Page 25 of High Baller

“What’s that smile for?” Derek asks as I walk past him while putting my phone back into my pocket.

I shrug. “Just happy, that’s all,” I reply while heading to the games room. “Do you want a game before we talk about work?”

“Sure. I'm just going to get some snacks.” Derek walks away, and I know what he's doing—giving Ariel and me some time to talk without him here, as we haven't yet.

I don’t know what to talk to her about, so Derek needs to get in the fucking room now. Just as much as I want Derek to like Sky, he wants me to like Ariel, but he hasn’t really told me enough about her to know what she likes.

“Do you work every day?” It’s the easiest question to ask.

“No, I own the practice, so I tend to go in more when they need me,” she replies. Now, that gets my attention. She has a business at a young age. “It used to be my father’s, but he can’t look after it as much, so he owns half, and I own the other half."

I nod. “That’s good, keeping the family business going.” I lean back into the couch and the game starts to load. I can feel Ariel still standing by the door. “You can sit down, I don’t bite.”

“No, it's ok, I'm going now," Ariel says as Derek walks back in holding two bowls. One with chips, and the other, popcorn.

“So, are you ready to lose?” Derek sits down, placing the bowls on the table. He then picks up the control. "Babe, you want to go for dinner tonight?"

"Sure, how about I let you two get your stuff done, and I'll see you tonight?”

Not taking my eye off the screen, I give her a quick wave and start the game.

"Don't fuck up," I tell him. She seems like a good one to keep.

“I don’t plan on it—she’s coming to the pool party. How’s Sky?”

“Good. She’s sunbathing by the pool all day. Now, can we play, or do you want me to start talking about our first kiss?” I ask.

Like I want to sit here like a bunch of girls and talk about my feelings. I'd rather kill him in this game.

***

I’m lying in bed while I watch one of the games from last season. It seems like the day has been none stop.

Derek didn’t leave until we had the plan for the next magazine shoot and a date when we could do it, and I’m annoyed that it’s during the time Sky will be here. I was hoping to go to training, then spend the rest of the time with her, but now I have the magazine shoot and talks with the sneakers sponsors, too.

I grab my phone as it beeps. Earlier, Sky sent me a picture of her and Calvin ready to go out tonight. It’s a dress that hugs her perfect ass in all the right places.

Swiping the phone screen to unlock it, I slowly lick my lips at the picture of Sky in bed with her black lace panties and a tank top on. Fuck, that’s enough to make my cock twitch in my pants.

I read her message.

Shorty- All tucked up in bed. think I drank a little too much. lol x’

I press call on her name and wait for her to answer.

“Hel-lo.” Her voice comes out a little sexier than normal.

“Hey, shorty, did you have a good night out?” I turn the volume a little lower on the TV so that I can hear her.

“I did, I always enjoy my nights out with Calvin. How was your day?”

“Good, mostly work stuff. What are you doing now?”

"Lying in bed, wishing you were here, and not just on the phone.”

Oh, I think shorty gets a little horny when she's had a little too much to drink.

“Oh, yeah, and what would we be doing?” I ask.