The PreGame Ritual (Lynstone University Book 1) Read online

  “Then what’s your motive? Can’t stand to see me happy with someone for a change? I mean, what’s in it for you? It’s not like he wants you.” Miles had made it clear time and time again that he had no interest in Avery nor anyone similar to her. I guess she hadn’t caught on to that picture just yet.

  She glided her tongue across her teeth, clearly working hard to come up with a rebuttal I could already tell would be some bullshit. It took her so long that I thought our conversation was over so I started walking out of the kitchen again. She didn’t let me get too far before she finally threw out, “Just because you let him hit it does not mean he’s committing.”

  “Exactly why you need to stay the hell out of my business instead of speculating like you know shit. You literally have no idea what’s going on between Miles and I and more likely than not, it’s gonna stay that way until I want you to know anything. Keep your ass on the sideline where you belong.”

  I started my trek to the bedroom again but not before she spit out a strong, “Fuck you, Ava.”

  I turned my attention back to her, making sure to wear a smile as I reminded her, “Sorry, but I’ve already been fucked.”

  ←&→

  He wasn’t there.

  He didn’t have an away game, didn’t say anything about having plans, and he wasn’t there.

  The whole game I kept looking around the crowd, thinking maybe he had decided to switch from his normal seat for the hell of it.

  But no... he just didn’t come.

  And of course I couldn’t help wondering if Avery’s words actually had some truth to them. Maybe his little side chick was so distracting that he had forgotten about my game.

  Forgotten about me.

  I felt pathetic as hell as I considered showing up to his dorm demanding answers, or blowing up his phone to figure out his whereabouts, or even stalking his social media accounts trying to put together clues like a damn private investigator.

  Definitely the least invasive method.

  I dug in the side pocket of my duffle bag, grabbing my phone to do a little research but just as I was getting ready to open my Facebook app, the screen of my phone showed an incoming call.

  Mommy.

  I quickly tried to adjust my attitude and my tone as I clicked the screen to connect the call.

  “Heyyy Mommy.”

  “Baby girl, what’s going on with you? Your dad and I watched the game and you looked a little lost out there. You okay?”

  Leave it to Mommy to waste no time getting straight to the point. Truth be told, I played like shit and even though we won, nothing about it felt good.

  But of course I couldn’t let her know that so I replied, “Yeahhh...yeah I’m good. Just had an off day I guess.”

  “An off day? That doesn’t even sound like you. Are you sure you’re okay? I talked to your sister and she said you’ve been seeing some boy…”

  Fuckin’ hater.

  This was exactly why I didn’t tell her what was going on in the first place. She was always running her damn mouth to somebody.

  “On occasion I suppose.” There was no way in hell I was giving her all of the details of the situation.

  “On occasion? Alright, something’s definitely going on with you. Are you having boy problems?”

  Damnit.

  There was no more hiding it, so I honestly replied, “That’s exactly what it is; a boy problem.”

  “What’s that little emphasis on boy about?”

  Are we playing 21 questions?

  “He’s a baby mom. A freshman.”

  “And you are stating that fun fact because...?”

  I sighed as I tried to explain, “I’m too old to be…”

  She quickly cut me off and I could literally picture her saying, “First of all, you are too young to already start saying you’re too old for anything. Second of all, love doesn’t have an age limit. Actually, I take that back; it does...legally...but you guys are both in college. So what’s the big deal?”

  “It’s not a big deal, Mommy. It’s just...I don’t know. I guess I just catch myself torn about the whole thing.” I couldn’t help but wonder if Miles felt like he was missing out on those normal freshman year experiences by doing whatever we called ourselves doing. I mean, he couldn’t be free if he was too busy being tied down to me.

  “There’s nothing to be torn about, baby girl. You like him. He’s affecting your mood so you’re obviously invested in some way. Have some fun for a change.”

  “I have fun, Mom.”

  “Not enough. You’ve always been so serious, even when you were a little girl. But you don’t get twenty-one back, Ava. Make it worth your while. And if you make a mistake...well...fuck it.”

  “Mom!” I couldn’t help but laugh since Mommy hardly ever cussed. I guess she really needed to make her point this time around.

  “What? I’m serious. Life goes on whether you live it or not. And whoever this little dude is must’ve brought you a dose of something good otherwise you wouldn’t be sweatin’ whatever mistake he made.” It sounded like she was talking about sex but I damn sure wasn’t gonna go there, so instead I gave her the real; what had actually soured my mood.

  “He didn’t come to my game, Mommy.” I sounded like a child but hell, with her I could be exactly that.

  I was exactly that.

  “So you wait it out. Give him a chance to explain himself. And if it’s not what you wanna hear, you act accordingly. But you at least need to give him a shot at making things right.” The way she explained it made it sound so logical, almost making me question why I had started off trippin’ in the first place.

  “Yeah I guess you’re right.”

  “Of course I am. Now don’t worry, I’ll tell your dad you were on your period or something.”

  So clutch.

  “Thanks, Mommy. I’ll talk to you soon. Love you.”

  “Love you more, baby girl. And you tell that young man if he messes up again, he’ll have to deal with me.”

  miles.

