Finally Read Online Free

I raised a hand briefl y in reply.
    Nykos bumped harder against me, jarring loose the caressing feeling of Quinn’s hug. “Did you just wave at Quinn Lysander?”
    His dark green eyes fl ashed in incredulity. The thinning tuft of black hair that clung defi antly to the crown of his head stood askew from the attempt at smoothing after he’d exerted himself walking up from our free parking space. When Nykos began to sweat, not even a 12-step program could make it cease.
    No one knew about our friendship yet. I’d wanted to avoid the certain teasing I’d receive about stalking my favorite player.
    At least that’s what I told myself. Really, it was much more than that. Something I wasn’t ready to label yet.
    “I kinda met her a few months ago. She’s really nice.” And beautiful and so out of my league, the uninvited thought slipped in. Not that I was looking in any league. I hadn’t felt like dating in years, hadn’t even felt like dating when I was dating. What made me think that dating out of my league in a completely different conference would go any better?
    Nykos leaned back, his jersey pulled taut over his bulky torso. “I can’t believe you didn’t tell me you met her. Didn’t you yammer on about driving past one of the players last year? You don’t pick up the phone when you meet your idol?”
    Pushing at his shoulder, I tried to shut him down. “Knock it 17

    Lynn Galli
    off. She’s not my idol. She’s just a great player.” This was exactly why I hadn’t told any of my friends. Well, that and this friendship felt private to me for some reason.
    “How’d you meet? It must’ve been a pretty amazing meeting if she’s waving at you all the way up here?” Nykos liked to give me a hard time about the fact that my seats were seventeen rows up, far worse than my priority number would allow but what I could afford on my less than impressive salary.
    “We’ve sort of become friends.”
    “What?” The rest of his sure rant got interrupted by one of the regulars who sat in front of us. “You’re friends with Quinn Lysander?” Debra, the one who came early to every game, asked in awe. Her girlfriend, Jenny, and their seatmates, Ruth and Jo, all twisted their bodies to stare up at me, waiting for a response.
    Normally, I liked exchanging pregame banter with them, but tonight I wished they’d shown up late. Especially since Ruth was on her second beer already, and when Ruth got tipsy, everyone learned a little too much about her.
    “We hang out occasionally,” I admitted.
    “Oh man, I’m so in love with her!” Ruth announced easily, like she did at least once a game for several of the players, or women she recognized from a lesbian bar, or nearly any woman in the crowd for that matter. Apparently, Ruth had a lot of love.
    “Hook me up with her, will ya?”
    Despite being used to Ruth’s constant declarations of love, I scoffed at her brashness, causing Jo to smack her friend’s leather-clad shoulder. While Ruth was occasionally obnoxious, I had grown to like her fervor about basketball and all manner of things. Usually, I found her funny. Tonight, I was rethinking that.
    “I’m not her pimp.” I’d meant it as a joke, but a swirl of what could only be jealousy swam through me, causing an involuntary shiver.
    “Tell me where you hang out then, and I’ll bag her myself.”
    18

    Finally
    Ruth brushed a hand through her short black hair and blew on her fi ngertips.
    “You are so arrogant,” Debra remarked. “C’mon, you’re buying this round. Let’s leave Will alone.” She pulled Ruth up with her and into the aisle. The J’s went with them, winking at me on their way out.
    “Why didn’t you mention it to me?” Nykos asked, startling me. I’d almost forgotten he was there. When the foursome turned their attention on me, I became easily intimidated. Nykos looked honestly hurt, and he didn’t get hurt easily.
    “I don’t know, Kos. I guess I thought you might think it was a