Z’s tears mix with my own. I’m crying like a baby and I don’t even care. We won. Valley University has its first NCAA basketball championship trophy and our team has done something each one of us has dreamt about.
We take turns cutting the net down, there are interviews after interviews. It’s the best type of insanity. The greatest moment of my entire life, one I’ll never ever forget. My parents and sisters are watching down from their seats and there’s a comfort and sense of contentment that flows along with the excitement.
It’s late by the time the crowd clears, we shower, and head to the mixer for players, family, and whoever else was deemed important enough.
“Congratulations.” Michelle moves to me first and hugs me tightly. She’s covered head to toe in blue and yellow. So much Valley pride runs through her blood there’s no doubt she’ll be a proud Valley U student as soon as she graduates high school.
Bree doesn’t hug me, but she does smile and tell me good game which is as much as I can expect from her. She’s graduating high school this year and already stated loud and clear she’s going anywhere but Valley. She hasn’t applied anywhere else, so I’m calling bullshit.
“We’re so proud of you.” My mother places both hands on my face before pulling me to her. “Estamos muy orgullosos de ti. Siempre.”
I remember Nathan is behind me, his family couldn’t be here, and I realize how much it must suck to have no one here. I turn to him and wrap an arm around his shoulders and pull him into the circle before dropping my arm. “And we’ve got another shot to get back here next year.”
“It was a hell of a year. One you should both be really proud of,” my dad says in his official Valley president voice, but then softens as he says, “Don’t spend too much time celebrating before you get back to work for next season.”
Nathan smiles at that and holds up his arm and we bump fists. We make the rounds, saying hello to teammates, families, and anyone else that wants a moment of our time – which seems to be everyone.
When I can sneak away, I check my phone. Still nothing from Kitty. With about a million people patting my back and congratulating me on my contribution to the victory, it’s her words I want more than anyone else. She’d sent me a good luck message before the game, her and Christian’s faces pushed together, and I could tell they were both wearing their Valley shirts.
Nathan walks up as I’m staring at the picture and willing Kitty to call or text. “You ready to party?”
I nod. “Yeah, ready to get out of here for sure. I need to say goodbye to my family.”
Nathan points to Shaw and Malone who stand by the door. “Want us to wait for you?”
“Nah, go on. I’ll catch up.”
My mom and sisters are nowhere in sight, but I spot my dad and make my way to him.
“We’re taking off. Thank you for coming. Means a lot.”
He places a hand on my shoulder. “You’ve grown into a good man. Hard working, smart, loyal. Nowhere else I’d rather be. Valley president or not.”
Touched by his words but feeling awkward as hell at all the attention my talent and character has gotten tonight, I change the subject. “Where’d Mom and the girls go?”
“The ladies room. If it’s anything like the trip they made at halftime, I wouldn’t expect them back anytime soon. Go,” he motions with his head. “We’ll see you back home.”
No further prompting is needed, I duck out and dial Katrina as soon as I’m far enough from the noise I think I’ll be able to hear her.
“Hello?” she answers huskily, obviously woken from sleep.
“Hey.”
“Congratulations.” I can hear the smile in her voice.
“Thanks.”
There’s silence for too long, but I’m at a total loss. For someone that called her, I’m doing a shit job at talking. All the things I want to say and none of them feel right via phone.
“I was gonna text or call, but I figured you’d be celebrating with the team.” She yawns.
“Still could have. You can always call.”
“Christian drew you a picture. I, uh, promised him I’d get it to you when you get back.”
Somehow that feels better than the trophy we accepted earlier. And thank you, little man, for providing a great excuse to see her.
“What about you? You draw me a picture?”
Her soft laugh makes my smile grow bigger. “No, but I’ve got coffee and muffins anytime you want.”
“That sounds good.” Except it doesn’t. Relegating our time together back to the café where the counter serves as a literal and metaphorical boundary between us isn’t enough. It’s what I deserve, what I told her I wanted, but it just isn’t good enough anymore. Winners want the ball. I want the ball.
I want Katrina.
Katrina
I yawn as I fill another cup of coffee. I wasn’t the only one that stayed up late to watch the game judging by the long line that’s been constant since the café opened.
Tabitha is next in line and she steps forward with what looks like yesterday’s makeup smudged under her eyes.
“You too, huh?” She gets my first real smile of the day because smiling takes too much energy for those that don’t require it today. “Seems like the whole university is running on three hours of sleep.”
“Less than,” she says and slumps on the counter. “Brody and I were up most the night rehearsing. Speaking of, I was just thinking of you on the way over.”
I grab a large coffee cup and she nods. “Two.”
I grab a second coffee and fill as I ask, “What were you thinking about me for?”
“Brody and I wanted to make sure you were going to make it tomorrow night for the costume fittings. They should have the backdrops ready then too. God, I can’t believe the show is so soon.”
“Cream or sugar?”
She shakes her head and I place the cups on the counter and secure lids on them. “Of course. I am beyond excited. It’s already so much more than I could have dreamed.”
I’m ringing up her coffees when University Hall breaks out in applause and cheers. Looking toward the door, I see him. He’s wearing a Valley basketball t-shirt and athletic pants that show off sexy ankles – yes, sexy ankles. It’s a thing. A Joel Moreno thing.
People crowd around him, pat his back and say things I can’t make out. He takes it all in stride, smiling and thanking people but not stopping as he walks from the door to the counter. I hear Tabitha chuckle as I hand her card back without looking.
“Speaking of dreams coming true,” she says to me and then looks to Joel. “Congratulations.”
“Thank you.” His gaze falls back to me and he smiles. “Hi, Kitty.”
“What are you doing here?”
“I couldn’t stop thinking about you and Christian last night. Wondering what you were doing and wishing I could celebrate by eating pizza and seeing that picture little man drew me.”
Tabitha grabs one of the coffees and takes a sip, which draws Joel’s attention to the fact we have an audience.
“Oh, don’t mind me,” she says. “Or the other fifty people hanging on your every word.”
He chuckles and then jumps the counter. My mouth feels like I swallowed sand and I open to say something, ask what he’s doing, or maybe I should just kiss the ridiculous smirk off his face like I really want. But I’m incapable of doing any of those things. The look he gives me reaches in and simultaneously tugs at my heart and excites my lady parts.
“I think you’re holding up the line, Joel Moreno.” Like I care.
“Coffee’s on me,” he says loud enough they can hear, “but first –”
I’m watching his mouth, waiting for the sweet words I’m sure are coming when his lips crash down on mine.
Hard. Cocky. Possessive.
For half a second, I consider where I am – at freaking work with a line of people, but when his tongue sweeps in and he grabs the back of my thighs to pick me up and bring me closer, I throw my arms around his neck and kiss him like I want to.
Like I’ve wanted to since the day he first walked into this café.
It’s only when I feel his mouth pull into a smile against mine that I realize we’re not just being watched, we’re being cheered on.
He pulls away and rests his forehead on mine. “Might as well get used to it, Kitty. If we’re going to be together, PDA is a requirement. No way I can keep my hands and lips to myself when I’m around you, no matter where we are.”
“If we’re going to be together?” My voice quivers.
He nods and sets me down, takes my hands and looks into my eyes. He has this way of looking from eye to eye like he wants to unravel the mystery of each iris – like each color has its own secrets to tell. “I love you. I love Christian. Give me a second chance to show what a baller boyfriend I can be?”
“Better say yes, or I will,” Tabitha says.
“Me too,” someone else yells.
Joel threads our fingers together, pulls me to him. “What do you say, Kitty? Go out with me?”
I say yes, like I wanted to from the first time he asked.