The PreGame Ritual (Lynstone University Book 1) (2 page)

miles.

I was trying my hardest not to use Ava’s phone number for my own selfish reasons. I did want her to play hoops with us but I also wanted to find out more about her, see what she was like, see what she looked like in something other than basketball shorts though she did look good as hell in ‘em.

I could already tell Ava was a different breed by the way she seemed so unbothered during our little conversation. Most girls were just excited that I said a word to them but Ava could’ve cared less if I even looked her way, making her that much more attractive.

I wanted her.

I wasn’t sure how I was gonna get her but I knew it was gonna happen one way or another.

Since I didn’t wanna give in and text her but I couldn’t go to sleep, I went to YouTube like she directed me to and typed her name in the search bar. A few different videos came up so I picked the one with the most views to watch. My eyes were glued to my handheld screen as I watched clips of Ava going to work on the basketball court in high school. She looked like a woman amongst girls as she blasted pass people to the rim, making girls fall with her crossover, and using the exact spin move I asked her about.

I definitely had to add that to my game.

Somehow, after watching the third video of her ballin’ out, I felt a text was justified.

Yo, if your game now is anything like it was in high school, I’m officially a fan, ma.-Miles

When ten minutes went past, I figured she must’ve already went to sleep. I busied myself with Instagram and Twitter until a text surprisingly came in.

Ava: It’s actually gotten quite a bit better.

I was getting ready to reply when another text came in.

Ava: And what does this have to do with the group chat you were supposed to add me to?

It was a fair question and honestly one that didn’t surprise me coming from her.

Miles: Just wanted you to know that I did my research like you told me to.

I called it research but being able to watch her fine ass run circles around her competition was more of a treat than anything.

Ava: Well did you find what you were looking for?

Miles: That and more. Your crossover game is lit, beautiful.

A little flirting wouldn’t hurt; right?

Ava: Go ahead and take notes, kiddo.

Kiddo?

I thought about correcting her, letting her know that there wasn’t a kid bone left in my body. But instead I chose to avoid confrontation by replying
: I got you. You can test me on them later.

It was a shame how excited I was about there actually being a later.

Ava: Deal. Now go to bed.

Miles: Can’t sleep.

I was trying to prolong the conversation anyway I could.

Ava: Not my problem. Goodnight little dude.

I smiled to myself, finding her attitude so amusing. It was actually more of a turn-on than a turn-off though I was sure she didn’t care either way.

Miles: That’s messed up. I thought we were cool.

Maybe guilt tripping her would get her to at least keep texting me.

Ava: I don’t even know you.

Even though the words read cold, I had a strong feeling she was smiling at her phone just like I was, waiting for my reply.

Miles: Doesn’t mean you can’t get to know me. ;)

Ava: You’re funny. Goodnight, Miles.

The small compliment was just enough to give me hope. So instead of continuing to nag her, I simply replied:
Sweet dreams, ma

ava.

Get your shit together, Ava.

I cursed at myself for missing my third free throw in a row. Even though today was our day off, I found myself at the court working on my weakness; free throws. There was something about all eyes being on me, counting on me for one measly point that could actually be a game-changer, that kept me nervous about shooting them. So nervous that last season I shot a terrible 64% from the line.

I had to get better.

I took a deep breath and lined my feet up before taking a few dribbles and lifting the ball in the air. The ball was on my fingertips when I heard from afar,
“There’s your problem.”

Initially the voice startled me until I turned around and saw who it was.

He
was the real problem.

Miles strolled over to me, looking as if he had just got done getting some work in himself. “You gotta keep your elbow in, ma. The ball follows the line you create. When your elbow is hanging out in no man’s land, you’re bound to fuck up.” Though I wasn’t sure if his advice was right or wrong, the fact that it was unsolicited irritated me. I mean, who did he think he was busting in on my alone time in the gym?

I put the ball against my hip before I responded, “I know how to shoot free throws; thank you very much.”

“Yet that was the one thing I never saw in any of your highlight tapes. We all have weaknesses, Ava.”

“Oh yeah. Well then what’s yours?”

He gave the cutest little smirk, the first time I noticed his dimples, before he replied, “Pretty baller chicks with bad ass attitudes.”

