I shrug. “Maybe no one else was answering their phones.”
I text him back and grab a drink before joining the others in the living room, where they’re half watching the television and talking.
When Clay arrives, the girl at his side makes my mouth fall open.
She’s familiar from pictures he has at his place.
There’s a cute kid around ten next to her and a handsome guy hovering over her shoulder.
“Everyone, this is my sister, Kat. Kat, this is everyone,” Clay says.
“Nova,” Kat says, cocking her head at me. “It’s great to finally meet you.”
Finally? She throws her arms around me, and I cut a look at Clay, but he’s tight-lipped.
They grab drinks, and we set the table as we wait for the others. Gradually, everyone trickles in—Atlas, the bench players, Harlan…
“You’re late!” Rookie calls. “You guys are missing the last quarter of the LA game.”
Clay and I exchange a look.
“I’m not missing anything,” he says with a wink.
Dinner feels as if we’re all one big family. One with tension and issues, sure, but today everyone sets it aside. There’s gossiping about sports and family and friends, and even Waffles gets his own special meal.
We go around the table saying things were thankful for.
Harlan says, “Family.”
Chloe says, “A day away from the news cycle.”
Clay says, “Second chances,” with a stealth look at me.
Spending today with Clay has me imagining what it would be like to spend more holidays with him.
After dinner, we do a gift swap. Rather than having each person buy everyone a present, we set a value limit for each person to contribute a single gift to stick under the tree.
“I’m sorry, we didn’t bring gifts,” Kat says.
“I’ll sit out, and Andy can play,” Clay offers.
“Everyone, relax. I have extra,” Mari insists.
In that moment, I’m grateful for her preparation.
I drew a number third from the start, and I’m drawn to a tiny box wrapped in pink.
I unwrap it to find a Louis Vuitton keychain in the shape of a bear.
“You might want to hang on to that,” Clay suggests.
After the game, I’m heading into the kitchen carrying empty glasses when I hear Harlan’s voice.
“I know what I saw.”
Then Clay’s voice. “Stay in your lane. You’ve got enough to worry about.”
I don’t know what’s going on, but there are always Kodiaks tensions.
I’ll ask him about it later. Not because I want to get in his business, but just in case he wants to vent.
At the end of the night, we head for the cars.
Clay insisted Kat, Andy, and Daniel stay at his place since he has an extra bedroom and a couch. When we all get back to our building, Clay pulls me aside in the parking garage.
“Come up tonight?” Clay asks.
“I’ll come for breakfast. You haven’t seen your sister in forever.” I want to give them time to themselves.
He frowns but eventually nods. “Alright, but meet me for a few minutes tonight. I have something for you.”
My mouth curves. “I have something for you too.”
When we meet in the hall, Clay holds a huge wrapped gift.
Since we’ve only been dating a couple weeks, I wasn’t sure about gift etiquette, but now I’m glad I got him something.
“What is this?” I demand.
“It goes with your other gift.”
“Oh, wow. Mine isn’t that impressive.”
“I know you love a big package, Pink.” His eyes glint as he takes the smaller one from me and unwraps it. “It’s a book.”
“A journal,” I correct, pointing to the black swirls of ink across the tan surface. “I tried to replicate your tattoos on it because I thought it would be a safe space for you to write down all the things you don’t tell the world. It would feel like home.”
Clay’s expression is unreadable as he turns the book over in his hands.
“It’s cheesy,” I say, laughing.
“No, I love it. Thank you.” He pulls me up for a kiss I feel all the way to my toes. “Now your turn.”
I unwrap the significantly larger package he passes me, and my jaw drops when I see the monogrammed LV fabric. “It’s incredible,” I gasp.
“It goes with the keychain. Figured you needed a new one. You got paint all over the other one.”
“I can’t believe you noticed.”
“I notice everything when it comes to you.” He says it in a rush of breath, distinctly un-Clay-like, and my attention lifts from the bag to him. “I’ve never wanted to know everything about anyone. But with you, I want to know what you love, what you hate. I want to see you at Christmas, like today, surrounded by your favorite people. It reminds me that this is what life is supposed to be like. What it can be like.”
My chest is stretched tight, as if I inhaled each of his words and they’re expanding inside me.
I glance back at the door.
“Come in for five minutes?” I whisper.
My fist is still clutched around the handle of the bag as Clay backs me into Brooke's apartment, his hand already grabbing my hip as his lips brush across mine.
“Make it ten.”
16
NOVA
Nova: Thank you for dinner. How did you know I wouldn’t have eaten?
Grumpy Baller: Call it a hunch.
The week between Christmas and New Year’s is quieter at the stadium and Clay has been playing two road games, so I take advantage to work on the wall.
He’s started to check in with me if it’s a long day, like he knows even without seeing that I’m perched on the ladder trying to create something worthy of this city, this team.
Tonight, it was nearly seven when I got home and took a bath.
When I got out, the was a message from the concierge to let me know dinner was waiting for me at the door.
The package contained tacos from my favorite Mexican place, plus fresh chips and salsa, as well as a six-pack of Gatorade with a note saying to “stay hydrated.” More than enough food for me and Brooke, who came home soon after.
It was a seriously sweet gesture, especially considering Clay’s first home game in over a week is tonight.
Grumpy Baller: You catch my game?
Nova: You were okay.
Grumpy Baller: "Okay" like you watched it with your hand in between your thighs?
Nova: Gasp.
Nova: I figured you’d want me to wait for you.
Grumpy Baller: Want you waiting in my bed.
Nova: Skip media or I’ll start without you.
Flirting with Clay by text is becoming one of my favorite things.
It’s even better when he’s in Denver and waiting to see him is a matter of hours, not days.
We can’t keep our hands off each other.