Yes, I’m comparing myself to James Bond. Cars, money, women. I’m not an assassin, but I’m deadly from the three-point line so we’ll call that basically the same thing.

From the moment I pushed into Katrina’s life, I’ve done things that surprise me. I’ve taken the hard road. Okay, harder than usual but to be fair, I’ve enjoyed every moment of it so not exactly a burden. I’ve changed since I’ve met her and it may have started out as a game to win her over, but it stopped being about that a long time ago.

“Think I’m gonna stick around another year,” I say, and the words feel right. Finish my degree, keep putting in the work, and go pro when it’s my time.

“Doesn’t Katrina have another year too?” he asks, smiling so big his teeth make an appearance.

It’s not about her, though, at least not entirely. He’s got my defenses up and I reach for the first response that comes to me. “That gives me another year before I gotta worry about the serious jersey chasers. Then again, I’ve never discriminated against the girls that are only interested in me because of ball.”

He grins, and I laugh, but it feels all wrong as it shakes my chest. The words are true. I’ve never cared if a girl was only after me because of who I am and what it means for their sexual bucket list. It didn’t matter because I was using them the same way. Easy, uncomplicated, and meaningless. But now… it doesn’t have the same appeal as it did before.

32

KATRINA

Gabby’s place is close to campus in a cute new townhome development. Blair and Vanessa are planning on moving in with her at the end of the semester, so the three-bedroom home looks empty with only Gabby’s odds and ends.

The guys are moving the heavy stuff and the four of us are pretending to put away kitchen goods.

Vanessa pours wine into four plastic Valley cups. “We need wine glasses.”

“Nope.” Blair shakes her head. “I’ve got those and some margarita glasses. They’re at my parents’ house, but I’ll bring them up next time I visit them.”

I look up in time to see Joel and Z coming through the door with a large round chair that is big enough to curl up in and sleep. The strain of the weight forces Joel’s muscles to bulge around the sleeve of his bicep.

“Gotta little drool.” Vanessa nudges me and wipes at the corner of her mouth.

“Shut up.”

When the moving truck is empty, we push the guys out the door. Wes gives Blair big puppy dog eyes when she tells him she’s staying with Gabby tonight.

“What about you? Can I convince you to sneak away later?” Joel whispers in my ear.

“I’ll text you in a bit.”

He brushes his lips over mine. “Mmm. You taste like wine and bad decisions.”

“Someone once told me wine makes people emotional,” I tease and try to calm the banging of my heart. My emotions were already in overdrive before I took a sip.