Nets and Lies (2 page)

Lauren pushed me forward and out of my thoughts. “Why the hell does she waste her time and energy flirting with him?” she asked as we waded through the crowd.

“I don’t know. I mean, Coach T isn’t bad looking.”

Lauren snorted. “Bad looking? Jeez, Melanie, the man could've been Brad Pitt back in his day. You think Will got his looks just from his mom?”

I shook my head.

“Plus, it doesn’t hurt that he’s still relatively young…he can’t be forty,” Lauren said.

“Thirty-eight. He was still playing college ball when Will was born,” I answered.

“Right.”

“So if he’s young and good-looking, what’s your point?” I asked.

Lauren scrunched her face up. “It’s just he’s a ball-busting asshole most of the time. And that’s to us. He has no tolerance for prima donnas like Jordan.”

“Yeah, but that’s just on the court and in practice. He’s different in the classroom. I mean, Coach T is everybody’s favorite teacher.”

“True. But dude, who wants to crush and flirt with a teacher? Ew.”

I bobbed my head enthusiastically in agreement. Loaded down with our athletic bags, Lauren and I made our way up into the bleachers. We climbed into the packed student section a little into the first quarter.

The guys’ game was tight. Will took his dad’s comments to heart because he played harder than I’d seen him in a long time. Several times during the game, I’d glance over at Coach T and his wife who were sitting a couple of rows up from us. By his beaming look of pride, I could tell Coach T was enjoying Will’s performance as well.

The buzzer rang, signaling the end to another Newton High victory. Will received the same treatment by his teammates as I had. He grinned at me and pumped his fist as they swept him off the court in a wave of excitement.

We stood around talking to a few people before Lauren’s boyfriend, JT, motioned to her from down on the court.

She grinned. “Guess I’m being summoned by Mr. ‘Why should I take a shower when I’m just gonna get all sweaty again in a few minutes?’”

I laughed. “Whatever. I’ll talk to you tomorrow then.”

“Mkay!” she called over her shoulder. She hustled down the steps to jump into JT’s arms. He smacked her on the butt before they headed to the door. I eased back down on the bleacher and started sorting through my texts.

It wasn’t long before someone tapped me on the shoulder, and I whirled around.

It was Will.

“Hey beautiful,” he said, with a grin.

“You’re not showering?” I asked.

“Nope, I just wanna be with you.”

“Okay,” I replied as I began to gather up my athletic bag and purse.

“Do you mind me all stinky and sweaty?”

I grinned. “Of course not.”

Will grabbed my bag and threw it over his other shoulder. “Um, that’s awfully chivalrous of you, but I think I can manage,” I mused.

“Whatever, whatever.”

As we headed out into the parking lot, I turned to Will. “So where are we going to eat?”

“Anywhere you want to.” Then with a sheepish grin, he said, “Uh, well, anywhere that’s cheap. I haven’t been getting in any work hours with practice and all.”

“McDonalds sound good?”

“Awesome.”

After we pulled into the McDonalds down the road from the school, Will asked, “Are you sure you don’t mind eating here?”

“Of course I don’t. Maybe you could think about letting me pay every once in awhile?”

He shook his head. “Oh no, I don’t think so. It’s one thing to let you carry your own bags, but pay for dinner? Nope, not happening.”

“Okay, suit yourself.”

“That’s probably the only thing my dad ever lectured me on that I actually agreed with.”

I laughed. “Words of wisdom by Coach T?”

Will snorted. “Unfortunately yes.”

He held the door open for me, and then we got in line. After we’d ordered dinner for a little over ten dollars, we headed to a table.

I’d barely opened my nuggets by the time Will had scarfed down his quarter pounder. “Um, hungry much?”

“I’m always starved after a game,” he mumbled through a mouthful of fries.

“Want some of my nuggets?”

“If you’re sure you don’t want them...”

I slid the container over to him. “I just wish I could eat like you and never gain weight.”

“Aw, baby, you always look good to me,” he drawled.

“Yeah, yeah. My only saving grace is your dad runs my ass off at practice.”

“Seriously, sometimes I don’t know how you guys stand playing for him.” Will shuddered dramatically. “What an egomaniac!”

I twirled the straw in my chocolate milkshake. I was used to these comments from Will about Coach T. As an only child, Will was supposed to have the best grades, the best after-school activities, and be an all-star athlete.

“He’s really not that bad,” I protested.

Will smiled. “You’re just saying that because you’re his little star!”

“I am not.”

“Oh yes, you are. ‘Melanie has the best hook shot’, and ‘Melanie plays defense like there’s no tomorrow’,” he said, mimicking Coach T.

“Whatever,” I said, shaking my head.

“You’re his shining star, babe, whether or not you like to admit it.” Will waggled his eyebrows. “Sometimes I think he’s got a serious jonsing for you.”

“Ew!” I cried, throwing my wadded up napkin at him. “That’s not funny.”

Will winked at me. “What you don’t think he’s crushing on you?”

A chill went over me, and I shivered. “No, I don’t. He doesn’t think of me that way at all! I’m his team captain. And most importantly, I’m his
son’s
girlfriend.”

“Yeah, well, you’re the one getting on the praise while I have to hear what a worthless tool I am half of the time,” he grumbled.

I reached over and took his hand in mine. “I’m sorry.”

His hardened face quickly turned into a smile. “Hey, don’t be sorry.”

“Okay,” I said, with a yawn.

Will raised his eyebrows. “Man, am I that boring?”

I ducked my head. “No, I’m just tired, that’s all.”

He squeezed my hand. “I was just teasing you, Mel.” When I glanced up, I met his amused gaze. “Come on, let’s go.”

