Rebound (Pro-U Book 3) (13 page)

Chapter 24

One Week Later

Natasha

It had been a week since Micah and I came to the understanding that a friendship between us would be good, but maybe working on a relationship would be better. I was scared shitless and had tried to talk myself out of seeing him a million times over the week, but he kept working his way back into my day in a way that left me without an excuse to see him. We'd yet to sleep together, but it was all I thought about as I laid in my bed every night alone. It seemed stupid to try to push him away when he was the perfect man for me, but I couldn't help myself.

Thank God he was persistent as hell.

I finished pulling my hair into a bun as I stood in the women's locker room before our first game. The girls were dancing around and acting like clowns behind me, which was typical. I'd almost come to expect it over the years and was grateful that someone was having a good time. I was too focused on the win to think of anything but giving the other team absolute hell.

Coach Murphy walked in and clapped her hands in a quick rhythm we were all too familiar with. Pep talk and we were heading out.

"All right ladies. First game of the season. This team isn't nearly as strong as you guys, but it's not about winning as much as it is intimidating the hell out of them, and anyone else watching in the stands. We want them to know that the Lady Friars are fearless. You hear me?" She glanced around at each of us.

I nodded and put my hand into the middle of the break as everyone joined me.

"On three Lady Friars. One-Two-Three-Break." I threw my hand up in the air and moved to the front of the group.

"My starters up front with Natasha. Sharon, you and Tasha can shake hands with the ref on our behalf tonight. Let's go get 'em."

I cheered along with everyone else and jogged out onto the edge of the court, running around in circles near our goal as the music pumped from the loud speakers above. The stands were packed and the crowd went wild as we moved into our drills. As much as I wanted Micah there, I knew they were playing an early game in Boston that night. He'd texted me to wish me luck early and said he would meet me at Mersky's after the game with everyone.

The Capitals were playing later that night, and we all planned on being there to root Lucas on. He was a starter for the first time since joining them and Aubrey was a hot mess. It was almost too cute to watch.

"And your line up tonight for the Lady Friars starts with our captain, senior, number thirty-four, Natasha Kelly." I turned and ran down the line, shaking hands with the visiting coaches, the referees, my coaches and then having a little fun with my team.

"Go Tasha!" Several girlie voices called from the stands, and I looked over to see Aubrey, Clara and her sister, Abby, bouncing up and down. I waved and moved up to the center of the court to listen to the rules I'd memorized ages ago.

My eyes moved across the stands, and shock ran through me. My mother sat at the top of the bleachers with a pair of sunglasses and a scarf over her head. There was no way in hell anyone would know it was her, but I did.

Why was she there? Did she have something to say to me? Would she be okay sitting at the top of the stands by herself? How the fuck did she get up there?

"Hey. You with us?" Sharon tugged at the front of my jersey.

"Yeah, sorry." I moved back into position as Deja moved up for the tip off. I hated the fact that my mother's presence unnerved me, but it did. I wanted to impress her more than anyone else in the world so she wouldn't think I was a failure anymore. I had such a small amount of time left to make her understand that I wasn't a mistake. I didn't ruin her life, and my baby wouldn't have ruined mine. My father had done some stupid shit, but he wasn't me.

I moved into action as the ball flew toward me, dodging and dribbling my way down the court. I lifted to my toes and did a perfect layup. Two points. The crowd went nuts and I glanced over as nonchalantly as I could to see my mother rising to her feet slowly and clapping.

"What the hell," I mumbled and forced myself to stay in the game and nowhere else. Life had been one fucked up roller coaster ride after the next lately. I didn't need anything taking the one thing I had going for me for sure in my life - my sport.

*

"You did it, kiddo." Coach Murphy patted me on the back as we broke from our after-game talk. We'd stomped the other team in the ground and left no room for a recovery by the end of the first quarter.

"Thanks, Coach." I high-fived my team and walked toward the stands as my mom took her last shaky step to the floor. "Mom?"

"Oh, Tasha. I hope I didn't disturb your game." She pulled at her scarf and glanced down as if trying to make sure no one recognized her.

"No. I'm glad you're here. It's nice to see you up and moving." I clasped my hands in front of me, not quite sure what to do with them.

"Yes, well, the medication I was on was causing me to be far more sick than I needed to be. I switched doctors and am feeling better than I have in six months." She lifted her chin a little and took a shaky breath. "Your father and I have been talking about him moving back to Providence."

"What? Why?" Shock rolled through me.

"He's not with Cindy anymore, and I certainly could use his help in getting better."

