Vérité (18 page)

“Don’t think too hard, T. We’ll make it work. I’m sorry I said that about your parents. It was defensive and wrong, but I don’t want it to ruin tonight. You coming to my game and shit, that was the fucking best.”

“Okay.” Another one-word answer from me. My mind was racing, crazy thoughts lapping my brain. “You sure? You know I don’t want to come between you and the team.”

“Yeah, let’s roll.” He stood and reached for my hand. “So, you liked the game?” he asked as we left the restaurant.

“Oh, definitely. You guys looked good out there, especially you.” And it was true—I felt some weird pride in my heart for Tiberius. “What’s that alley-oop thing?” I asked, which definitely broke the tension because he broke out into more fits of laughter. He was so tall that when he bent over with a belly laugh, I swore the ground shook.

“That’s when one of the guys passes a quick high ball, and the dude who catches it high up in the air puts it up for a dunk,” he answered, still smiling.

“What? What’s so funny?” We were back across College Avenue now, heading back toward campus, and I stopped and turned to him.

“It’s just cute, that’s all. I’m glad you saw me do that. It’s one of my moves, the kind of pass I was known for at prep.” He threw his arm around me and started us walking again.

“Well, it’s cool. Must take a lot of strength to get up there . . . for any of you” I said, somewhat teasing.

I poked him in the side, and he laughed once more. He was the sweetest, most loving guy I’d ever met, which was so strange since he was wrapped in this daunting body of strength and steel.

“What you doing now?” he asked, interrupting my thoughts.

“I don’t know. I guess some studying. You?”

“Yep. Studying. Wanna grab your shit and study at my place?”

“Yeah. Yeah, I do.” I didn’t even need to think about it. I just did.

Trey was out. “He’s got a lady friend over in Cleveland. Goes to see her a lot,” Ty explained. “She came to the game, and then he took her back. He’ll be back in the morning.”

“Oh, I didn’t see her. Is she nice?” I asked as I plopped down on one of the stools at the bar, the same one where Tiberius told me about his mother. I hoisted my backpack up to the counter and pulled out my laptop.

“She is. Her name’s Cherise, but everyone calls her Cherry. Maybe you’ll come to another game and meet her. She’s pretty cool. Keeps Trey in line––mostly.”

I couldn’t help but notice whenever Tiberius got emotional over something—like my parents or Cherry—he slipped into Jersey speech. He wasn’t the well-educated prep-school boy when he cared about someone or something.

“I’d like that. To come to another game.”

He sat down next to me on another stool and brought his hand to my cheek, drawing me closer. “Next time you come to one of my games, tell me first so I know my girl’s there.” It was an order not to be messed with, not up for discussion.

Not that I had time to answer because he leaned in and kissed me. His lips captured mine, gentle at first, seeking my permission to take what he wanted. He slipped his hand under my hair and pulled me closer by the nape of my neck. My skin warmed as hot streaks of need radiated where his hand burned into my skin, and my heart galloped in my chest. There was barely enough space in my rib cage for its increased pounding.

Tiberius moaned and I parted my lips, giving him access. His tongue explored my mouth, stroking mine. I’d been gripping the side of the stool, trying to find purchase, but I let go and wrapped my hands around his neck. I drew him closer, deepening our need for each other.

He let out another long moan before breaking the kiss, still keeping a firm grip on my neck. Steadying me, he touched his forehead to mine. “You feel that? It means something.”

I nodded. I felt it, but I didn’t want to stop. My mouth sought his, looking for more.

“Shh,” he said, quieting my actions more than my nonexistent words. “That means something. Everything else we do means something. I’m not gonna treat you like the teacher, like you don’t mean shit-all to me, Rex.”

“Oh.”

I broke free from his grasp and saw him—really saw him for the first time. I’d had these little glimpses of Tiberius and what made him tick, but right now in this moment, it all clicked. I knew he was a gentle giant, sweet like a teddy bear when he wanted to be, but it went further.

Tiberius was the most dedicated, devoted person I knew, and I wasn’t sure I deserved that. But damn if anyone was going to stop me from trying.

T
iberius walked me home after his game, our dinner, and studying, leaving me at the door with gentle kisses and big promises.

When I crawled into bed, I tried telling myself that promises were good. They were something I’d never had or believed in growing up, but had heard they existed.
Just not for me
. No matter how much I tried to convince myself that I deserved promises, I still wanted actions—because actions implied more in my emotionally barren mind.

