ALEXIS

“WHERE THE HELL IS Colton?” I asked, coming into the house from walking Bacon. He was supposed to be practicing my shot with me for that damn halftime show I’d stupidly agreed to, which was tomorrow night.

“Coach needed his help with some things. Come on, Alexis,” Blex said, getting up from the couch. “Put Bacon in his crate, and I’ll go practice with you.

“Blex, he’s been gone like all day, and yesterday too,” I whined. I missed him like crazy, and everyone was acting so weird, not giving me any real reasons for his absence. I hated that my mind kept going to very dark places, but I just couldn’t help it.

“You swear he’s not cheating on me, Blex?” I finally asked, gnawing my thumbnail down to the skin.

“I promise,” he answered, looking me right in the eyes. “That boy’s got it bad, Alex. Trust me, he is not interested in anyone else. I swear he’s with Coach Grady.” That made me feel a little better, if only marginally. I didn’t think Blex would lie to me, and honestly, I knew in my heart that Colt wouldn’t either. I just couldn’t help the paranoia creeping in.

Just then, Finn came trudging down the stairs wearing nothing but a pair of boxers and toting a massive erection. Living with three guys was, ummm, interesting in that department for sure. I spent a lot of time averting my eyes, wishing I could un-see things. And by things I meant boners. Every time I turned around one of those boys was sportin’ wood. They had no shame, and they didn’t tell each other either. Guys should have some secret sign for, “Your dick is hard.” I couldn’t have been the only person in the room who saw that shit.

“Where are your clothes?” I asked, looking off to the side.

“I was napping. You two assholes woke me up. Now gimme that mutt so I can put him in his cage and you go practice that shot.” Finn made grabby hands toward the pup in my arms. “You better not embarrass me by losing tomorrow, Lexi. People know we’re friends.”

“I don’t see you doing anything to help me.” My brows shot up as I passed Bacon over to him. “And don’t let me find him in your bed when I get back. He has to sleep in his kennel, Finn.”

My heart swelled when that big blond jock started baby talking to the dog. “Your momma’s just a mean old bitch, ain’t she, Bacon?” Holding him up with his lips puckered, he let that puppy lick all over his face. “I know. I know she is...”

“Finn,” I growled. “I fucking mean it. He’s just starting to sleep most of the night without crying to get in our bed.”

“So, let him in!”

“We sleep naked,” I huffed, feeling my cheeks heat. “And I don’t want dog hair in my vagina or him to lick me in places his tongue should never see.”

Finley dismissed me with a sigh as he turned to climb the stairs, muttering to the little ball of fur, “It’s okay, Bacon...Uncle Finn loves you.” Who knew a dog would soften the testosterone levels in this house so drastically?

“Widen your stance, Alex. Your feet should be shoulder width apart.” Blex bent down, physically turning my feet to point a little to the left. “Like that. Every. Single. Time.”

“Got it.”

“This is where you’ll be standing when you make your shot.” He put the ball in my hands, adjusting their position. “Now, you’ll wanna bend those knees just a little with each shot.”

“All right, let’s do this. Where’s the blindfold?” I asked, bouncing a little on my heels to get a feel for the knee bend.

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.

It was five to seven by the time I found my seat, courtside, right beside the Bruin’s bench. Jamie and Desiree, the other two girls who would be shooting during halftime, were already in their chairs, welcoming me with huge smiles. They didn’t look even a fraction as nervous as I felt.

“Hey,” I said, forcing a smile, a little surprised by their warm welcome. Both girls were good friends with Lyla, so we really hadn’t interacted much. They’d never been rude to me or anything. I guess I shouldn’t have assumed they’d dislike me by association.

“Isn’t this great?” Jamie asked, referring to our seats.

“It’s incredible,” I agreed. My heart raced with excitement at the thought of watching Colt play from this close. I just wished it wasn’t overshadowed by the massive case of stage fright I had going on. “You aren’t nervous?”

“Pshh. Nervous?” came Desiree’s voice on the other side of Jamie. “Girl, ain’t none of us gonna make that shot. Just enjoy the royal treatment and stop worrying about it. Half the crowd will be up using the restroom or grabbing snacks anyway.”

God, how I wished I could be as relaxed about the whole thing as she was.

“We had a few drinks to ease the nerves before leaving to come here. Don’t let that bitch fool you,” Jamie laughed, elbowing her friend in the ribs.

“That too,” Desiree agreed, turning her palms up with a shrug. “Desperate times.”

