The PreGame Ritual (Lynstone University Book 1) Read online

  He grabbed me by the arm before I could make it too far. “Wait, ma. If you don’t want me to go, I won’t. I’ll stay home and chill with you if that’s what you wanna do.” I would’ve felt like an ass keeping him from doing what he wanted to do, even if I was putting myself up for sacrifice. I mean, he was young and this was exactly how he was supposed to be spending this time of his life.

  Who was I to hold him back from that?

  I plastered on a smile to assure him, “No. It’s fine. Go out. I’ll just...see you later.”

  miles.

  I should’ve stayed home with Ava.

  That’s all I kept thinking as I watched everybody scurry around me, hardly paying each other any mind because they were too wrapped up in showing off for social media. Selfie for Instagram, Snapchat videos; it was hella annoying watching everybody brag about where they were instead of actually enjoying being there.

  Just as I was getting ready to take a break from the crowd, I was sandwiched by two girls with one grinding in front of me and the other grazing my ass. I looked down and would’ve swore it was Ava if she had red hair. But since it looked so much like her without actually being her, I knew exactly who it was. I turned my head to get a glance at who was behind me and had to look way down to find Erica.

  What the hell are they doing?

  I tried to get out from between them but got caught with a crowd forming around us and cheering us on. Somehow, Cam made his way over to us with his phone in his hand, most likely recording the whole thing.

  “That’s my dawg! Got two of the baddest on ‘em!” I rolled my eyes before I tried to escape again. “Hell nah, bruh. You better enjoy it while you can!” Avery turned around and snaked her way down my body, making sure to stop with her head right by my dick as she shook her ass left and right against the ground. Any other day, it would’ve been a dream come true to have two fine ass girls dancing on me. But tonight, it was practically a nightmare; especially with the two particular girls that were involved.

  “Yo, my Snapchat is going nuts with people watchin’ this shit!”

  Damn, he uploaded it already?

  I turned my attention back to the girls and would’ve been kiddin’ myself if I didn’t acknowledge the fact that Avery was working with a little somethin’. Her eyes read a little differently than Ava’s though. While Ava was all basketball and seriousness in a sexy way, Avery was straight sex; like she just knew she could fuck me if she wanted to...and she did want to even though I dated her homegirl/accomplice first.

  Fuckin’ slide.

  The song switched over - thank goodness - and I was finally able to break free. I thought I was making a clean exit until Avery stepped right in front of me.

  “Where are you going, baby? We’re just getting started.”

  “Chill with that, Avery. You’re lucky I danced with you once.”

  She acted all surprised when she said, “Damn. What’s the attitude about? You sure didn’t seem to mind when I had my ass on you.”

  I quickly corrected her, “Actually, I did mind. I just didn’t wanna embarrass you. So if you wanna keep your lucky streak alive, I suggest you move out of my way.”

  She moved to the side but as I was walking away she yelled, “You’ll never have all of her attention. All she cares about is basketball. All she’ll ever care about is basketball.”

  Wait what?

  I had assumed that she still didn’t know much about the relationship between Ava and I, but apparently I was wrong. I didn’t wanna give her any satisfaction so I threw back, “Well lucky for me, I care a lot about basketball too.”

  ←&→

  She was mad.

  She tried to play it off, tried to act unbothered, but I knew her well enough to know she wasn’t exactly happy to see me when I crashed her solo workout. I could pretty much assume she had saw the video of her sister and I on Snapchat but I wasn’t gonna out myself for no reason.

  “No breaks for you, huh?”

  “Practice makes perfect,” She replied as she shot what was probably her hundredth three-pointer. I jogged to grab the rebound.

  “I missed you last night.”

  She wouldn’t even look at me, just tossed out, “Hmph. That’s funny.”

  “Funny? Funny how?” I questioned, as I threw the ball back to her.

  “I didn’t think it was possible for you to miss me with my…” she shot another three-pointer and it went in all net just like the one before it. “sister’s ass all in your face.”