  I was pacing back and forth in front of Ava’s building, knowing my explanation would require an in-person visit. And not even like that, but I knew it would be harder for her to believe me over the phone or via text. So I waited and waited, until I eventually saw her approaching the building with her duffle bag draped over her shoulder and her hair covered with a hood. I didn’t see the game but I did watch the highlights and since Ava wasn’t apart of them, I figured she must not have played as well as usual. She wasn’t paying much attention, not even realizing I was there until I called out to her, her head flying up in surprise the second she realized it was me.

  “Hey, ma. I’m sorry I didn’t make it to your game today. It’s a long story.”

  “I have time.” She crossed her arms over her chest in her usual attitude-stained stance. I was just happy that instead of ignoring me, she was actually giving me the opportunity to explain myself.

  “Well... my brother was in town. Not here in town, but the big city so I drove up to see him, planning to only spend a few hours up there and then come back in time for your game. But then a few hours turned into more, and my phone died so I couldn’t at least let you know I wasn’t gonna make it, and I would’ve used Bryson’s phone but I couldn’t remember your number. So I flew back down the freeway as quickly as I could so that I could meet you here and tell you all of this.” She stared at me for a long time, an uncomfortably long time, so long that I almost started adding extra details to the story. But then she took a few steps closer to me and planted the sweetest of kisses on my lips, letting it linger long enough to let me know things might actually be okay.

  She pulled back, poking a finger at my chest as she said, “Don’t let it happen again, Miles. I played like shit and I’m blaming you.”

  “I’ll take that, ma. I just hope you let me make it up to you.” She unlocked and opened the door, grabbing my hand to pull me in with her.

  “Oh, you’ll definitely be earning th
is one.”

  ←&→

  “Ava, if we watch this got damn movie one more time, I swear I’m gonna crack the DVD in half.”

  “You wouldn’t dare!” She yelled, as she dimmed the lights in my living room and pressed play on the DVD player. All of my roommates were out on the town since it was a Friday night. And though I was sure they were having a good time, I certainly couldn’t imagine my night being any more perfect.

  Well, besides if we could watch something other than Love & Basketball.

  But that was Ava, living through Monica Wright’s basketball career as if she didn’t have one of her own to focuson.

  I suppose that made me Quincy McCall.

  Quincy was cool and all but I damn sure wasn’t about to declare for the draft only to be a bench player for a currently subpar team.

  The movie played on though I was hardly paying it any attention. My focus was completely on Ava as she snuggled closer against my chest, her red ponytail teasing my chin. When I did take a peek at the screen, I watched as Monica Wright entered her prom uncomfortable as hell in a dress and heels. I could pretty much picture Ava being the same exact way.

  “Ava, you went to prom with Spalding huh?” I teased.

  “No, asshole. I actually went to the prom with Austin.” Apparently, I looked as confused as I felt so she continued on, “You know... Duke... Pelicans... Clippers. Ring a bell?” It was then that I realized she was talking about Doc’s son; one of the up-and-coming sharpshooters in the league.

  “Wow. A first rounder. Why am I not surprised?”

  “You should be. We were just friends and since neither one of us really wanted to distract ourselves from basketball with worrying about finding a date, we just went with each other.”

  Of course Ava told the nonchalant version so I couldn’t help asking, “No happily ever after like Monica and Quincy huh?”

  “Hell no. That was just the homie. Still is. I’m actually going up there to catch one of his games in a couple weeks.”

  “You mean ‘we’re’ going up there to catch one of his games in a couple weeks? Fuck all that homie shit.” She sat up just to laugh right in my face.

  “My goodness, Miles. You can’t possibly be that jealous.”

  “Never jealous, just very protective of what’s mine. And you are mine, Ava. Period.” Whether she realized it or not, I was in deep. And now that she was finally letting go of her inhibitions about dating me, I could go even harder.

  She gave a sexy little smirk as she said, “Sounds a little possessive, don’t you think?”

  “Call it what you want, ma. But I don’t want there to be any confusion about the rekindling of flames going on. Ain’t no dude letting go of you that easily. And I’m sure you look even better now than you did back then. He’s probably got all types of shit planned for your little visit.” She laughed again even though I was being dead ass serious.

  “Miles, you are crazy. You literally have nothing to worry about. Hell, if anything, I’m the one that should be worried about you.”

  “Worried about me? Worried for what?”

  “Mr. High School Superstar, now College Superstar. I’m just sure the girls are waiting for you to quit playin’ with me.” It was no secret that I had been turning down hella girls since Ava and I started talking, but I certainly didn’t plan on stopping anytime soon. All of them put together didn’t even measure up to half the woman Ava was.

  “That won’t be happening anytime soon, ma. I mean, you’d really have to do some fucked up shit to get rid of me. I’m like infatuated with you or somethin’. I mean I literally think about you all day long. And not even on some crazy, deranged shit though that’s probably how I sound.” It was still scary to think about, let alone talk about.

  She quickly reassured me, “You don’t sound crazy at all, Miles. That was actually very sweet of you.”

  “Damn, now you probably think I’m some soft mothafucka huh?”

  She laughed before she said, “No, I think I made the right decision by giving us a chance.”

  ava.

