Diamonds Are Forever (41 page)

And perhaps it was a coincidence, but there was something different in Damian’s stride as he made his way back out.  Gemma looked around to see if anyone else noticed, but it seemed she was alone.  However, within seconds into the game, Gemma was proven right.

Every basket was meeting the bottom of the net.  Damian was suddenly on fire.

She wondered what the change was, what the coach could have said or what switch Damian had turned on or off during halftime.  Suddenly, the Knicks’ sixteen-point deficit was down to eight – thanks almost entirely to Damian, who either made the dazzling assists or sunk the baskets himself.  By the end the third quarter, the deficit was down to two.

And by the end of regulation, the game was tied.  The even volley of points between the Warriors and the Knicks had resulted in overtime.  Gemma felt a shiver travel her skin as the entire arena rose to feet, stirred, nervous, cheering to the point of insanity as the Knicks controlled the tip-off for the ball.  And with only five minutes left in the game, the even volley continued.  One team scored to go up by two only to see the other immediately tie the game with the next possession.

But with ten seconds left in overtime, it was the Warriors with the ball and the Knicks down by two.  The crowd screamed as a three-pointer was attempted.  The screams were even louder as Damian sliced through the air to wrestle down the rebound off the miss.  Gemma couldn’t cheer.  The arena coursed with adrenaline but she couldn’t force another sound out of her throat.  Her voice shot, she couldn’t speak.  She could hardly hear.  The roar that echoed throughout the Garden was deafening and the clock seemed to run down in slow motion.  Her heart beat in her throat as she realized what Damian had planned.

He stood behind the three-point line, watching as both his old and new teammates spread across the floor.  As Damian inhaled, Gemma could swear she felt his heart beating with hers.  She watched the clock wind down.  Five… four… three…

At the very last second, Damian released the ball.

The arena watched in stunned silence, their eyes traveling through the air with the shot.  Still inches from the rim, it had become abundantly clear that the ball was going in.

Swish.

The sound of the ball slicing through the net seemed louder than the screams of happiness that surrounded her.

And suddenly, Damian was swarmed by his teammates.  One by one, they jumped on him with sheer excitement.  Gemma watched him, his face without expression as he turned from the basket to face her.  The moment they locked eyes, he began his walk towards her, his elated teammates still behind.

As soon as he was an arm’s length from her, he grabbed her by the waist, pulling her out onto the court.  Without another moment of pause, Damian pressed his lips to hers for a kiss.  The arena still roaring, Gemma laughed before kissing him back, struggling to put her arms around his neck as a hoard of two hundred pound men continued to mob him.

Somehow, through the thundering of the crowd, Gavin’s voice came through.

“Hey, don’t celebrate yet,” he yelled.  Damian looked up, his arms still wrapped around Gemma.  “You gotta do this for the rest of the season and get us a good spot for playoffs before I can forgive you.”

Damian smiled.  “Done.”  Gemma watched as his gaze returned to hers.  His eyes sparkled with that mischievous liveliness that she was so used to.  She wanted to say she loved him and she wanted him to say it back.  But she knew they were beyond that.  There was no point in saying what was best left unspoken, especially when the words did the feelings no justice.  She looked at him, hoping he knew that now.

As if reading her mind – as he always did, anyway – his happy smile faded into something a little more solemn.  Damian nodded, touching his forehead to hers.

“We’ll get it right this time,” she whispered.

“We have to,” he replied.  “It’s the only thing left to do.”

LET US WEEP FOR THE BEAUTY THAT IS ZAVIN & DAMIEMMA

Celebstan

Posted by Justin

April 21
^st

Are these the worst celebrity couple nicknames that have ever existed? Probably.  Do I give even the tiniest little unicorn shit? Nope! At least they’re not as bad as the one I cooked up for blushing princess bride, Sophie Ackerman and the eternal king of our hearts, Tyler Chase, whose new album that I bought on twelve different iTunes accounts is getting
glowing
reviews absolutely everywhere.  Looks like the king is truly back.  So much so that it probably doesn’t matter that I call him and his adorable wife Typhie, which kind of sounds like Typhoid.  I mean we could also do Sophler but that just doesn’t convey love to me the way that, say, a
burning fever does
.

But anyway, much congrats to King Tyler and his return to music.  This is where you were always meant to be, TyTy.  Good to see that true love has brought you back to your sexy, crooning roots.

Now onto the other two most fabulous couples in the world, Zavin and Damiemma.

For those who have been living under an uncultured rock, I’ll take this entry to officially announce the
engagement
of Zoe Mercury and Flawless Brother, Gavin Hunter! That’s right, BFF goddesses Gemma and Zoe are about to be
sister
goddesses now that Z is set to join the flaw-free Hunter family (which don’t you forget, already includes the extremely sober and raw vegan, Harper Gunn).

But wait – there’s more! Any guesses on who’ll be designing the wedding dress for the Mercury/Hunter nuptials? If you didn’t guess The Court then just take a seat in that corner and stay there because
duh
, who else would be a better pick to sketch Zo’s sparkly white gown than the queen goddess herself? She’s the bride’s bestie, the groom’s sister and the head of Manhattan’s hottest showroom right now.  Haters at this point are delusional because now even Vogue and Vanity Fair agree – The Court is here.  And it’s everything – which is the good news that I know you’ve been waiting for because now even the haters are starting to shut their unfashionable little faces.

But wait – there’s even
more
good news!

Word has it that The Queen has recently moved from her apartment in glitzy Chelsea to the super fabulous Fort Greene, Brooklyn – and by super fabulous I mean mostly unknown to people outside of New York.  But that’s apparently how Miss Gemma likes it because she needs all the privacy she can get while
shacked up
with Damian Sexpants Evans
, whose last name I finally bothered to learn for two reasons.  1) He’s killing it with the Knicks right now, even if he insists on doing so with a shirt on, and 2) Judging from reports that Damiemma are truly together and better than ever, The Queen might just be taking that name as her own soon.  Like, actually taking that name.  As in not in Vegas.  For real this time.

Gemma Hunter Evans?

Oh my God, I’m weeping unicorn tears at the mere thought.

*****

India Lee is an author of mature young adult and women’s fiction with a topic focus on the ever-broadening world of entertainment. She is a lover of fashion, entertainment, shoes, good food, coffee, jetsetting, mild debauchery, and dogs. Her Manhattan home bodes well for most of these things but she could use a little more space for her wardrobe and pets.

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(Now Available)

Hidden Gem

Hidden Gem #2 Diamond in the Rough

Hidden Gem #3 No Stone Unturned

Hidden Gem #4 Every Pearl Has its Oyster

HDU

Dirt: The Sequel to HDU