Total pages in book: 123
Estimated words: 115833 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 579(@200wpm)___ 463(@250wpm)___ 386(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 115833 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 579(@200wpm)___ 463(@250wpm)___ 386(@300wpm)
It didn’t take long for the lights to dim and the players to be announced. When they said Deke’s name (and they saved it for last, of course), the entire stadium went into an uproar as he jogged out.
I swear I was never going to get tired of this image. My man running out, a wide smile and dimples, both of his hands up as he basked in the attention and love he most definitely deserved.
I screamed his name as Whitney whistled and Aleesa tried reaching for him, which was adorable.
When the players lined up to prepare for the national anthem, Deke’s eyes found mine. I grinned while waving at him.
Deke waved back, then mouthed, “You’re blushing, D.”
I laughed, and he winked, raising two fingers to his lips, kissing the pads of them, and then pointing them toward me. I kissed mine, too, and pointed them his way. It was the silent message we sent to each other before every game. Even if the game was televised and I couldn’t make it, whenever he dropped that first bucket, he’d kiss his fingers and point them at one of the cameras. It was damn sweet, and I would never get enough of it.
Deke balled his heart out that day. I hadn’t seen him shine so brightly in so long, but it must’ve been an amazing feeling, knowing all the people he cared about—his 1 percent—were in the stadium cheering him on. All he had to do was look over his shoulder, and we were there, rooting for him.
When halftime rolled around, there were a few shooting contests and T-shirt launches into the crowd from the Ravens mascot, a big black raven in a red uniform.
But just as quickly as the halftime show started, the people dispersed, and I noticed Deke emerging from the locker rooms to accept a mic from the announcer.
“What’s up, Ravens!” Deke yelled into the mic as he made his way to the middle of the court. The stadium went wild, people screaming at the tops of their lungs and crying out his name. Deke chuckled into the mic, and when the crowd settled a bit, he spoke again. “Listen, I don’t usually do this. If you know me, you know I can’t stand giving public speeches unless I absolutely have to, but I need to do it right now, because there is someone in this crowd I have to send my love to.” Deke turned my way, eyes latching with mine, and I stifled a breath.
“What is he doing?!” I whisper-hissed to Whitney.
She pressed her lips and shrugged, making an I don’t know noise.
“This person has been there for me like never before. I have this thing I like to call my one percent, and there are only a handful of people who make it there. These are the people I love with my whole heart, the people I care about, the people I respect, and right now not only do I give thanks to my family and friends for showing up for me today, but also to the beautiful woman sitting right there. Davina Klein.”
My eyes rounded as a gentle applause filled the building.
“This woman is the other half of me that I never knew I was missing. When I had that rocky game at the start of the season, it was because I couldn’t get her off of my mind, y’all. Y’all remember that, right? Yeah, I bet you do, ’cause the whole crowd was mad at me.” He chuckled, and so did many others. “Hold on—I just want to show her off to y’all really quick so we can squash all the gossip going around. D, can you come here?” He curled his fingers, gesturing for me to come.
I swallowed as Whitney and Octavia pressed their hands to my back to push me out of my seat.
“Go, girl!” Octavia insisted.
“Get it, Vina!” Whitney hooted.
My heart raced as I walked across the court, fighting a goofy smile.
What are you doing?! I mouthed at Deke, but he kept his hand held out and waited for me to take it. He then requested one of the people on the sidelines to toss him a ball. When he handed the basketball to me, I looked from it to his eyes.
“What am I supposed to do with this?” My question came out breathy and quick. All these people were watching us. I didn’t mind crowds, but this was new territory for me, standing in the middle of a jam-packed stadium with a megastar basketball player.
“Y’all should see how she shoots. I play her one on one all the time, and she’s got a nice form. Go ahead, baby. Show ’em,” Deke insisted, one hand gripping the mic.
“Deke, I can’t. This is—”
He tapped the ball, shot me a wink, and stepped back. I sighed as I looked around the stadium. If I got this over with, I could sit back down and pretend this wasn’t happening. I couldn’t say I was surprised Deke was doing this. He did tell me repeatedly that he was going to show me off to the whole world.