Page 56 of The Tip-Off
“Let’s say I believe that you two aren’t totally into each other.” He gives me a pointed look. “I don’t, by the way, but for argument’s sake, I’ll pretend that I do. Gabby might be inexperienced, but she’s not acting crazy with anyone but you – that’s different than the freshman crazy. And you, you’ve had four years to hang out and hook up, but until Gabby started coming around, you never did. Why now? What’s changed?”
I keep my mouth shut because if I start waxing poetic on how Gabby has made me look at life differently and how we’re having fun, seizing the day as Gabby would say, instead of dwelling on the expiration date his smile might get so big his head splits apart. Luckily the girls appear, and I don’t have to answer.
I stand as Gabby approaches and pull out the chair next to me. “Hey, you made it. Want something to drink?”
She takes a seat and there’s a nervous vibe bouncing between us which could be entirely my fault. Wes got all in my head. “That’d be great.”
The next two hours go by with Joel telling the girls stories of some of our less than finer moments at Prickly Pear, which turns into a stroll down drunken, embarrassing moments lane, and since most of those nights didn’t include me making a drunken spectacle, I find myself out of the hot seat and can just sit back and enjoy our time together.
Maybe it’s Joel’s insistence to make a production out of every last milestone or maybe the end of my college life is making me nostalgic, but either way, I’m not counting down the minutes until I can go home and go to bed.
I sneak a glance at Gabby sitting beside me. She hangs on every word, every story like it’s the most fascinating thing she’s ever heard. So filled with hope and possibility of all the moments she’s missed and, if I’ve come to know her like I think I do, planning for how she can have all those experiences and more. I have no doubt she will. Girl is gonna leave a mark on Valley with the time she has left. I’m sad I’ll miss watching that. Even sad I’ll miss being a part of it.
I slide my foot toward and hook it around her leg. At the contact, she doesn’t look directly at me, but I see her confirm my movement out of her peripheral. In response, she angles her body a fraction of an inch in my direction. It’s the smallest bit of contact, but the adrenaline rush I feel at our connection is big and exciting like those minutes before tip-off when I’m so psyched for a game I feel like anything is possible.
Well before last call, Joel stands. “I’m gonna head out.”
It’s the first time I’ve noticed he didn’t drink much tonight. He maybe had three beers which is not the Joel Moreno way. He’s usually tossing back Jack and chasing it with a twelve pack. Although now that I think of it, he hasn't really been like that since he started dating Katrina. She wasn’t able to come out tonight, so I’d bank on him taking it easy so he could show up at her place later.
“You got a ride?”
He nods to our teammate hanging out at the bar. “Malone’s gonna drop me at Katrina’s. See you guys tomorrow. Glad you came out, Z.”
“Me too,” I answer honestly.
The girls took off to the bathroom in a group more than five minutes ago and I find myself watching the door just like Mario and Wes. I look away because didn’t I just make a point how I wasn’t like Wes or the other guys totally hung up on a girl?
Movement catches my eye and my head turns before I can stop myself. Gabby leads the pack, confidence set in her shoulders, head held high and a playful smile dancing on her face. The only visible sign of uncertainty she wears is the way she holds her right hand in a fist tight against her leg as she walks. Instead of taking their seats, Blair and Vanessa hang back and watch as she approaches me.
When she’s within an arm’s length away, she extends her right hand, still in a fist toward me. Her eyes dart around and then she leans in and whispers, “Black.”
My brow arches in question and she pushes her fist against my hand and opens. My reflexes are shit while I'm trying to figure out what's going on, but the soft material grazes my hand as it falls to the floor. She gasps at the same time I finally catch sight of the black panties now laying on the ground by my feet.
Our awkward interaction has caught the attention of everyone around us. Wes and Mario careen their necks to see what’s going on.
“Are those…” Mario starts but then Vanessa punches him in the arm. “Ouch, what? I just—” Vanessa covers his mouth with her hand. Gabby's face turns crimson.
My senses finally return, and I swipe the panties up and wrap my big hand around them so they’re no longer visible. The material is still warm from her body heat and with all eyes on me, it takes every ounce of self-control to stand and shove them in my pocket.
“Gentlemen, ladies.” I nod in their direction, make the mistake of looking at Wes who has the smuggest look I’ve ever seen on his face. It says,I told you so, in the most obnoxious tone possible.
Gabby is still reeling in her embarrassment, so I step to her, place both hands on her face, and bring my lips to hers. I’m vaguely aware of the guys chuckling behind us, but I don’t care. This girl just handed me her panties in the middle of the bar. Yeah, so she fumbled them. Her execution was weak, but the intent more than makes up for it. What could be hotter or more exciting than a chick giving you their panties? I don’t know, but if there is something, I’m sure Gabby will be the one to show me.
I’m two seconds from walking out of here with a boner, so I break the kiss and press my forehead to hers. “Should probably get out of here before I think too hard about the fact you’re not wearing underwear right now.”
“Can we go to my place? I have a surprise.”
My mind reels with possibilities. “Lead the way, beautiful girl.”
28
Zeke
We takean Uber to Gabby’s place. When we get to the front door, she turns to me and says, “Wait here.”
“Outside?”
“Two minutes… maybe three.” My face must show my confusion because she adds, “It’ll be worth it.”
