Page 32 of Full Court Love
Sleep comes fast.
And my feelings for Jordan might be coming even faster.
CHAPTER 14
JORDAN
Lucy barely makes it through the first half of the movie. When the snacks go untouched for longer than five minutes, I know I’ve officially lost her.
I don’t mind. I knew she would be exhausted. I just couldn’t wait another day to take her on an official date. I was getting antsy.
Shutting off the screen, I slip one arm under her knees and one behind her head to lift her from our mess of blankets. She nuzzles her face into my neck, and my heart melts. I turn the corner and walk quietly up the stairs, making sure her head isn’t smacking any walls as we go.
Lucky for me, the rooms are labeled. I push Lucy’s door open and gently lay her on the bed. I grab a blanket from the basket in the corner and cover her. How many blankets do these girls need? The basement is covered in them and there are still more in every nook and cranny of this house. Lucy’s room is overflowing with them.
Chuckling to myself, I take a look around the room. The walls are covered in pictures. Some are framed and some are just taped. It looks like she had a plan at first but ran out of space and refused to leave any out. What that must feel like,to have so many happy memories you literally run out of room for all of them?
Each picture holds a piece of the Lucy puzzle. Pictures with family and friends, pictures of what looks to be a young Lucy, and even older family pictures from before she was born. I spot one of a man who has to be her dad. He has the same piercing blue eyes and same electric smile. Even in a picture, you can tell he shares Lucy’s exuberant joy.
I want to explore more, but I know I need to let her sleep. Hopefully, after tonight, I will have ample opportunity to learn every minor detail that makes this girl tick. I close the door and walk back to the living room. AJ is just walking through the front door.
She looks at me expectantly. “So, how did it go?”
She was one of my co-conspirators.
“I think it was good. I mean, she seemed super happy, so thank you for all your help. I couldn’t have done it without you guys.”
She drops her backpack and plops down on an oversized orange chair. “Of course. We were happy to help. I’m sure this is obvious, but we would do anything for Lucy.”
“Yeah, you guys are awesome friends, that’s for sure.”
She nods thoughtfully. “We feel more like family at this point. Which is why I’m glad I caught you…”
She trails off like she’s got more to say. I have no clue where she’s going with this, but her tone has shifted.
“Okay… what’s up?”
“This is going to come across a little odd coming from me, a female the same age as you. But Lucy doesn’t have a dad to do this, so as one of her closest friends, I feel like I just need you to know some things.”
This is just getting more bizarre.
“All right. Go ahead.”
She takes a breath and launches into what seems to be a prepared speech. “Number one: Lucy is way too good foryou. It’s kind of wild. Like, she’s playing professionally and you are in Little League. And not even Little League World Series. I’m talking like T-ball.”
One of her hands is reaching down to the floor and the other toward the ceiling, as if I need a visual of how far apart we are. Ouch.
“Damn, AJ. Tell me how you really feel.”
“Am I wrong?”
I don’t even hesitate. “No, you’re not.”
She nods like a wise sage, then continues. This speech has definitely been rehearsed. “I know I’m not. I just needyouto know that. She’s talented enough to go to the WNBA and smart enough to be a doctor and a good-enough person to be a saint. Got it?”
I jokingly bow. “Yes, sir.”
“Good. Okay, number two: with how amazing she is, she doesn’t need you. Again, I’m not trying to be mean—it’s just the truth. Like she’sthe manon campus. Present company included. I’m talking about men's and women’s sports here—Lucy is the face of this place. So, you’d better be supporting the hell out of her and not trying to bring her down because your ego can’t take being with someone more famous than you.”