"You were amazing. What's up for the rest of the night? You got time for me?" I reached out and took her hand.
"Always."
"Good. Let's go out to the old YMCA near the edge of town. I used to swim there all the time as a kid. There's a great indoor swimming pool where we can have some fun." I licked at my lips and took her in as she panted, trying to catch her breath.
"It'll be closed this time of night, right?" I half expected her to have her attention all over the place with the number of people moving around us, most of them calling out to her, but she didn't. Her eyes were locked on mine. I'd never felt more loved, more cared for, more important. Not ever.
"I have keys." I wagged my eyebrows. "Private swim lesson from the best guy on the team?"
"Hell, yes. Sounds like my kind of night." She moved in and kissed me once more before turning to the crowd of her friends that had rushed in all around us.
The team lifted her up on their shoulders and pranced her around the gym as MVP.I moved back to stand next to my mother and Sam, who was busy laughing with Lucinda.
I couldn't help but notice that Kade hadn't left, but was standing by the door with his focus on one thing.
Val.
Chapter 26
Val
The afternoon with Kade had been fun, but a little unnerving. While I felt like he was hoping for something to start between us, I couldn't help but think that I was overreacting. I didn't feel anything but a great friendship starting between us – or so I told myself. Our lives were too much alike not to take notice, but most friends had something in common.
After the basketball win, I was on a high like no other. We'd lost to our opposing team a few weeks before, and I wasn't willing to take another beating by them. I'd pulled out everything I had to give and encouraged my team to do the same. Somehow it had worked, and we were victorious. Everyone was in the stands.
Everyone but my parents.
It was probably for the better. I didn't need to look up and see their disdain over my choice to play college ball though they'd tried to forbid it.
"What are you thinking about?" Tate reached over and took my hand as we drove away from Sam's house. Seeing that my car was shot and it was too cold for his bike, we'd dropped his mother off and then Sam back at his house. My friends were all headed to a party later that night, and Lucinda was picking Sam up. Some part of me felt like we should have joined them, but time alone with Tate sounded much more appealing.
"Nothing. Everything." I moved closer to him as the snow hit the windshield harder and harder.
He wrapped his arm around me when I got close enough and pulled me in tightly against his side. "You reliving that win? It was pretty fucking incredible."
I laughed. "No. I love playing, though. I wish my future included something to do with it, but it's just not in the cards."
"Why not?" He snuck a quick kiss against the side of my neck as we pulled to a stop sign.
"I don't know. I guess because there is no money in it?" I turned my attention to focus on him and let my eyes move along the tats at the base of his throat. "When did you get all these tats?"
"Over the years, but you're changing the subject." He smirked, and my stomach contracted. I'd never been with a man before that had such power over my hormones. It was thrilling and bit nerve-wreaking all at the same time.
"Maybe I am, but there's no reason to dwell on it. I'm getting my business degree and probably going to work for my father's company. My sister Allison seems to be doing well with all of it." I ran my hands through my hair and moved away from him as we took the final turn toward the YMCA.
"Is she? Have you asked her point blank if she likes it?" He parked the truck and glanced over at me. "And just so you know...there's lots of money in sports, playing, competing, and coaching."
"No, I haven't asked her." I got out of the truck and moved to the front to wrap myself around him as we moved to the front door. "You sure we're okay going in here?"
"Nope, but that's yet to stop be before. Why? You scared?" He looked down at me and laughed. The sound of it filled me with warmth.
"Scared of what? You? Never." I moved into the building as the smell of sweat and chlorine filled my senses. "I've never been to one of these gyms."
"It's the poor folks gym, baby. I've gotta teach you a thing or two." He grabbed my hand and pulled me toward the pool area. "We don't have suits, so it's looking like this first lesson is going to have to be in the buck."
"The buck?" I laughed and followed him in. My eyes moved along the top of the room in search for cameras, but I found none. "I'm not getting naked in this public pool. Firstly, that's just gross, and secondly, someone could come in."
He kicked off his boots, pulled off his shirt and turned to look at me. "Fine. Just sit there and watch me swim, then."