The PreGame Ritual (Lynstone University Book 1) Read online

  “What?...Alright fine. Just know when Coach Ava calls my number, I’ll be ready to play.”

  miles.

  First game jitters had turned me into an insomniac.

  Even though it was only an exhibition game, the pressure from the media’s hype surrounding me was starting to become overwhelming. It didn’t help that my big brother Bryson was coming off of a pro-championship in his rookie season. My whole reason for choosing to attend Lynstone University instead of the University of California was so that I wouldn’t fall in his shadow. Now I had to work even harder to make a statement.

  But my statement certainly wasn’t gonna be made without a decent night’s rest.

  I tossed and turned, watching a run of late night infomercials. Stuff that I would never actually buy was beginning to look more and more appealing so I knew I needed to find another way to occupy my time.

  Maybe that pretty little redhead is up to keep me company.

  Even though it was late, I really had nothing to lose in texting her. If she was up, she’d text me back. If she was sleep, she’d see it in the morning. I grabbed my phone off the nightstand and within a few taps my text was sent.

  Miles: You up, ma?

  I watched the infomercial for what they called the world’s stickiest duct tape, Stuct Tape, until a reply finally came in.

  Ava: No.

  I couldn’t help but laugh at her snide little response.

  Miles: Ava, quit playin’. If you weren’t up, you wouldn’t have texted back. What you doin’?

  Ava: Sleepin’.

  Miles: How do you sleep? T-shirt and shorts? Bra and panties? Footie pajamas?

  Ava: Nothing.

  Damn.

  How the hell did she manage to be sexy even through a one-word text?

  Miles: Lemme see.

  I waited a few minutes for a smart ass reply and was surprised when I actually received a picture message instead. I couldn’t get it open fast enough and when I did…

  This silly ass girl.

  Instead of the nude I expected, it was a picture of her middle finger.

  Miles: Very funny, Ava. Now quit playin’ and send me somethin’ for real.

  I waited a little while longer until another picture message eventually came in. I had to tilt my head to the side to figure out what it was but when I did...got damn. I was staring at the screen damn near drooling from the sight of her cleavage until another picture came in with the caption, “Got em!” I opened it up and found out that what I received wasn’t her cleavage, but actually the crack of her arm smashed together.

  Miles: You play wayyyy too much.

  Ava: Just trying to keep up with you, kid. But seriously, I’m sleep. So goodnight.

  Since she was already in a playful mood, I decided to push my limits.

  Miles: Last time I told you goodnight, it came with a kiss. How can I make that happen again?

  I anxiously waited for a reply and when it finally came, I caught myself laughing again.

  Ava: ZzZzZzzzzz…

  Miles: Yo, you’re goofy as hell, ma.

  Ava: No, I’m sleepy as hell.

  Miles: Right. I won’t keep you up as long as you promise to dream about me.

  Ava: GOOD. NIGHT. MILES.

  I replied with a kissy face emoji and literally laughed my way to sleep when she replied with the emoji of the chick with her arms crossed in an X, blocking me.

  ava.

  I was already going back on my word.

  Only partially but enough for me to recognize that something was really going on.

  I wasn’t supposed to give Miles the opportunity to even think he had a chance with me. Yet, here I was, responding to his little flirty ass texts all late at night, hoping I’d coincidentally run into him at our practice facilities, actually nervous for him about his first game. I called myself empathizing but knew I was only capable of empathizing because I actually kinda liked him.

  There really wasn’t anything not to like about him. I mean, he was handsome...too handsome for his own damn good really. He was humble which actually surprised me considering the ego people in his position usually had. And since he was a basketball player like me, he already had his own understanding of the unorthodox scheduling, the random fans in random places, and the commitment it took to be the best. OH, and I already knew his height extended to places I couldn’t regularly see.

  Though I wish I could.

  What would sex with Miles even be like?

  Was he more of a giver or a taker?

  Would I call him Baby or Daddy?

  Probably Baby.

  Wait a minute...why am I just assuming I’m gonna have sex with him?

  All these thoughts were flying while I got dressed for his game; the game I would’ve been going to anyway to support the boys, but now had an even greater reason to attend. Instead of the basketball shorts I usually preferred, I threw on jeans...like ones that fit in all the right places. I paired them with one of my favorite shirts that tied into a knot at the bottom putting just a little bit of my tummy on display and a pair of low-top white converse. I undid the braid my hair had been in for most of the day, giving the loose waves it had created a little toss before letting them fall over my shoulder. I was just giving my lip gloss a touch-up when Avery barged in unannounced as usual. Before she said anything, she gave me a once-over that made me roll my eyes, already annoyed by her presence.

  “You look...cute. Where are you going, Ava?”

  I didn’t pay her much mind as I nonchalantly replied, “Basketball game.”

  “Dressed like that? Aren’t you supposed to wear a uniform or something?” Apparently the smart gene had skipped right over her. Either that, or her temporary blonde highlights were starting to wear on her brain.

  “I’m not playing in it, idiot. I’m just going to watch.”

  “Oh. Oh, you’re going to the boy’s game. That is today isn’t it? Wait for me, I’m coming with.”

