Total pages in book: 63
Estimated words: 58792 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 294(@200wpm)___ 235(@250wpm)___ 196(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 58792 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 294(@200wpm)___ 235(@250wpm)___ 196(@300wpm)
Dragging her tongue along my bottom lip, she peeks up at me with those wide, blue eyes I get lost in every time. “It’s a date.”
Chapter 15
Taylor
Drake pulled out all the stops for our first date. We’re sitting courtside, a few chairs over from the Sixers bench at the Wells Fargo Center. My mouth hangs open as the shooting guard dribbles the ball down the court only a few feet away from me. This moment is so surreal I keep pinching myself to make sure I haven’t imagined the entire night.
The Sixers are playing the Los Angeles Lakers, my home team. Well, with how much I’ve moved, it’s hard to choose one team. But for the last six years, my family has lived in Los Angeles County, so I guess that makes us Lakers fans now. And it doesn’t hurt that my best friend shares the same last name as one of the greatest Lakers of all-time.
An electric pulse hangs in the air, the screaming fans around us bringing the event center to life with their cheers. I love basketball. Every time I step onto the court, I get a rush like no other. The only thing that even closely compares is how I feel when I’m with Drake.
I cup his knee with my hand, and it looks so small in comparison. He catches me stealing a peek at his handsome face. The corner of his mouth turns up into a wicked smirk. With the pad of his thumb, he strokes the top of my hand, his skin so rough and calloused it feels good against mine.
“How do you like our seats?” Drake asks.
“Are you kidding? This is the best date ever, Drake.” I squeeze his knee and smile. “I love it. We’re so close I can see the sweat dripping off the players. I mean… I can’t believe you did all of this for me.”
“I would do anything for you,” he counters, his gaze so intense and hard it sends a shiver down my spine.
“Walk through fire?” I joke.
He laughs. “Anything.”
I never said I loved him back. And I wish I had because I love him so much it physically hurts sometimes. When I think about my life without him in it, I can’t breathe.
“I hope you got a good deal on these seats,” I mutter, eyes fixed on the court.
“I got the family discount,” he replies with laughter in his voice.
“Do you get to come to games all the time because of your uncles?”
“Yeah, pretty much. If the seats are open and they haven’t sold them, I can usually get them either free or for next to nothing.” He covers my hand on his knee and drags his long fingers along my skin. “These seats, in particular, belong to my Uncle Alex. Preston’s mom couldn’t make it tonight, so they had to bail on the game. She’s a diehard basketball fan.”
“Yeah, I know who she is. Bex obsesses over Coach. She wants to be like her when she grows up.”
He chuckles. “My Aunt Charlotte is probably one of the coolest women alive.”
“I don’t disagree. I’d love to meet her sometime.”
“Speaking of meeting my family.” He chews on his bottom lip. “My parents and sister want to meet you. I told my mom and Chloe that you read their books. They want me to bring you by the house, you know, if you want to. No pressure or anything.”
“They’re important to you, and you’re important to me. I’d love to meet them.”
“They’re supposed to come to my game next weekend. It’s in Boston. I know it’s a hike, but maybe you and Bex can sit with them instead of hiding all by yourselves.”
I snort, smacking him lightly on his arm. “We don’t hide at your games. Bex just likes to sit in a particular spot along the ice. Nothing wrong with that.”
“There’s no surprise why Preston likes her.”
I raise my eyebrow in curiosity. “Oh, and why is that?”
He flashes one of his boyish smirks that do unspeakable things to me. “Because he’s a pain in the ass, too.”
“So are you,” I challenge.
He hooks his arm around my back and hugs me against his muscular chest. It’s like having Bruce Banner wrap his arms around you when he’s in Hulk form. Drake is a wall of man, all hard lines and smooth ridges that weaken me every time. This simple touch causes my entire body to tremble. My nipples are like glass poking through my Lakers jersey.
Drake smacks a kiss on top of my head, easing up his grip on me so I can relax my back against the chair. Then, he tugs at my jersey and whispers into my ear, “I wish this was my jersey you were wearing… and nothing else.”
I smile so hard my cheeks hurt. “How about I try yours on after the game?”