"Getting better?" Hope resurrected in my chest. "I thought you said-"

"I said a lot of things. I was angry and I shouldn't have said those things to you. The tumor is inoperable, but there is hope that it will shrink. Worst case scenario, I'll be dead in eighteen months, best case, I'll fully recover."

"Wow." I pressed my fingers to my mouth. "And Dad's going to come help?"

"Yes. The Celtics owner is good with him living an hour away. He explained the situation." She shrugged and glanced down at her nails. "How are you doing? Grades going okay?"

"Yes, ma'am. I'm pulling all A's right now."

"Good." She gave me a tight smile. "I was thinking maybe we could have lunch on Sunday, unless of course you're busy."

"No. I'm not." I took a quick breath, not realizing that I was holding the last one in until my lungs started to burn. "Is it okay if I bring someone with me? I kind of have a boyfriend."

"Really?" She smirked. "I'd almost given up hope on you."

"Yes, really. That okay if he comes?" I could have spouted out a million things about
why
I didn't trust men, thanks to her, but I kept the poison to myself. No need to break down whatever was happening between us before it happened.

"Yes, that would be great. Come out to the house and I'll have Lucio fix us something for lunch."

"All right. Thanks for coming, Mom." I moved back as she nodded and walked toward the door. I was grateful to see Lucio move into the open doorway and take my mother's arm. I'd thought she fired the older woman months ago, and maybe she had. It would seem getting a second lease on life meant rethinking a few things.

I walked back toward the locker room a little numb. I wasn't sure how I felt about having a relationship with my mother after all we'd put each other through, but maybe it wasn't something that had to happen overnight. Much like my relationship with Micah. We could take our time and build it up.

The locker room was empty except for a lone shower going in the background. I stripped down and grabbed a towel, walking in and calling out to make sure I didn't scare anyone.

"It's just me." I moved toward an empty stall and yelped as Micah stuck his head out of the shower beside mine.

"Hi me. This one's already warm if you want to join me."

I wrapped my towel around me and turned away from him, making sure no one was in the locker room with us. I jerked back around, my eyes wide, heart racing.

"What in the hell are you doing? I thought you were in Boston."

"Game got moved. Their coach got in an accident." He lifted his arms and scrubbed the shampoo bubbles in his hair. "Come in here with me."

"Are you serious?" I walked toward him, wanting so badly to see him naked. I'd been a bit freaked out the last time we had been together and had run from the room without getting to appreciate the view at all.

"As a heart attack." The curtain closed as he disappeared behind it, and I stood there, trying to decide what the best course of action would be. He reached out and grabbed my arm, pulling me and the towel into the shower with him.

I glanced down the length of his body, taking him in and trying to catch my breath.

"Wow," I mumbled as he reached out and tugged the towel off. He tossed it over the top of the shower and pulled me against him.

"Like what you see?"

"What the hell got into you?" I slid my hands up his chest and tried to think through how my goodie-goodie boyfriend was standing naked with shampoo in his hair in the women's locker room shower.

"I lost a bet, but I'll have to thank Jacob later. It was him or me. I figured it would work much, much better for me." He turned me around and pressed himself against my back as his hands moved over my breasts, rubbing softly and washing me clean.

"I would say so." I relaxed against him and reached back, running my fingers along the outsides of his thighs. "We're so not having sex for the first time in this shower."

"Agreed." He leaned down and kissed the side of my neck before grabbing the soap and rubbing it through his hands. "Although, I do plan on hearing you moan a little."

"And how-" My breath caught in my chest as he slid his hand down my stomach and cupped my sex, pressing in softly as he sucked my ear into his mouth.

The need to fight was all but gone. Why had I been avoiding him for a week? Trust issues? Fear?

Nothing mattered as he wrapped his strong arm under my breasts and held me up as he worked my body slow and hard to the edge of orgasm. The hard press of his erection against my rear was almost too much.

"I want you inside of me," I moaned and lifted my foot up to press it against the shower wall in front of me.

"Tomorrow night after the game in Boston." He pressed his teeth against my neck and slipped another finger inside of me as I lifted my hips and groaned. "Come back to the house with me and let's enjoy each other, hm?"

"Yeah." I closed my eyes and let the feeling of his hands all over me drive me over the abyss. My stomach tightened as heat burst from my center and raced along my nerve endings.

"Say my name, Tasha. I wanna hear it." He licked up the side of my neck and drove his fingers into me harder, forcing me to come again.

