Blex laughed. “Just practice your shot. You need to learn it with your eyes open first.” I nodded as he did a little shimmy. “Show me what’cha workin’ wit.”
Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath, wiggling around to shake the nerves out. Then I opened them, zeroed in on the rim, and...missed by a fucking mile.
“That’s okay,” came Blex’s response to my little stomp/groan as he went after the ball. “Your form was really good. Just give it a little more oomph this time.”
“I haven’t shot in a long time.” As if he couldn’t tell.
Blex repositioned the ball in my hands. “Bend a little more and really fire that ball, Alex. I’ve seen some of the punches you’ve thrown at Fowls.” He chuckled at my narrowed eyes. “Go again,” he instructed, moving to the side.
I bent a little lower this time, and my shot bounced off the rim.
“Much better. Now this time don’t cup the ball. It shouldn’t sit in your palm, let it rest on the tips of your fingers, like this.”
“It feels like it’s going to roll out of my hand,” I complained. All of this formal training was so different from my usual method, which was to just toss it out there and pray.
“That’s what your other hand is for. Use it to help guide the ball, and right before you shoot, move it. The only hand on the ball when you fire it off should be your shooting hand.”
I tried to remember all the things he’d just taught me with my feet, knees, and hands on every shot. It felt like he was telling me to pat my head and rub my stomach while standing on one leg. But what started off as a seemingly hopeless endeavor began to come together once I’d found my groove, eleventy-billion throws later. I was actually sinking shots. Not all of them, but sometimes two or three in a row. When it was time to get back so Blex could get to practice, I was feeling a lot better about things. Even if I didn’t land my blind shot, I was pretty confident that I could at least get it in the vicinity of the basket.
“You’re a natural,” Blex said on the walk back from the courts to the apartment.
“I don’t know about that,” I laughed. “But I’m definitely better than before. Thanks for helping me.” I couldn’t help but feel a little angry with Colt for standing me up.
“Anytime,” he said, racing up the steps ahead of me and calling back over his shoulder, “You coming to watch us practice?”
“Nah,” I answered, having just read the text I’d missed from Colt letting me know he wouldn’t be able to make it home before practice. “I’m exhausted. Gonna have a bubble bath and chill with Bacon at home.”
I was lying in our bed with Bacon curled into my chest when I heard the guys’ loudmouths. Despite my greatest efforts, I never could fall asleep ’til I knew they’d made it home. At the sound of Colt’s voice, my heart clenched, begging me to run downstairs and jump into his arms, seeking the comfort I’d been longing for all day, but I was upset and too stubborn to give in to its demands. It wasn’t as much his being away that had me so emotional, but his complete lack of communication. I was sure that Colton was hiding something from me, and that hurt. It hurt a lot.
Colt called out my name on his way up the stairs. Purposely, I buried my face a little deeper into my pillow, making it easier to feign sleep. The creak of the door opening was followed by a disappointed sigh, and then I felt him looming over me. Colton brushed the hair from my face, causing my insides to shake. The scent of leather on his skin assaulted my senses, weakening my resolve. I’d always loved the way his hands smelled after playing ball. His thick lips pressed a whisper-soft kiss to my forehead, and I fought the urge to tilt my head, bringing my mouth to his. I couldn’t even breathe for fear that I would give myself away by bursting into tears.
When I heard the bathroom door shut and the shower turn on, I released the breath I’d been holding, freeing a steady stream of tears along with it. Missing Colton while he was away hurt, but nothing compared to the pain of missing him while he was right here.
I must’ve finally dozed off while Colt was in the shower, because the next thing I knew, Bacon was being lifted from my arms. After locking him in the kennel, I felt Colton climb into the bed. He snuggled up behind me, curling his hard body around mine.
“I love you, Alex,” came the whispered voice of the man I loved as I drifted back to sleep, blanketed in his touch.
When I awoke the following morning, Colt was gone, as were Blex and Finn. It was game day, so I wouldn’t be seeing them much, if at all.
My chest ached as I reached to his side of the bed, finding the puppy where I knew he’d be. Colton had been taking Bacon out before practice and dropping him in the bed with me on his way out so that I could sleep in. He’d always done little things like that without my asking. Even when we were growing up and “just friends,” Colton went out of his way to ensure my comfort.
After taking the pooch out to potty, we made our way into the kitchen for some breakfast. Immediately, my eyes found the vase filled with lilies in the center of the table—my favorite. Beside it sat a box of the raspberry filled donuts that I had an unhealthy obsession with from the bakery down the street with a note taped to the top. I couldn’t help but laugh at the effort he’d taken to prevent another mishap with this letter.
Good morning, beautiful!
Hope you slept well. I figured you could use a good breakfast on the morning of your court debut. Also, I’m groveling. Is it working?
Blex tells me the girls’ team will be begging for you to join after they see you shoot tonight. ;P I’m so sorry I missed practicing with you yesterday. I know that you’re upset and with good reason. I also know that you weren’t asleep when I got in last night. You’re really not as good of a faker as you think.
I’ve had a lot of things to take care of over the past few days, but I promise to fill you in on everything tonight. It was never my intention to hurt you. God, Al...You have to know, that’s the last thing I ever want.
Can’t wait to see you tonight. Love you so much.
XOXO, Colt
And just like that, my anger melted away.
The Lyft dropped me off at the front of the gym at 6:30. The place was packed. I couldn’t believe how many people were spending their New Year’s Eve at a sporting event, although I really should’ve expected it seeing as tonight’s game was against one of their biggest rivals, the Arizona Wildcats. It made me nauseated to think that all those eyes would be on me in a little over an hour. I had really been hoping for a small crowd due to the holiday, but that did not appear to be the case.