  So it was definitely the video causing her little attitude. I jogged to grab the rebound once again before tossing the ball back to her.

  “It was just a dance, ma.”

  This time instead of shooting it, she put the ball against her hip, “And you called me naive. Well let me let you in on a little secret. You know the whole friendly banter shit you claim dudes be on to fuck; you just met the female equivalent. And trust me, I know my sister. She was on a mission.”

  It made perfect sense, but I had to make my intentions crystal clear. “I’m not sweatin’ your sister and you know that.”

  She shrugged me off. “I don’t know anything, Miles. I mean, you didn’t exactly stop her.”

  “Oh, so what’d you want me to do? Push her off of me?” She looked unfazed like the idea of me doing just that was exactly what she wanted. I walked a few steps closer to her and was grateful that she didn’t back away meaning things were at least repairable. “Listen, ma. I understand how things may have looked in that stupid ass video but I promise you, it was nothing more than a dance. To be real, I didn’t even wanna dance with her; it just kinda happened that way. But I promise you have nothing to worry about, ma. I’m all yours.” She dropped the ball, letting it roll away as she crossed her arms over her chest and shifted all of her weight to one side, causing her ponytail to swing.

  “Also funny, considering Avery wasn’t the only one involved. How come you didn’t tell me Erica was your ex?”

  Damn, she knows about her too?

  You couldn’t really see Erica in the video since she was in the back and more than a foot shorter than me so I was surprised that she even recognized her.

  I shrugged as I answered, “Didn’t think it mattered I guess.”

  “Why wouldn’t it matter? Of course it matters! Ugh, I swear you can be so immature sometimes.” Now that was where I had to draw the line. Nothing about how I handled the situation was immature. In fact, it seemed as if she wanted me to take the more immature route of causing a scene instead of making it out of the situation with no real harm done.

  “Immature? Don’t tell me you’re back on that bullshit again.”

  “Well don’t act so...juvenile and I won’t have to be back on that bullshit again.”

  I could tell she was just trying to taunt me, letting out whatever anger she had built up overnight. So as calmly as I could, I came back with, “It’s cool to be mad. Do what you gotta do. But what you won’t do is disrespect me in the process. I’m not some child, ma.”

  She had the nerve to shrug me off again. “Could’ve fooled me.”

  Alright, that’s enough.

  “I’m out, man. I don’t have to deal with this shit.” There was really no reason to be a part of the conversation if she wasn’t gonna listen to me anyway.

  “Fine! Leave! It’s better that way anyway!” She was completely out of character and it kinda tripped me out.

  I mean, was this the real Ava?

  Had I missed the signs for her crazy?

  Apparently her crazy rubbed off a little on me, as the only reply I came up with was, “I bet that’s how you really feel too. It’s cool though. Maybe I’ll give your sister a call after all.”

  ava.

  Fuck him.

  Fuck...him.

  FUCK him.

  I wish I knew a different language so I could profess my hate for Miles with an accent or at least a twang. Not only had he been practically seduced by my bird-brain sister, he had
the nerve to mention her out of spite.

  Such a little boy move.

  I was literally fuming as I pounded out a set on the bench press. We weren’t even supposed to be lifting heavy during the season, but I begged one of the strength training interns to come spot me so I could blow off the steam Miles created. The video was plenty, but his little one-liner about actually calling that blood-related broad took the cake.

  Like...he didn’t really mean that shit, did he?

  Of course he did; why else would he have said it?

  Don’t arguments usually bring out the truths?

  Ugh, boys are stupid.

  I racked the weights as the cute-in-a-weird-boy-band-kinda-way intern, Parker, looked down at me with confusion. It wasn’t until then that I realized my thoughts were actually being said out loud.

  “Pay me no mind. I’m just rambling.”

  He gave a little laugh. “Right. You should probably hit the cold tub...and maybe stop by the counselor’s office too.”