My heart started pounding against my ribcage as the packed house went wild when our guys took their bench. Colt’s eyes found mine before he sat, giving me a sexy wink that sent the butterflies swarming. I missed him to the point that it was painful. He was so close, and I couldn’t do anything more than smile his way.

My eyes welled up when they announced the starters and his name was called. Colt was by far the crowd favorite. Sometimes I forgot what a big deal he was to everyone else because I’d been with him from the start. It was surreal to watch his dreams coming true. I couldn’t have been prouder.

“So, you and Colton haven’t been together very long, right?” Jamie asked as the players went to the court and the centers prepared for the jump.

“We’ve been together our whole lives,” I answered with my eyes still fixed on the game. “But, yeah. We’re a new couple.”

If she said anything else, I didn’t hear it, too engrossed in the action. The Bruins had won the jump and were already down court. With a white-knuckled grip, I bit my bottom lip and tensed as Colton shot an impressive three-pointer to start the game. Nothing but net, and I was up out of my seat, hands cupped around my mouth, screaming like a maniac.

My anxiety over the halftime show was forgotten as adrenaline took over. I loved the fast pace of the game, the way you could be up one minute and down the next. It was an emotional rollercoaster, and it thrilled me just the same.

Before I knew it, the first half had ended. The Bruins over the Wildcats, forty-five to thirty-seven.

While the guys filed out to the locker room, the cheerleaders took the court, performing their halftime routine. I tried really hard to behave like an adult and not sneer at Lyla, but a part of me wished that on one of those basket tosses they would forget to catch her.

“Hey, sexy,” Colton whispered into my ear as the black blindfold came down over my eyes. His breath on my neck made me shiver, and I could smell the deodorant he must’ve just reapplied. I wanted to cry with how badly I needed to be in his arms, and my anxiety had returned tenfold. I was a fucking mess as he led me out onto that court. “Stay here.”

“Ladies and gentlemen, we have something really special planned for our halftime show this evening,” Coach Grady announced. “Let’s lend these kids a little moral support, eh?”

Great. If they weren’t all paying attention before, they certainly were now. “Colt,” I whispered, hoping he was still nearby. Fucking crickets.

I heard movement and hushed voices. The crowd was reacting to something, but I had no idea what because I couldn’t see. Oh my God, why wouldn’t they just give me the ball and let me get this over with before I puked?

“Hey,” Jamie said, tapping my shoulder. “It’s just me. There’s been a slight change of plans. I’m just going to untie your blindfold, okay?”

I nodded, unable to speak past the nervous lump in my throat. What the hell was going on?

I blinked a few times once my eyes were uncovered to clear my vision. My whole body started to shake when I saw our parents’ smiling faces staring back at me, our mothers with tears in their eyes. The entire basketball team, the mascots, and the coaches were all on the court with them, standing right behind Colton, who was down on his knee at my feet. Oh my God.

“What are you doing?” I whispered, feeling warm tears trickle down my cheeks because I already knew. There could only be one explanation for the scene laid out before me, and all of my dreams were about to come true. My hands lifted to cover my nose and mouth. I couldn’t breathe.

Colt smiled up at me, his emerald eyes glistening as they fixed on mine. “I love you, Alexis Mack.” His voice sounded through the speaker system, heavy with emotion.

“I love you too,” I whispered.

A chorus of “awes” rang out from the crowd following our exchange.

“I know that we’ve only been a couple for a few months now, but I have been chasing after you for my entire life.” He chuckled. “I’m tired, Allie.” His voice cracked, hitting me right in the heart. “I’m so tired of living with this constant fear that I’m going to end up having to spend the rest of my life without the only person I could ever imagine spending it with.”

My head shook, emotion clogging my throat. At that moment, everyone else in that room disappeared, drowned out by the sound of his beautiful words and the beating of my heart. “Only you,” I rasped as he opened the black box in his hands.

“When I said that I wanted you to be my everything, I meant it. Now I’m asking to make it official. Allie, I’ve loved you for as long as I can remember, and I will love you ’til my last breath. Nothing would make me happier than the honor of spending the rest of my life with you as your husband.”

My body shook. I couldn’t believe this was actually happening.

“Will you marry me?”

“Yes,” I sobbed as he slid the princess cut solitaire onto my trembling finger. “Yes,” I repeated as he lifted to his feet, enveloping me in his arms. “I love you, Colton Fowler. So. Fucking. Much.”

I was brought back to reality by the loud laughter that followed that statement, which quickly morphed into cheers and whistles. Leave it to me to go and forget that the boy was mic’ed.

“I can’t take you anywhere,” Colt joked, bringing his lips to mine, and sealing our engagement with a kiss.