Damn, I should’ve kept that one to myself.

To be so young, Miles spoke with a maturity that even dudes my age couldn’t muster making me wonder if our age difference was something I could actually consider dealing with.

Wait a minute.

Why the hell am I even thinking about getting with this teenager?

“Right. Anyway, if you would stop being a pest, I’d love to get back to my free throws that you think I’m not so good at.” I would’ve used anything as an excuse to escape his aura. But instead of getting away from me, he walked towards the basketball hoop, making himself comfortable on the left side of the basket.

“I’ll get your rebounds.”

“I can get my own rebounds, bro.”

“I know you can. But if I get them for you, you can actually focus on the free throws you need to be swishin’. Let me help you, ma.”

How could I possibly turn down his sweet little charm?

And I mean, I was getting a little tired of chasing them down my damn self.

Maybe putting him to work wasn’t such a bad idea.

I performed my free throw ritual, lining my feet up and giving the ball a few dribbles. The ball was on my fingertips when Miles yelled, “Pause! Right there.” He jogged over to me, pushing my elbow in, before he jogged back to his spot near the hoop. I gave him a challenging look but shot the free throw from my adjusted position anyway.

It went in all net.

“See, I told you, Ava. You aren’t the only one with some skills around here.” He grabbed the ball out of the net and threw it back to me.

“Whatever dude. Just because you made it on ESPN does not prove anything. I need to see it for myself.” I quickly fired up another free throw, keeping my elbow in like Miles told me to, and the net hardly moved with how perfectly the ball went in.

“I’ll let you see whatever you want, beautiful.” The courts were already quiet since it was only Miles and I in the facility, but I could’ve sworn in that moment, I could literally hear my own heartbeat. There was no mistaking the hint of flirtation in his statement and when I met his eyes, I immediately recognized that they matched his feelings, even from afar.

I had diffuse the situation fast, so I went back to the only thing that kept me from taking advantage of his young ass. “I’m just sure the girls your age go nuts over a one-liner like that.”

His face turned to one of confusion as he asked, “The girls my age? You say that like you and I aren’t the same age.”

“Umm...we’re not. Like...not even close.” I was sure we weren’t really that far apart in age considering we were both in college but a few grade levels difference was plenty.

“Well how old are you then?”

“Twenty-one.”

It was like a light bulb went off for him as he replied, “No wonder you’re so different.”

Different?

I don’t know why his opinion even mattered to me, but I immediately got offended.

“What the hell is that suppose to mean?”

He recognized my fire brewing and quickly corrected himself, “Not like that. I mean like your swag, the way you carry yourself; its just different, ma. I don’t know. I can’t explain it.” I really should’ve just let it go, but I couldn’t help wondering what exactly he meant.

“Try.”

He let out a little sigh, taking the few steps to be right in front of me before he said, “I guess I just think you’re dope as hell. I mean, for starters you can ball your ass off. You clearly have the respect of your teammates. And I mean, considering you’re here right now on your day off, you must have good work ethic. You’re sexy as fuck with that red hair of yours and you wear the hell out of a basketball uniform. Should I keep going?”

I kind of wanted to be an asshole and say yeah, but I really couldn’t be mean to him after he laid all of
that
on the line.

Especially the
sexy-as-fuck
part.

And did he really have to be so close to me?

I took a few steps away from him, giving the ball a few dribbles from my left hand to my right and back just to distract myself from his eyes. And his mouth. And the cute little way his nose flared up while he was waiting for answer. And the
clear-as-day
print in his basketball shorts down below.

Is he upgrading to fine right before my very eyes?

“Look, that’s all very...flattering to say the least, but do yourself a favor and save that energy for someone more on your level.” I was professing it more to keep myself at bay than him. I had to keep reminding myself that even though I was attracted to him – really, freakishly attracted to him – he wasn’t on
my
level.

He seemed amused by my words as if he just knew it was bullshit. I watched as he confidently took the few steps to close the gap I had created between us. I couldn’t believe the way my heart decided to betray me, taking off at a pace so fast that I just knew it was going to burst any minute.