  Hell no.

  There was no way I was letting my little sister tag along on what was slowly turning into a little mission of mine.

  “No you’re not. I’m meeting up with some girls from the team.”

  A little white lie wasn’t gonna hurt her.

  She didn’t seem convinced as she replied, “So what? Now you can’t have a plus one around your teammates?” I had to think of something quick to divert her interest.

  “Matter of fact, maybe you should come. I’m sure a few of the girls would love to get a piece of you.” Though I was cool with the girls who liked girls on my team, Avery was practically a homophobe.

  “Ew! On second thought, I’ll just catch the next one.”

  Thank goodness.

  ←&→

  My heart pounded as I nervously waited for Miles to come out of the locker room. He didn’t know I was there, probably hadn’t even recognized me in the crowd, but for some reason I felt the need to tell him good game. I mean, he did have a good game. An excellent game. But at the same time, I knew my nerves were present for a reason.

  The door flew open and I braced myself only to find out that it was Cam and not Miles. He licked his lips, which probably worked on every other girl he came across except for me. Cam was cute, sure, but his ego was out of this world.

  Well that, and he fucked my sister.

  “Ava, you’re lookin’ good girl. What are you doin’ out here?”

  What was I doing out there? Showing up without a warning was risky enough but now I hadn’t even been careful enough to not get caught.

  I had to cover things up quick.

  “I’m ummm...waiting on someone.”

  “Waiting on someone? Who Darrell?”

  Darrell?

  Why does everybody think I have something going on with Darrell?

  “Ummm…. not quite.”

  He observed me for a few short seconds before it looked as though a light bulb went off in his head. “Hold on, don’t tell me you’re out here waiting for
the freshman?”

  Shit.

  Cam was the last person who needed even a hint that something was up between Miles and I. It was like once he knew, everybody knew.

  “No, Cam. Damn. Get out of my business.”

  He laughed before he said, “So that must mean yes since you got all defensive.”

  Shit, again.

  Instead of fully engaging in that conversation, I decided to divert his attention elsewhere. Just like Avery, Cam wasn’t exactly the smartest in the bunch.

  “Anyway, I’m sure your fan club is waiting for you in the lobby.”

  “You know what? You’re probably right. I’ll check you later, A,” he said, stopping to pat me on the shoulder on his exit.

  Arrogant ass.

  I watched him disappear out of sight and was getting ready to assume my original position when I felt a body close behind me, causing me to gasp.

  “Ma, where’d you get all this ass from?” I turned around, taking a step back so that I could actually look at him.

  All of him.

  Something about the way he expressed his observation made me confident enough to reply, “It’s always been there; just muted by those baggy ass basketball shorts. And is that really how you greet a woman?”

  “I’m sorry, Ava. I guess it just...caught me off guard. To be real, you being right here period caught me off guard. Kinda thought I was dreaming.”

  “Is that your way of admitting that I’m in your dreams?”

  He licked his lips, and unlike the time Cam did it, Miles’s went straight to my inner thighs. “Every damn night, beautiful. I guess until I can make it happen for real, I just gotta imagine the shit.” Naturally, I wondered if his imagination was as vivid as mine. Because the way I saw it was very live and in color.

  “Hmmm… well what if I told you, you didn’t have to imagine anymore? That you could... have the real thing?” I wasn’t even sure what I was offering but I knew I wanted something beyond what was already, inevitably, happening between us.

  “I’d probably have to call you a liar, ma.”

  “I’m for real, Miles. I’m... ready to uhhh... put you in the game.” Internally, I smacked myself in the forehead for being so corny.

  Put you in the game, Ava?

  Really?

  You’re too old to not be more clever than that!

  He finally seemed convinced, stroking the hair on his chin that looked a little fuller than before. “Oh word? What kinda game are we talkin’ though? Like a, I wanna sit down, get to know you, maybe go on a date or two game or a, I’ve been needing to get one off since I met you so let’s make it happen game?” As far as I was concerned, either would do. But instead of trying to figure it out for myself, I put it in his hands.

  “I’ll leave that up to you.” Maybe his viewpoint on how he saw us would change how I saw him. I mean, if he just wanted to fuck, I could handle that accordingly. But if he was looking for something a little more, kinda like I was, then I would know exactly how he felt about me.

  “My decision would probably include both but I don’t wanna disrespect you, ma. So let’s just go with game 1.”

  miles.

  I really didn’t know it was possible for Ava to make herself even more attractive to me, but watching her go to work on the court had me ready to snatch her up during halftime. Of course I knew she was good, but seeing her play for real, in a real game, was damn near hypnotizing. She glided up and down the court with ease, literally making the other girls scared to guard her, too afraid that she would embarrass them with a crossover. And she was something like a pest on defense, causing the other team to turn the ball over left and right.

  When she finally did get a break from game action during a timeout, I worked my hardest to send her some vibes so that she would look my way. She took a long sip from her water bottle, keeping her eyes locked in on her coach before she flashed them at me for a split second. I didn’t even get a chance to do something silly but I could see the hint of a smile in the corner of her lips now that she knew I was there.