  “Didn’t I say, pay me no mind? And you better not tell Coach about this.” My finger was in his face, turning his pale skin to a deep shade of red.

  “Trust me, I’d be in more trouble than you, Ava.” I felt a little bad for the kid, taking advantage of his role as an up-and-comer and embarrassing him practically to a sweat.

  “Right. My bad, Parker.”

  Suddenly, a crazy...no ludicrous idea came to my head. It was a long shot, but taking shots had never been something I backed down from. “Hey Parker, are you going to the game tonight?”

  He was busy cleaning off the equipment we used, trying to put things back into place as he responded, “The boys game? Of course I am.”

  “Good. I’m coming with you.”

  ←&→

  I flicked Parker’s lettuce cut hair to the side as I gazed into his eyes, pretending to actually be interested in him. It was a timeout, so I knew Miles would be looking for me even in our current state and this was exactly the sight I wanted him to see. Me, not giving a damn about him...or my sister. But instead in Parker’s face, with his pond-blue eyes and rosy cheeks from my little touch.

  “Ava, I know you’re seeing him. We all know.”

  Damnit.

  “What are you talking about, Parker?”

  “Miles. I heard you guys fighting earlier and I’ve seen enough of your hushed, flirty conversations by the locker rooms to know that you’re using me to make him jealous right now. The self-talk earlier pretty much solidified that.”

  So it was obvious but I couldn’t help challenging the little dweeb, “Then why haven’t you stopped me?”

  “You’re like one of the coolest chicks on campus; why would I stop you?”

  Good point.

  “Right. Well play along for two...more….”

  *Urhhhh*

  I peeked down to the court and caught Miles’s eyes just as he was casting them down to the ground in frustration.

  Success.

  I didn’t want him to have a bad game; I would’ve never wished something like that on him. But...fuck him.

  miles.

  Ava was playing with fire.

  She knew exactly what she was doing coming to the game - my game - with another guy. She tried to rub it in by laughing at all his corny little jokes, playing with his hair, and rubbing on his non-existent muscles. And even though ol’ boy was loving the attention, I knew it was all part of her little ploy to get my attention.

  And she got it.

  Of course she got it.

  It was amazing that even with the daggers we had thrown at each other, I wasn’t even mad anymore. I really just wanted to get back in her good graces and move on.

  Once the game was over and won with no help of mine, I rushed to the locker room to send her a text.

  Miles: Paging Petty Crocker. ;)

  By the time I made it out of the shower, she had sent a reply.

  Ava: Fuck off, Miles.

  Miles: I know you didn’t think I’d get jealous over you playing with the poor man’s Justin Bieber, right?

  I got dressed and was walking out of the locker room while reading her latest reply.

  Ava: Parker is a nice guy. Something you know nothing about.

  That stopped me dead in my tracks. She knew good and damn well I had been nothing but good to her.

  Miles: Oh, now I’m not a nice guy cause I... nevermind. Can we stop fighting? I don’t want your dumbass sister...no offense. I want my redheaded baby back. The baller chick with the bad ass attitude. Emphasis on bad ass.

  I knew this fight would only last as long as I let it. She couldn’t deny me forever.

  Ava: You really think its that easy?

  Miles: As easy as you make it, ma. I don’t like this feeling. I’m sorry.

  Ava: Apologies over text mean nothing. Prove it.

  ←&→

  I was buried inside of her before she could fight me over it.

  I’d be damned if her little attitude didn’t turn me on; if seeing her with another guy didn’t make me want her even more, make me feel the need to claim her as mine even if we were in the privacy of her apartment. I had her draped over the footboard of her bed while I stroked her from behind, with a goal of making her hit foreign notes.

  As long as I can last…

  “Fuckkkk Miles. I’m about to…” She shuddered under me through her climax as I rode the wave with her until I reached my own, collapsing on top of her. We hadn’t even made it out of our clothes; just enough for me to get to her and let her know what was up. She scooted to the bathroom with her pants still around one ankle as I pulled off the condom to toss in the trash. I found a set of fast food napkins on her nightstand and used those to clean up, throwing them on top of the condom as she made her way back into the room.

