Page 30 of The Lockdown Mann

Now it’s my turn to smile. He might have won the first battle, but he’s definitely not winning the war.

Game on, I mouth to him.

I’m surprised when he doesn’t turn away, just continues looking at me and mouths, Game on, in response.

CHAPTER TEN

Oakley

Much like we did at Hunter’s, Des and I spent most of the day going back and forth in competition. Something about him brings out the need to win even stronger than in any other situation—like I always have something to prove when I’ve never been the kind of man to need to prove myself to anyone.

Except him.

The kids seem to enjoy it, like it keeps things more interesting, or hell, maybe that’s me making excuses to keep it going. I never know which way is up when it comes to Desmond, and it’s been that way since the beginning, only it’s changed now. Back then, it was just how new everything felt. That bloom of what I now know is attraction and desire, when I didn’t realize what was happening until he kissed me.

Now, I know I’m attracted to Des—and my life would be a whole lot easier if I wasn’t—but for a reason I’m still trying to sort out, I’m still forever off-balance when it comes to him.

At five, they let us know the day is over, and we tell the kids goodbye before we start cleaning up the supplies. Of course, it’s Des and I alone in the area of the field we’re at because the universe seems to have it out for me.

“Sorry I beat you so much today,” he says as we collect cones.

Cocky motherfucker. “I beat you just as much.”

“Eh. I won when it mattered.”

I toss a glance his way, and he’s grinning that big, happy smile of his, and I wonder if anything has ever gotten to Desmond. He seems to be so good at letting life roll off his chest. I’ve always wished I could be more like that, more like him. Even when we first met, I was all fucked up about my parents, having just lost my girlfriend, and he made everything feel okay—made the world seem a lot happier than it had been for me at the time.

“Tiana ever come to stuff like this?” he asks.

“You’re not the only football player she likes, you know?” I toss back, and like everything else, it doesn’t seem to bother him, and he just laughs.

“That’s not why I was asking. Just making conversation.”

Just making conversation isn’t something he’s done with me in a long time. Not since I told him Ree was pregnant.

“We knew this would be a busy weekend. She’s hanging with her grandparents, and then they’ll all be at the game on Sunday.”

He cocks a brow. “To watch me beat you?”

“Never going to happen.” It might only be a preseason game, but it’s one I intend to win.

“So…what are you doing tonight?”

I stiffen, that question being the last one I thought he would ask me.

Shrugging, I try to look more nonchalant than I feel. What do I expect him to say next? I have no reason to be overreacting this way. “Nothing, really.”

“Wanna go grab something to eat?” Desmond asks simply, like this question isn’t a big deal. And I guess it shouldn’t be. It’s not as if he expects something from me. For all he knows, I’m still with Serena. Plus, I’m fairly certain if Desmond wants to fuck, he could have any guy or woman he wanted. What we did was just a blip of a moment that he’s probably mostly forgotten. Does he still think about it? Did he ever? He didn’t care to talk to me at all afterward, so I would think he didn’t.

“Why?”

“Because I’m fucking hungry, and unless there’s something I don’t know about you, food is a requirement for your survival as well.”

Well, when he puts it like that… “Fuck off,” I reply.

“But we were getting along so well. Why you gotta be a dick now?”

“Me? You’re the one who had to open your big mouth.”