s tradition.”
The liquor, pure vodka, I think, burns as I take a sip. I hand it to Blair and then do my best to pay attention to the stage as every athlete is recognized and the coaches give a nice little speech about how honored they are to work with such talented young people, yadda, yadda, yadda.
I’m stifling a yawn when Wes and Zeke stand up and leave without a word.
“Where are they going?” I whisper to Blair.
She smiles coyly. “Zeke is getting the Harper Award.”
“What is that?”
She points to the stage as Coach Daniels appears for the second time. “The Harper Award is given each year to a Valley University student-athlete who exemplifies leadership and teamwork. It’s my pleasure to introduce senior Wes Reynolds to announce this year’s recipient.”
Blair leans over. “Look how handsome he looks in a suit. I convinced him to buy one to wear at games next year when he’s coaching.”
I give her a thumbs up and I gotta admit he does fill it out nicely. The field house gets quieter than it’s been all night as Wes starts his speech. He tells everyone about how he met Zeke when they played against each other in an AAU game and gets some laughs over the story of how Zeke’s team had won and Wes had tried to be the bigger man by congratulating Zeke after the teams had done the usual player handshake, but Zeke had already slipped on his headphones and tuned out the world.
Wes even gets a little choked up when he talks about his injury. Blair’s full on crying and Shaw hands her the flask.
“I’m beyond honored to be the one to give him this award. He’s been an opponent, a teammate, a roommate, but today I’m honored to call him a friend and brother.”
Zeke comes from stage left and I’m on my feet with everyone else in our row screaming and clapping as he accepts his award.
“You’re on a date with a Valley celebrity.” Blair passes me the flask. “How’s it feel?”
“Handsome,” I say, and she giggles. “I mean,he’shandsome. I feel… like if he doesn’t kiss me soon, I might die.”
25
Zeke
“Why didn’tyou tell me you were getting the Harder Award?” She hefts the trophy in one hand.
“HarperAward.”
“Same difference.” Gabby places the trophy down on the little table between us. “Seriously. Why didn’t you tell me?”
I shrug and lift my drink to my mouth, take a long swallow of the potent liquor before I respond. “It’s not a big deal. Besides, would you have known what I was talking about if I’d told you?”
“Point made.” She stares at me with a look I can’t decipher. “I would have come with you even if you’d been getting an award for worst player of the year, you know that, right?”
“I do know that.” I step around the table in two strides, finally able to focus only on her. Ever since I walked into her apartment, I’ve been playing out the night in my head like a Choose Your Own Adventure novel. If I touch her hand, will she shiver at my touch? If I kiss her, will I be able to stop? If I don’t make a move soon, will my dick actually fall off from the perpetual blue balls?
“You’re stunning in that dress. Scratch that, you’re stunning. The dress is just along for the ride.” The smile she flashes at me is all the recognition and trophy I need tonight.
“You clean up nice yourself. Not too late to consider a change in career.” She runs a hand over the lapel of my jacket. “Something that requires you to dress like this more often. Investment banker, attorney, reporter—”
“Male model.”