  “Well that was...interesting,” she said, as she made her way to the bed. The way her t-shirt rode up when she sat down forced me to join her. I laid out next to her, making room for her to fall in the crook of my arm.

  Perfect fit.

  “So I take it you accept my apology?”

  She shrugged as she replied, “It was a good start.”

  “A good start? You’ll have to wait at least 10 minutes if that was just a good start.”

  “I’m kidding, Miles. It was...I missed it. Too bad I don’t have a game tomorrow. It would’ve came in handy.” I pulled her in closer, giving her a little kiss to her forehead.

  “Selfish ass. I lay some good dick on you and what do you do? Imagine how you could use it for your own good.” She immediately sat up to look at me.

  “Hey! You started the PreGame Ritual; not me.”

  “And I don’t regret it either. Get you, babe.”

  She made a sucking sound with the back of her teeth as she said, “I don’t like babe. I prefer ma. It... does something to me.”

  “Something like, get you all hot and bothered?”

  She climbed on top of me, straddling my body to respond, “More than hot. Far beyond bothered.”

  “Well in that case, let’s continue that apology….ma.”

  ava.

  “Why are you walking like that?”

  Leave it to Avery to try and ruin my bliss after a night of making up with Miles. Everything about it, from the minute he arrived to the minute he left early this morning was too close to perfect, so I wasn’t really surprised that Avery had picked up on it one way or another.

  “Like what?” I asked, as I grabbed a banana from the fruit basket on the counter, popping it open and taking a bite. She eyed me from her seat at the kitchen table, with a magazine and a bowl of granola in front of her.

  “Like...I don’t know. Like you have a stick up your ass or somethin’? Did you get hurt in a game?”

  “If you paid any attention to my games, you would know.” It was no secret that Avery’s attendance was purely to socialize, not to actually watch me play. I could honestly care less if she was there or not but I was pretty sure my parents mad
e her come since they couldn’t be there every game.

  “Well did you? I mean your walk is kinda…”

  “Kinda what? Kinda limpy? A little stank perhaps? Little girl, if you had any idea what caused this walk, you’d probably be on the first thing smoking to get it for yourself. But guess what? You. Can’t. Have it.”

  I felt childish as hell waiting for Avery to pick up on what I meant. She was a little slow when it came to putting hints together so her reaction was super delayed.

  “Wait a minute. It’s from..?”

  I didn’t even let her finish, making the duty my own. “Yes. From having sex. With Miles to be exact.” I don’t know why I felt the need to rub it in her face but I was ready to stake my claim even though she had to have picked up on what was going on by now.

  Maybe she really is that slow...

  “Ava…”

  “What? Now that you know, now that I’ve made things crystal clear for you from my own mouth, you can stay out of my damn business and find some of your own. Miles is mine. Got it?”

  “But he…” The fact that we were even having this conversation was plenty, but then she decided to use her whiney voice, the one that had always gotten her what she wanted growing up, annoying the hell out of me.

  “I don’t wanna hear it, Avery. If you have a problem with Miles and I being together...Well to be honest, I don’t really care. So back the hell up.” I was heading out of the kitchen but I could hear her behind me as she stood up from her seat at the table, smacking her hands down causing her bowl of granola to take a little jump.

  “Well you should probably know he’s been messin’ around on you...asshole!” I was trying not to pay her any mind but the way she said it, with such a vengeance, in the heat of the moment had me concerned. I trusted Miles, but he was young, so it wasn’t impossible for him to think he could pull off something on the side. But it also could’ve very well been Avery just trying to get in my head.

  I went with the latter, as I threw back, “You don’t wear jealousy well, chick.”

  “I’m not jealous.” I could hear the pout in her voice, telling me everything I needed to know.