Page 73 of Art of Love
Chapter 18
Hunter
Igrabbed the basketballas Devon shot it my way.
Patterson was fixed on it though. Tonight, we were playing on opposite teams. That kid was good, and I saw him going places in a big way.
I got the ball and could have easily continued with it to the hoop, or even try a shot from the distance, near the center.
I was pretty certain that at this distance, I would have scored, but I knew what it meant to him to get the ball. He wanted to play pro one day, and I could absolutely see that happening.
He’d had a rough time recently with his parents’ divorce and his father wanting him to study medicine while his mother encouraged him to play basketball. I knew what that was like all too well.
I figured the guy deserved a break when I pretended to launch the ball at Jack, knowing Patterson would catch it.
He did. The kid jumped and took the ball like he owned, it and from where he was, not that far from me, he shot the ball through the air.
I stood watching it spin and definitely wasn’t surprised when it went through the hoop effortlessly, winning him the game.
His team cheered, and I laughed.
Devon came up to me and landed a hand on my back. He leaned in close to my ear.
“I know what you did,” he muttered.
I winked at him. “We keep that between us.”
Devon chuckled.
While the guys headed to the changing room, we hung back to talk and clean up the court. There were only a few more weeks like this until we closed for the holidays.
We sat on the last bench on the bleachers when Devon tossed me a bottle of ice-cold water. I downed the thing within minutes. He laughed and tossed me another bottle.
“I love that we play hard.” Devon laughed.
“There’s no other way.”
“So, you know I’m going to ask about your girl, right?” A curious smile lit up my friend’s face. I’d told him about Jia. I had to. Over the last few months, he’d noticed how I was always busy andaway,or not answering my phone.
I tried not to smile, but I failed miserably. I went from pressing my lips together to grinning like an idiot.
“What about her?”
Devon laughed. “Look at you. You should see your face. Glad to see you took my advice on finding a decent woman.”
“Hey, I found her well before you gave that advice.” That was true.
“You didn’t tell me that though, so I’m still calling dibs on the triumph. Do I get to meet her?”
Maybe it was time to introduce her to my friends. I tried to be subtle because I felt it was best given our situation, but maybe enough time had passed and I could be how I wanted to be and show her off.
“I could arrange something. Poker night this Saturday. We can invite Terrence and Gilly.” On Saturday John had a guest presentation from some European artists that were coming in. We were given the option to go in and watch, or take the night off. Since Jia and I had already decided to take the time off, I didn’t think she would mind me making plans for us. Plus, I thought it would be more significant that I wanted to introduce her to my friends.
Devon bumped his fists together. “Yassss, now we’re talking.”
I hoped she would like them. I was certain they would like her. Poker night with the guys was crazy because there were no winners. Someone would cheat or do some craziness, and then we would never be sure who won or lost. And the arguments were crazy and silly. We were a bunch of guys without a care in the world.
