My Lucky Charm–2
I don’t realize how much tension I hold on my body until I exhale and look at Nikki. She’s smiling at me, her gaze knowing.
“Damn, Aiden looks at you like he wants to eat you.”
I snort. “Yeah. Hey, imma go to the bathroom. I’ll be right back.”
“Okay, I’ll go after you, I’m afraid if we both go, someone will take our seats.”
I sidestep in front of her and jog to the bathroom and do my business. It is not until I’m heading back to the gym that I run into a problem.
Jake.
He’s in the hallway, waiting in line at the concession stand. The moment we make eye contact, I freeze.
He very obviously stills, his eyes taking in the jersey I’m wearing. His nostrils flare, but even as my lungs ache like all oxygen has left them, I keep my head high and walk past
him.
No. I am not going to let Jake ruin tonight.
Cheimaphobia: Fear of cold.
Heliophobia: Fear of sunlight.
Blennophobia: Fear of slime.
Alektorophobia: Fear of chickens.
I walk fast, knowing the quicker I get to the gym, the easier it will be to focus on something else.
I give Nikki the chance to to go to the bathroom. The entire time she’s gone, I keep my neck stone still, not giving myself the chance to look around the gym.
Knowing me, I would look for him.
1/3
Catoptrophobia: Fear of mirrors.
The second half begins, and Nikki and I go crazy, Aiden and Parker are playing like they are a single person. They play off each other as if they could read each other’s mind. They dominate the court and the other team misses every opportunity they get. I glance at the scouts, who are clearly taking notice, jotting down notes as they watch.
The clock winds down, the tension now unbearable. It doesn’t take long for there to only be single digit seconds displayed on the scoreboard. The scores are still close and every possession feels like it could change the course of the game.
As the time comes to an end, it’s Aiden that is in possession of the ball.
He weaves through the defenders, Parker right beside him. He takes the last shot just as the buzzer sounds,
Everyone is quiet and I can feel my heart in my throat.
The ball sails the air and-
Swish.
The balls goes in.
The gym erupts into complete chaos.
I jump, hugging Nikki as we both scream and join everyone else in the celebration. Air horns go off, silly string flies in the air and the bleachers shake beneath us from all the jumping.
Nikki takes my hand, pulling me with her down the bleachers and onto the court. I can’t see much because of the crowd around me but Aide finds me quick. D
Before I know it, his arms around my waist and his lips against mine.
His sweat drips down onto me, but I don’t care. His hands dig into my waist and he kisses
me like it’s all he’s ever wanted to do.
We pull away and I can’t help but laugh from pure joy at the look on his face. “You did
it!”
2/3
My Lucky Charm–2
He shakes his head, lifting me in the air to spin me around. “You’re my lucky charm.”
He kisses me again and for a moment everything around us disappears, it’s just us. Just
- us.
Until I’m bumped closer to him. The team swarms us, celebrating as they hoot loudly. Aiden gives me and apologetic look but all I can do is shrug. I can’t blame them.
Aiden keeps his hold on me, but joins in on the celebrations.
I can’t stop looking at him. There’s something so alluring about him, so refreshing. When he smiles down at me, my heart hammers in my chest.
Even with knowing him for such a short amount of time, I know one thing for sure.
Aiden’s the kind to love with all his heart.
