What chafed my insides, though, was that Noah and Quinn seemed chummy, as though they knew each other well.
“Maxwell,” Coach Green called. “Meet me in my office in five.”
I nodded as I joined Wade, who was heading to the locker room.
“What gives?” Wade asked. “You froze, man. Seconds left in the game, and you checked out. Not cool at all.”
I hung my head. “It won’t happen again.” I would make darn sure I didn’t even glance at the crowd during the next game, even if Quinn wasn’t in the stands. “I saw my girl with someone who I wasn’t expecting to see.”
“You got to leave the personal shit in the locker room. It has no place on the court.” Spoken like a true captain. “You get a pass since this is your first game, and it doesn’t count. But when the season starts, your mind better be on the fucking game.” He hurried off to catch up with Ian.
I slowed my pace, running my hands through my hair and taking in a deep breath. Now to talk to Coach. Instead of showering, I took a left down the hall to Coach’s office, where I waited outside.
Within less than a minute, Coach strutted down the hall with his hands tucked into the pockets of his suit pants. He wore a look of pure disappointment. “What happened?” His voice boomed in the empty hall.
I swallowed an elephant, afraid to tell him what I’d just told Wade. But I wasn’t one to lie. “I saw my girl. That’s all.”
He pointed at me, and it was the first time I’d seen him angry. “If you pull something like that again, I will bench you for five games.” His tone brooked no argument. “Do I make myself clear?”
A shiver of fear danced up my spine as I nodded in rapid succession. “Yes, sir.”
The last thing I wanted to do was disappoint him. He’d gone out of his way for me since I’d arrived at the school. He’d counseled me. He’d checked on me. He’d treated me like the son he never had. I only knew the latter because he’d told me that very thing. He and his wife had tried to have a boy, but after three tries and three girls, they’d decided their family was big enough.
“Hit the shower.”
I started to leave then stopped. “Coach? Do you think I messed up any chance with the BC scout?”
He grabbed the door handle to his office. “You need to worry about the next game and not freezing up.” Then he went inside.
Several cuss words zipped around in my head. I wasn’t mad at anyone but myself.
“What is taking him so long?” I paced the white-and-gray hardwood in the gym.
Celia wanted to roam the school since this was her first time at the academy. “I’ve heard a few things over the years about this school,” she’d said on the car ride up. “Tough, cliquey, and lots of drama.”
Most high schools were exactly that. Kensington wasn’t any different.
My response had been, “You left out bullies.”
Noah was absorbed in his phone. Celia was too.
Marcus, Jasper, Emma, and Ethan had left as soon as the game was done, although Emma promised she would be back to catch up with Celia and me before we left. But I knew the truth. She’d run back to her dorm to fix her hair and dab on some makeup to impress Noah. She had been smitten with him since he’d sat down next to me
“Maiken is probably getting his ass chewed,” Noah said. “He froze.”
It was my fault. He probably thought Noah was trying to move in on me.
“Tell me more about basketball camp. You roomed with Maiken? How come I’m just now learning about this? Did you know he and I were dating?”
Celia looked up from her phone. “Yeah. Did you know they were dating?”
Noah gnawed on the inside of his cheek. “I tried to get ahold of Maiken when I found out my mom took a job in Ashford, but we never connected. He’d never mentioned your name. We didn’t talk about family. I don’t like the subject, frankly.”
Celia and I had both been surprised to see him sitting in the stands. At first, I’d thought I was at Kensington until my gaze had landed on Greenridge’s state championship banners hanging from the rafters.
A door creaked open, causing my gaze to dart to the far end of the gym. My heart nearly jumped out of my chest.
Maiken’s muscular thighs, encased in dark jeans, ate up the space between us as he beelined it for me, unleashing a belly-tingling grin.
I kicked my feet into gear, and then I was running full-out, like I was sprinting to the finish line.
Stopping, he braced his legs, knowing what was about to happen. I didn’t want us tumbling to the floor, at least not on the hard surface. It would hurt his back, and he’d already had problems with his lower spine.
His lips split into an even bigger grin. “I got you, babe.”
Goose bumps exploded on my body, and fireworks went off in my head as I leapt into his arms.
He laughed, wild and free, as his hands went into my hair. “I’ve missed you.”
I peppered kisses along his ear. “I was dying to run out on the court when you were playing.” I squeezed him as tightly as I could. If we stayed like this the rest of the night, I was okay with that.
He gripped my waist and helped me down on two feet. Then he planted his lips on mine softly and tentatively. “I’m afraid if I kiss you, I won’t let go.”
That wasn’t a bad thing. So I gave him a nudge and darted out my tongue. He didn’t hesitate, kissing me hungrily and greedily as though it would be our last kiss for a long time.
In essence, it was.
He tasted sweet and minty, making me whimper.
“You two should really get a room,” Noah said at my back.
“I agree,” Celia added.
“A room alone with you sounds amazing,” Maiken said as he nibbled on my lip.
Reluctantly, I began to pry myself from him until he whispered in my ear. “Give me a minute before you turn around.”
I didn’t have to ask why. I could feel his excitement for me. I needed to distract him. So I asked, “Did you get in trouble?”
He blew out a breath. “Not really.” Then he nodded, giving me the go-ahead that I could turn and face my BFF and Noah.
Noah was staring at Maiken as though he were trying to read him. “Good game, bro.” He stepped closer to Maiken, and the two exchanged a bro hug.
Celia flicked her dark hair off her shoulder. “Maiken, long time, no see.”
Maiken raked his blue gaze over Celia. “You look good after that fall at Quinn’s party.”
“I have a hard head,” Celia teased.
“Did you three just meet tonight at the game?” Maiken asked evenly despite the hard vibe jumping off him and onto Noah.
The four of us stood in a circle of sorts, and I slipped my hand into Maiken’s. I wanted to feel him as much as I could before Celia and I headed home in a couple of hours. Daddy had been adamant that we get on the road early. He didn’t want us driving back in the dead of night.
“He goes to Kensington,” Celia said.
One part confusion and one part shock washed over Maiken. “Really?”
Noah held up his big hands. “I called you. You were supposed to call me back and never did.”
“I left you a voice mail,” Maiken volleyed in return.