  They returned to game action and I couldn’t ignore the swell in my chest as I watched Ava go in for a lay-up, get fouled, and still make the shot.

  “And one! Let’s go, Ava!”

  Even though I was trying to be low-key, not wanting to distract other people from the game with my presence, I couldn’t help but be excited for her. When she got up, she received shoulder bumps and high fives from her teammates then she headed to the free throw line. She did her little ritual, taking a couple dribbles, before lifting the ball in a shooting position. She paused for a moment, pulled her elbow in, and then sank the shot with ease. Once it went in, she flashed her eyes at me again with a little smirk and I mouthed, “I told you so.”

  As soon as the game was over, I rushed down to the court, hoping to catch up with her. After sifting through the quickly forming crowd, I found her signing autographs and taking pictures with a group of little girl ballers. I knew exactly how this part of the game went and though I was usually one that liked to get off the court before the crowd even formed, she was making time for the ones that aspired to be just like her.

  Fuckin’ perfect.

  I waited in the background until the group eventually dwindled down.

  “Yo, can I get an autograph or somethin’, superstar?”

  She gave me a little laugh before she wiped the sweat from her face with the inside of her jersey, “I should be asking you the same thing.”

  “Nah, todays about you, beautiful. You balled out, ma.” I was just sure her stat line looked all-star worthy.

  “I did what I can; that’s all. Thanks for coming though.”

  “Wouldn’t miss it for the world, Ava. But how about you go shower up and I’ll take you to grab a little celebratory bite to eat at the dining hall. My treat.” She laughed me off, unconsciously signing another autograph before leaning in to smile for a picture.

  “Miles, the dining hall doesn’t exactly count as treating. I get those meals for free just like you.”

  “Ain’t nothin’ wrong with being a little frugal. But I mean I guess if you’re tryna go five star, we could go to like...McDonald’s or somethin’.” She immediately swatted me on the shoulder, causing those around us to laugh though they weren’t exactly sure what was going on.

  “Miles!”

  “Alright, I’m messin’ with you. How about we go to that new Mexican joint? I heard its bomb.” Though Mexican food was known to give me a run for my money on the toilet, I was willing to take that risk for her.

  “I’m cool with that. Give me ten minutes and I’ll be right out.” I gave her the nod to get her ass on and she jogged towards the locker room but not before stopping to give a few more autographs.

  ←&→

  “I would let you have a sip of my margarita or somethin’ but... you’re too young,” Ava said teasingly, as she snacked on chips and salsa.

  She was making her lime and tequila flavored icee look hella good but I proudly took a long swig of my water before I replied, “Go ahead and tear up your liver if you want to, ma. I’m good on that.”

  She sank back in the booth across from me, crossing her arms over her chest.

  “Ohhh so now you’re gonna guilt trip me cause you can’t drink in public? Jealous much?” I wasn’t jealous by any means, but I couldn’t help picking up on her little note about our age difference. I wasn’t quite to the annoyed point with Ava thinking of me as her junior but I knew I had to make things clear sooner than later. Even though she was giving us a chance, she steadily dropped hints like that minor detail was still on her mind.

  “Nah, you can do what you want. Just know all that too young shit will be coming to a stop real soon.”

  She seemed amused as she challenged me with, “And how are you possibly gonna get that too young shit to stop? I mean, you’ll always be younger than me, Miles.” Though it was a fact that she’d always reign supreme age-wise, I could pretty much guarantee
she hadn’t been with someone who knew how to take care of a woman in the bedroom like I did; age be damned.

  “I can show you better than I can tell you, ma. But you’re not ready for all that just yet.” Since Ava and I were just beginning the ‘get to know each other’ stage, I really didn’t wanna subject her to that side of me just yet, no matter how tempting it was.

  “I’m not ready? What do you mean I’m not ready?”

  “Don’t make it even harder for me to keep my hands to myself by acting like you wanna go there. Let’s just play the game how it’s suppose to be played.” She observed me for a long time forcing me to ask, “What’s that look about, ma?”

  “I guess I just never expected you to be such a... rule follower.”

  “Trust me, I’m only going by protocol cause I wanna do right by you. If you were any other girl, we would’ve been there done that.” It wasn’t like I was out here boning chicks left and right, but it also didn’t take much for me to convince them that I deserved it.

  She took a long sip of her margarita, licking the excess off her lips before she said, “Well, although I appreciate your politeness, sometimes it’s alright to just...go for it.”

  ava.

  I couldn’t believe what was happening but I knew it was real.

  In no time at all, the bill was paid with our entrees in to-go boxes and we were dashing through the streets, trying to get to my apartment as soon as possible. Miles kept his hand on my leg the whole drive, using stoplights to tease me by skimming it up and down my thigh. Even that little gesture was enough to get me fired up, ready for whatever our night would turn into.

  When we finally did make it to my apartment, Miles parked his car in the lot reserved for guests before we both hopped out and started running towards my apartment. He chased me all the way to the door with tickles and made me fumble my keys when he held me from behind and started kissing me on my neck.

  “We’ll never make it in if you don’t quit.”

  He didn’t stop his pursuit as he responded, “Hallway it is then.”