He looked down on me, his face right above mine as he finally replied, “Ava, I don’t really think anyone can be any more on my level than you. But go ahead and deny yourself if you want to, ma.”

miles.

“Love at first sight is just like...some urban legend, right?”

“I don’t know if its an urban legend, but its definitely some of the bullshittiest bullshit I’ve ever heard. You mean to tell me somebody just looks at someone else and falls in love? Hell nah, bruh. Ain’t possible. Now if we edited that little phrase to something like love at first fuck; to me, that sounds more realistic.”

I couldn’t help but laugh at my boy Cam before I added, “True that. I’ve definitely fallen into
something
over some good cat a few times.”

“See what I mean? But to get shot with Cupid’s arrow from the mere sight of somebody? Fuck that. No way, no how.”

Cam was probably the last person I should’ve been asking but he was the only one around as I got my gear right for our little weekend pick-up game. Clearly thoughts of basketball were secondary as my first train of thought was steadily occupied by her. I literally couldn’t stop thinking about her even though she had basically turned down any chance I could have with her. I guess I was holding on to the fact that regardless of what her mouth said, her body language would almost always say something totally different.

From the way she would lick her lips every time I made a pass at her to the way her breathing seemed to change anytime I got a little closer to her, I knew she was at least attracted to me. So I had a hard time figuring out why she was so caught up on the whole age thing.

Was a two-year difference really that big of a deal?

I knew I couldn’t force anything with her and quite frankly, that wasn’t my style. But I also couldn’t ignore the nagging feeling that I was gonna miss out on something if I fell back.

I must’ve thought her up as she strolled in the gym looking her usual delectable self with a t-shirt turned tank that hung low on the sides giving a pretty clear view of the sports bra she was wearing. Her hair was in a low braid, different from the ponytail she usually wore when playing basketball, but still attractive. She had her duffle bag thrown over her shoulder as she approached Cam and I who were sitting on the outer edge of the court.

“What’s up, guys? Where is everybody?”

I could hardly look at her when I replied, “They should be here soon. You’re early, ma.”

“Oh. Right.” She plopped down next to us before digging in her bag to get her shoes. I felt crazy as hell watching her do something as basic as taking her casual shoes off to trade them for her basketball shoes but I wanted to see if she would keep her perfection streak alive by having pretty…

“Will you quit lookin’ at my damn toes? If you aren’t gonna rub ‘em or suck ‘em then you have no business with ‘em.” Cam started laughing his ass off and I tried to find the humor in it too though I would’ve loved to do both of the things she mentioned.

“Ain’t nobody worried about your dogs, Ava. I was actually peepin’ that corn on your pinky toe.” She pulled her foot into arms reach, mortified, until she realized I was just fuckin’ with her. She picked up one of the shoes she had already taken off and launched it at me. Luckily, my quick reflexes helped me dodge it.

That didn’t stop her from spewing, “Fucker.”

I shrugged as I jokingly added, “On occasion.”

Once she realized what I was implying, she rolled her eyes and went back to work on her shoes.

In no time at all, the gym was packed with people; all dudes besides Ava. Apparently, I was the only one that was new to her game because once people figured out who she was, they all wanted her on their team. I had to quickly set the record straight that she was mine...I mean, she was gonna be on
my
team.

The first game Ava played a little timid, probably still trying to get her feet wet. But by the third game, she was all in, wiping the floor with any dude that tried to guard her. I was happy that the task of guarding her wasn’t mine because after watching what she did to some pretty decent ballers, I was a little unsure of how well I would match up against her.

There was a point when one of our games was tied twenty to twenty and the other team had the ball. A guy stole the ball from Ava and was dribbling down the court for what he thought was gonna be an easy lay-up to win the game until Ava showed up out of nowhere and blocked his shot clear into the bleachers. Her face remained unfazed but I couldn’t hold back the pride I felt so I gave her a hard smack on the ass as I yelled, “Good shit, ma!”

I didn’t even realize what I had really done until she looked at me like I crazy. But then her initial
what-the-hell
face turned into a pretty little smirk before she put her hand on her ass and rubbed it in a soothing motion.

“A little less umph next time; okay?”