"Micah," I cried out in a loud groan. The warmth of his orgasm washed over my back as we shared the moment like nothing I'd experienced before.

Chapter 25

Micah

It was weird seeing her in the stands as we warmed up at Boston College. She was snuggled in between Emily and Aubrey with a smile on her pretty face that I wasn't sure I'd seen too many times. She was warming up to all of us. I just had to make sure I didn't do anything that would give her the ability to climb back in her shell. I wanted a future with her too damn bad to think about it.

"Let's go." The referee called us to the center of the court for tip off, and I couldn't help but glance over at her one more time.

She waved and licked her lips, shocking me a little. The images of her pressed against me, riding my hand caught me off guard and stole the air from my lungs. I groaned and shook my head, forcing myself to turn back to the center of the court and ready myself. Boston wasn't a team to fuck with, and I was going for broke all season long.

The other team got the tip off, but I moved down the court beside Clayton who lifted up to block the shot. Clayton smacked the ball toward our side of the court and we pivoted as another member of our team got the ball. I was grateful for my speed and found myself in the lead toward the basket as the ball flew my way. I could hear Tasha screaming my name above everyone else in the whole gym. It pushed me harder.

I caught the ball and lifted up to drop the ball in the hoop. The guy chasing me slapped at my hand and smacked my wrist hard. Pain raced up my arm, but I tried not to panic. It was going to be sore. That was just part of the healing process.

"You all right?" Clayton jogged up beside me and gripped my shoulder.

"Yep. Time to play left handed for a little while." I winked and moved in position to play. Boston had a strong team and would be fucked up with me playing with my left hand, so it was for the better. Somehow life had a way of working out. The pretty girl in the stands chanting my name had me believing that more than anything else had.

"Let's repay their kindness, shall we?" Clayton jogged past me and chuckled.

"Hell yeah. Bring the heat."

*

I walked toward the stands as my friends stood around laughing and cutting up. They were the only ones left in the gym seeing that we'd all showered and most of the guys had gotten back on the bus.

"There's our star athlete." Jacob turned to face me and extended his hand. "Did I see you playing left handed tonight? What the fuck was that madness? Those idiots didn't know what to do with you."

"Are you hurt?" Tasha moved toward me and reached for my right hand.

"It's a little sore. Their post smacked the shit out of it on the first play." I slid my hand over her shoulder and turned her so I could tuck her against my side. "I'm all right, and yeah, playing left seemed the only option tonight. Good thing it worked in our favor. Now, what's the plan?"

"We were thinking beer and pizza at DeAngelos, unless there's someplace up here you like to hang out?" Jacob wrapped his arm around Emily and kissed the side of her head. "I might be a little bias about the place though."

I snorted and turned my attention to Aubrey and Clara, feeling bad for them as they stood together. "You girls good with pizza?"

"Yep. I love it. Lucas is playing again tonight. Let's hurry so we can catch the start of the game. They only kept him in for a little while last night. Fuckers," Aubrey muttered and walked toward the cars.

"I love pizza." Clara smiled and moved past us to follow her.

"Did they at least win?" I called after Aubrey.

She spun on her foot and smiled. "Yeah. They won."

"Awesome." I followed after them, trying not to trip as I kept glancing down at Tasha. "You like the game tonight?"

"Yeah. You did great. Your three-pointers need some work, but I can help with that." She squeezed the top of my butt and snuggled against me.

"Oh yeah? This a tutoring type thing?"

"Could be." She released me and walked through the door as Jacob held it open for us.

"What's the payment terms?" I let my eyes run down her back and watched her swing her hips a little more than was necessary.

"I'm sure we can figure something out."

I smiled and extended my hand to Jacob. "Let me drive your truck. You take everyone else. I want some time with my girl."

"Yeah, but no being nasty in there, man. That truck is my baby." He glanced over at me and narrowed his eyes a little.

"Give me a break." I snatched the keys and jogged past the girls, grabbing Natasha's hand and making her run with me. "Got us a private ride home."

"I'm not sure if that's a good thing or not." She laughed and stopped beside the truck as I leaned in and pulled her closer.

"You still good with going home with me tonight?" I brushed my lips by hers, letting myself enjoy the idea that we might actually get to experience each other later that night.

"Yeah, I'm good with it. You have-"

"You know I do." I kissed her again and moved back, opening the door and popping her butt as she got in.

"I thought you were a good boy." She turned to face me as I got in the truck and started it.

"Nope. I'm a good guy, but not a good boy. Huge difference."

