Love Novel 28

I laugh at something Nikki says, throwing my head back.
I’m elated, excited and the ends of my fingers tingle from the rush of emotions that have been passing through me all
night.
The night air is warm, and yet cool with slight breeze. We’re standing outside the gym, waiting for Aiden and Parker to
finish showering and changing in the locker room.
The energy from the game is still in the air, and we can hear music blasting from cars as they pull out of the parking lot.
“That game was insane. I mean, Parker was so good, and then Aiden? That was awesome,” Nikki squeals, her eyes
sparkling as she looks at me.
I nod, trying to focus on the conversation. “They were both amazing, I didn’t realize basketball games could be so
exciting.”
“Girl, wait until they start getting closer to state.”
“I can’t imagine.”
The lights from the gym cast long shadows on the ground and I wrap my arms around myself. The noise has quieted
enough for me to start getting nervous. We’re probably the last ones here apart from the team.
I glance at the doors, eager for Aiden to come out so we can get out of here and do whatever they have planned to
celebrate.
Nikki starts to say something, but my ears stop working. Her voice is muffled as I focus on the figure that emerges from
the shadows, rounding the corner of the building.
“Alina,” Jake’s voice cut through the night, making my heart race.
“Hey, Mr. Matthews,” Nikki chirps from beside me, smiling wide at him.
He throws her a casual face, his gaze returning to me with a heated glare. He takes in the jersey I’m wearing again.
A wave of tension crashes over me and I try to steady my breathing as much as possible before speaking. “Mr. Matthews,
what are you doing here?”
His throat moves with his heavy swallow and he shrugs. “I just wanted to thank you for coming out to support Aiden. It
means a lot to him.”
I nod stiffly, hoping Nikki doesn’t notice my unease, hoping she can’t read my mind as it practically shouts out that I’m
standing in front of the man I basically had a sex marathon with.
Who also happens to be my boyfriend’s dad.
“Uh, yeah, of course. It was a big game.” I tuck my hair behind my ear and step back, closer to the wall behind me.
Nikki glances between us, her eyebrows slightly frowned. “Uhhh, how have you been, Mr. Matthews?”
Jake peels his eyes away from me, the struggle evident in the way his jaw clenches. “Good, Nikki. How have you been?”
“Great. Busy with school and everything, you know.”
He smiles, stiffly and it doesn’t reach his eyes. “That’s good to hear. Like I always say, you’ve been my favorite of Aiden’s
girlfriends. I remind him every day how he fumbled the bag with you.”
Oh god, I just want the floor to open up and swallow me whole.
Nikki awkwardly laughs, grabbing my arm. “Oh, trust me, Alina is perfect for Aiden. They look good together, don’t you
think?”
My body feels like it’s going to fall apart from how nauseous I feel and how much my stomach flips. My eyes flutter to
Jake, and there is nothing but anger and jealousy in his dark eyes.
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“Sure,” He mutters.
My hands turn sweaty and I offer Nikki as much of a smile as I can muster. My composure is holding on by a thread and I
hate the feeling of my control slipping away. I swipe my finger across my scar.
“Well, I won’t keep you,” Jake says, his eyes lingering on me for a moment longer than necessary.
As he walks away, I let out a loose breath and Nikki turns to me with wide eyes.
“That was hella awkward.”
I nod.
“I’m sorry he said that about me and Aiden. I don’t know why he did that.”
I shake my head. “It’s not your fault.”
He did that on purpose. Either to hurt me or to ease his hurt. Still, it’s incredibly childish and for a moment it makes me
glad that I ended things with him.
Even as my heart drums in my chest from the adrenaline of seeing him.
“Are you okay, Alina?” Nikki asks, concern in her voice and a hand patting my back.
I force a smile and stand up straight, trying to act natural. “Yeah, I’m fine. Like you said, it was just awkward.”
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The door to the guy bangs open. Aiden and Parker step out, laughing and chatting, in their own little world. They make
their way toward us, relief making my shoulders drop at the sight of Aiden.
The carefree way in which he walks and laughs with Parker is a welcome change to the tension Jake just left us with.
“Hey, ladies,” Parker calls out, wrapping an arm around Nikki. “Ready to celebrate?”
Nikki beams at him, kissing him before breaking into a fit of giggles. I turn from them, smiling at Aiden. His eyes drink me
in, filled with warmth. Not just hunger, not just heat, but with actual affection.
“You ready to go, baby?” He slips an arm around my waist, leaning down to nibble on my neck.
I chuckle, his breath tickling. “Yeah, but go where?”
“Just to some old-fashion celebratory fun,” Parker winks at us, leading Nikki away with his arm over her shoulder.
“It’s so much fun, trust me,” Nikki smiles.
They go to Parker’s car and Aiden leads me away to his car.
“What are we doing?” I look up to Aiden.
He sets his bag in the back seat, “You’ll see. We do it after every game we win. The whole team will be there and a few of
our friends. I can’t wait to introduce you to everyone.”
I let him open the car door for me and when he sits in the driver’s seat I grab his hand, placing it on my thigh. He keeps
it there, smiling at me as he drives off. Though most of the tension has melted from my shoulders, there’s still a shiver
that makes me tremble.
It’s fed by the image of dark, jealous, angry eyes.
*Kenophobia: The fear of empty or wide-open spaces*