“But I’m not ready to go home.”

“Oh really?”

“No, I wanna stay with you.”

His eyes crinkled with pleasure at my response. “I guess we could go back to your house and watch some movies.”

“Something romantic?” I asked, giving him my best pleading look.

Will sighed and then raised his gaze to the ceiling. “Lord, please deliver me from the sappiness I’m about to see.”

I smacked his arm playfully. “You know you secretly like them.”

He snorted as he started gathering up our trash. “I swear, watching them has turned me into a total pansy.”

“Oh, please, you’re anything but a pansy,” I said, as I reached over and planted a kiss on his lips.

“Hmm, and you certainly don’t make me feel like a pansy!”

“Whatever,” I replied with a smile.

***

We breezed in the back door of my house to find my parents sitting at the kitchen table. A rainbow- colored array of papers and forms were scattered around them. “Oh jeez, looks like someone’s getting an early jump on tax time,” Will said.

“Every year, Dad swears they’re going to do their own taxes, and then every year Mom just takes everything to the accountant,” I said under my breath.

Will suppressed a laugh by coughing into his hand.

“Hey guys,” I called.

Dad took off his glasses. “Hey there. Boy, were those some nail biters tonight,” he commented.

“Thanks.”

“Want something to drink?” I asked Will.

“Sure. Got any popcorn?”

I laughed. “Let me fix us some.”

“I’ll get it,” Mom offered, heading into the pantry. I grabbed a few sodas out of the refrigerator while she put the popcorn in. As I watched the bag rise and expand in the microwave, Will and my dad ran through the games like ESPN announcers.

The moment the microwave dinged, I cleared my throat. “Okay, okay, enough with the play by play. Will and I are going to watch a movie.”

My dad chuckled. “Oh dear, poor Will. The glory of victory…and the agony of defeat!”

Will snorted. “You got that right, Mr. Reeves.”

“Hey, whose side are you on?” I asked.

Dad smiled. “I just know you and your sweet, sappy romance movies…you’re too much like your mother.”

“Yeah, yeah,” I mumbled, but I smiled in spite of myself. Will and I took the drinks and popcorn in the living room and then settled in on the couch. “And what are we watching?” Will asked, after swigging down half of his coke.

“
Sense and Sensibility
.”

As I flicked on the TV, he forced a smile. “Peachy.”

I leaned over and brought my lips to his. By the time the credits finished rolling, our tongues were waging war against each other. Will’s hand had just begun roaming over my body when I suddenly pulled away. “Movie is on,” I panted.

He groaned. “Are you serious?”

I jerked my head to the kitchen. “Besides, Mom and Dad are in the next room.”

Holding my breath, I waited for his response. Any other guy would have sulked or demanded we go somewhere to finish what we started. Any other guy would have dumped me months ago because I hadn’t gone all the way with him.

But not Will.

The mention of my parents was the douse of cold water he needed. He straightened up and then downed the rest of his coke. He grabbed the popcorn off the table and pulled me to him. I rested my head against his chest. “This is my favorite position,” I murmured.

“Yeah, I could talk to you about positions,” he retorted through a mouthful of popcorn.

I elbowed him. “Watch it.”

He grinned. “Okay, okay,
why
is it your favorite position?”

I stared up at him and smiled. “Because if I lean my ear in, I can hear your heart beating.”

The muscles in his jaw tensed. “Melanie…”

I rolled my eyes. “I know. Stop being such a sentimental sap.”

He shook his head. “No, that’s not it.”

“Then what is it?”

“I’ve been thinking about next year.”

I frowned. “Will, please. I don’t want to talk about that—”

“Would you let me finish?”

“Okay.”

“I’ve decided not to go to Duke.”

I popped out of my seat like a jack-in-the-box. “What do you mean? It’s always been yours and your dad’s dream to go there.”

Shrugging, Will replied, “Well, things change. Dreams change….people change.”

“But I don’t understand.”

Will broke a piece of popcorn apart between his fingers. “It’s just I like what you and I have. I like it so much that I don’t want to jeopardize it by going far away from you.”

My heart fluttered in my chest. “Are you serious?”

He nodded. “Yeah, I am.”

Slowly, a smile crept on my face. “You’re really going to stay closer to home because of me?”

“Yep.”

I threw my arms around him and kissed him. “That’s wonderful, Will.”

“I thought you’d like it.”

I shook my head. “But I can’t let you do that.”

“Why not?”

“For starters, what about your scholarship?”

“It just so happens that I got an offer from Georgia Tech with the same deal.”

I squealed. “I can’t believe it! When were you planning on telling me?”

“I just decided this afternoon.”

Happiness bubbled over in me. I didn’t think; I just acted by reaching over, throwing my arms around his neck, and kissing him.

“Hey, you better watch it,” he murmured, against my lips.

I pulled away to stare into his eyes. “Oh, I’m sorry. It’s just…You don’t know what this means to me—us not having to be separated.” I bit my lip before saying, “I love you so much.”

“I love you, too.” Cocking an eyebrow, a wicked grin slunk across Will’s face. “You know, you could walk me out to the car and show me a little bit how much you love me.”

I laughed. “Do you ever stop being a horndog?”

“Nope.”

I sighed. “All right, I’ll give you a little victory gift before you leave.” His grin widened at the prospect of some third base action, but I shook my head. “First, you gotta watch the movie.”

He growled against my neck. “Why do I gotta pay to play?”

My hand slid down his chest to rest at the waist of his pants. “Because those are the rules of
my
game.”

“It’s time we rewrote the rules,” he said.