  I couldn’t believe I was down to the last three games of my collegiate career.

  And only one of them was guaranteed.

  We had to make it through two more rounds of the tournament to get to the championship game and though our chances were pretty good, my nerves remained frazzled. I was pretty sure I would have a professional basketball career but that was hardly my focus.

  I wanted a championship.

  The big trophy.

  And I was gonna do everything in my power to get it even if that meant later, longer hours in the gym. The gym had practically been my second home since high school so I was more than comfortable in it. What I wasn’t exactly comfortable with was the idea of Miles and I both getting in deep with hardly any chance of an actual future together. I mean, I’d be graduating soon and going off to who knows where to play pro ball while he’d only be approaching his second year of college. The whole long-distance thing didn’t even sound appealing and with as much temptation that would be surrounding Miles on a daily, there was no way I was gonna set myself up to get my heart broken.

  My heart.

  How the hell had my heart managed to get involved in any of this?

  I was supposed to just be having fun, enjoying the company, but instead I had fallen in love with the only guy who actually embraced my bad ass attitude. The only guy who had ever managed to kiss me into a stupor. The only guy who could turn me on just as much with clothes on as he did without them. And the only guy who understood my heavy commitment to basketball because he had the exact same one.

  Everything about us screamed perfect.

  Well everything except our age difference and that key detail had finally come back to haunt me.

  The crazy part about it was, even though I knew all of this, I called myself being selfish and not breaking things off with him just yet. I could’ve very well called it quits early and given him a chance to find something new, but we were still new, still fresh, still exciting. I wasn’t ready to let go but I knew I’d have to eventually.

  For his sake.

  ←&→

  Miles had officially gone off his rocker. Not that I was ashamed of a little public action but his latest quest had taken things to the next level.

  “Sex in the equipment room? Are you crazy? There’s gotta be all types of cameras in there.” I was hanging out by the locker rooms with Miles for a bit before he got ready for his game and of course that was what he had managed to come up with.

  “We’ll keep the lights off. Come on, ma. I need you. PreGame Ritual.”

  “No, PreGame Ritual is at a place with a bed, or at least a couch.”

  Hell, I’d even settle for a carpeted floor.

  “I’ll make it quick, ma. I promise. I just...this is a big game. I need all odds in my favor, including this and your fine ass in the stands cheering me on.” I could see the nerves in his eyes but I still couldn’t put myself in such a compromising situation. It would be just my luck that my coach walks in, or a teammate, or even somebody like Parker.

  “I got you on one out of two, Miles”

  “Ava…. please.”

  Where the hell did these cute ass puppy dog eyes come from?

  “Miles, we…”

  “Please, ma.” he said, with a little kiss and nibble to my collarbone. Combine that with the begging, and the puppy dog eyes and suddenly I was easily convinced.

  “Fine, Miles. But if we get caught, I’m….”

  He cut me off. “We won’t get caught as long as you’re quiet, ma. Now let’s go.” I let out a nervous breath as he guided me down the hall before looking both ways and damn near shoving us into the equipment room. Since it was completely dark, I ran right into a rack of basketballs causing them to tip over.

  “Shit! I told you, you gotta be quiet, Ava,” Miles said with a whisper as he awkwardly used his hands to find me. “Listen. If you take a few steps back, the Dr. Di
sh shooting machine should be right there.” He held my hand as I did what he said and sure enough, my ass bumped right into it. Once Miles heard the bump, he gave a little laugh before grabbing me by my hips and hoisting me on top of the machine. He slid in between my legs and began kissing me with an urgency that practically made me forget where we were.

  I mean, my eyes were closed in ecstasy anyway.

  Miles had one hand under my shirt, caressing my nipple through my bra while the other one worked to take off my leggings. I balanced myself long enough to give a little lift while he yanked them down my legs to my ankles so I could kick them off. Simultaneous with my leggings hitting the floor, I heard the distinct rip of a condom being opened.

  “Oh, so you just knew I was gonna say yes, huh?”

  “No. I just knew I wanted to be prepared in the event that you actually did,” he said with a sexy little laugh that went straight to my exposed lower half. I leaned back against the shooting machine to give him better access.

  Leave it to me to be on top of the machine that I practically use daily bustin’ it wide open.

  His mouth was hot as he kissed from my toes, to my calf, and down my thigh before he found what he was looking for. There was a hesitance to his moves and I could assume that even in the dark, he was searching for my eyes to make sure I was okay. He was courteous like that, always making sure I was comfortable with whatever we were doing before we did it.

  But to make things very clear, I grabbed the back of his head and gently guided it to its intended destination.

  miles.

  One more game.

  We had to win one more game to solidify our spot in the championship. Since I was only a freshman and would have a few cracks at it, it really wasn’t a huge deal if we didn’t accomplish the ultimate goal.

  Hell, I was just happy to have made it as far as we did.

  Ava, on the other hand, had trouble thinking about anything other than the championship. It made sense considering she was a Senior so this was ultimately her last shot at it, but I wished she would just calm her ass down and recognize that it was out of her hands. She had already done everything she could control, now she just had to wait and see how God would play it out.