"Oh yeah?"

"Mhmmm." I turned on the radio and rolled down the windows before reaching over to take her hand. "You wanna skip the food and do something just the two of us?"

"Yeah, actually I do." She moved over closer and slid her hand down my thigh, squeezing a little. Just her nearness had my pulse racing, my body hard and ready for a long night of pressing her to a soft bed.

"Like what?" I glanced down at her quickly and returned my eyes toward the road.

"Well, Jacob told me that you have a fear of water. I assume it's because of your sister?"

"This is not going in the direction I was hoping it would." I let out a tight laugh and ran my fingers over the top of her hand, pulling her closer to my dick. She got the message and leaned in closer, stroking me slowly as she kissed my ear.

"I know, but you've helped me a lot lately with all my shit. I want to help you too."

"I don't need help, baby. It was an accident a long time ago. I don't like to swim. Big deal." I bit my lip and groaned as she ran her nails over my balls.

"I don't care what you think you need. I love to swim and seeing that you've already planned out what we're naming our grandkids-"

"Who told you that?" I smiled and lifted my hips, enjoying the softness of her touch immensely.

She laughed and kissed my ear again. "Come with me to the natatorium tonight. I wanna help you. I think I can."

I nodded and tried not to let myself overreact. I hadn't been in a pool in ten years. I sure as fuck wasn't planning on getting in one that night with her either. Somewhere between Boston College and Providence I would figure out a way to weasel out of it.

"You want something to eat first?" I licked my lips and tried not to pant too loudly.

"Like you?" She smiled and moved back, shifting in the seat to lay down in my lap.

"I meant like a burger or something, but anything you want. It's all yours." I brushed her hair back and almost swallowed my tongue when she worked me out of my shorts and took her time making me shake. If she wanted me to dive into the middle of the ocean, I'd probably do it. The woman had power, and I was in serious trouble.

*

I pulled out my phone to call Jacob as Tasha got out of the truck and walked up toward the natatorium to check if they were still open. I prayed like hell they weren't.

"Hey buddy. Where are you guys?"

"We're going to take a swim up at the school and head back to the house. We still got that lunch meat and cheese there?"

"No, but I'll bring you guys something." He paused for a moment. "You sure you wanna take a swim? I thought you were scared shitless of the water."

"I am. She's making me." I ran my fingers through my hair.

"Good woman. She's exactly who you need in your life then. Fear’s a prison you let yourself crawl into. Fuck that madness. Get in that water and tell her it would help ease your angst if she got naked."

I laughed and got out of the truck to walk up to her.

"Oh shit." Jacob's tone changed dramatically. "Did he just- Holy-"

"Dude, what's up?" I walked toward Natasha as she stuck her head back out the open door and waved me in.

"Oh man. Lucas just took a hard hit on the ice. He's not getting up. Fuck."

"Where's Aubrey? She with you?"

"Yeah, she's losing her shit right now. I gotta go. I'll text you later. We'll be all right. Nothing you could do but get in the way. Just get over your fears and make that woman yours for good."

"All right man. Keep me in the loop." I hung up and tucked my phone in my back pocket as my heart sank.

"What's the matter?" Tasha pressed her hands to my chest and stopped me in my tracks.

"Lucas took a hard hit at the start of the game and isn't getting up. I'm sure he'll be fine, but they'll probably pull him out for the rest of the game. Knowing him, he'll just be pissed more than anything."

"Oh no. Is Aubrey okay?" She moved back and gripped the side of her shirt.

"I doubt it. You know how she is about him." I pulled my shirt over my head and let my eyes move over the creamy tops of her breasts as they poked above her black bra. "You know, I'd be all right swimming if we could do it without clothes. They're so restrictive."

She laughed and turned her back to me. "Stop acting up and come on."

"No skinny dipping?"

"Not on school property." She bent over and pulled her shorts down her legs, leaving her pretty ass on display.

I moved forward and fondled her a little before she stood up and pressed her back against my chest.

"You look good enough to eat." I licked the side of her neck and tried not to let the smell of chlorine send me into a panic. I hated everything about the place and usually tried to avoid it like the plague. How many times had I made something stupid up to
not
have to deal with my fears, my past, my loss.

"I probably don't taste as good as you, though." She walked toward the pool and took a few steps in, turning back to look up at me. "Come here and let me touch you."

"I honestly don't know if I can." The sound of my mother's screams filled my ears, her accusations changing me forever as she held my little sister’s limp body beside the pool. "I can't do this. I just can't."