I still was trying to understand what Tiberius meant about it meaning something when we were together. I tossed and turned in my bed, trying to reconcile how I foolishly thought it meant something with Pierre. In reality, I was nothing more than an easy piece of ass for him, and he viewed himself as a quick A+ for me.

Puttanesca. Perrier.
Thriller
by Michael Jackson. Tuxedos.

At first I was hot and then cold, kicking the covers off and pulling them back on, my mind playing games until dawn. As the sun slowly broke the horizon, I was finally dozing when my alarm blared through the room, signaling it was time for practice.

I could barely keep my eyes open by the end of the day when Tiberius showed up at my table in the Union holding a large coffee.

“Hey, are you a mind reader?” I asked him as he waved the steaming disposable cup in front of my nose, startling me. I inhaled deeply, breathing in every last molecule of java goodness.

“Yeah, that’s me. Basketball player, mind reader,” he answered with a cute smile, his dimples coming out to play. He stood over me wearing low-hanging jeans and a Nike dry-fit T-shirt that clung in all the right places.

“Seriously, how did you know I needed this?”

“See that booth over there?” He tilted his head toward the far side of the Union where green herringbone banquettes lined the wall.

“Uh-huh,” I answered.

“I’ve been sitting there for the last thirty minutes watching you yawn,” he said as he slid into the booth next to me. “Thinking about how good you look.” His voice was deep and gravelly, his fresh-from-the-shower smell wafting under my nose.

“Stop,” I protested, but not really meaning it.

“Why you so tired?” he asked, leaning close, whispering his question, his breath like hot lava on my skin.

I shrugged, not wanting to fess up.

He winked. “I didn’t sleep so well last night either.”

“Not my fault.” I was pulling out all the punches, flirting on all cylinders despite my tank being on empty.

“I know, self-inflicted but worth it.” He shrugged. “Go ahead, enjoy your liquid love,” he said, nodding toward the cup.

I took a big sip, moaning as the hot liquid slid down my throat, warming my belly and immediately jolting my brain awake. A tiny bit dribbled down my chin, and Tiberius raised his thumb and swiped it off.

“Liquid love, you could say that again,” I announced before taking another big swig. “So, what are you up to other than stalking me?” I set my coffee down in front of me, wrapping my hands around the slender cup.

“I’m done with class and was studying, but one of the guys is having a gig down in the townhouses, so I gotta go. Was hoping to find you, bring you with me.” He stretched out, his legs spanning the whole width of the table, his athletic shoes sticking out the other end.

“Oh, I don’t know. You sure?”

I didn’t know where the hesitation was coming from. In an instant, my flirtatious self was gone, leaving a timid schoolgirl in her place. I didn’t want to be just an obligation, but wanted to matter. Not to just anyone, but to him.

“I wouldn’t have asked if I wasn’t, Rex. Come on, let’s roll,” he said, standing up and grabbing my coffee.

“Don’t take that! I want to finish it,” I yelped.

He laughed, flashing his dimples at me. “I’m just fooling with ya.”

“Good!” I declared, stomping my foot to make my point.

He nodded his head toward the door, and out we went.

We stopped by my place, where I changed into skinny jeans and a tight pale-pink tank top. After throwing on a worn leather jacket over the tank and yanking on my black motorcycle boots, I was good to go.

Our walk to the townhouses was brisk; the air was chilly now that November had arrived. Soon there would be snow, and my workouts would be moved indoors to the gymnasium building where I would circle the track over and over again. Like my life, where I kept circling back to a dead end, a place where there were no answers or solutions, and definitely no future.

On the track, you never really went anywhere, and neither did I. My existence was one big gerbil wheel, and I wasn’t sure that was enough anymore.

When we neared the townhouses, we could hear music blaring a few doors away from Ty’s place. It was so loud, I was surprised the whole house wasn’t shaking. As we approached, Tiberius whispered, “Stick with me, don’t wander all around.”

“Why?” I asked.

“Want everyone to know you’re my girl.”

I slapped his bicep in response, but probably hurt my palm more than him.

The place was packed wall to wall with athletes. Everywhere I looked, there were tall, broad well-muscled guys and fit, gorgeous girls. It may as well have been a
Sports Illustrated Special Edition
party. The kitchen was converted to a full-serve bar, and someone offered us a huge joint as we walked into the common room.

“Nah, thanks, man,” Tiberius answered. “You want?” he asked me, raising an eyebrow.

I shook my head. I’d never gotten into smoking anything, especially with my need for lung power in running. It was sweet the way Tiberius asked me, though.

“Whattaya want to drink?” he asked me.

“Actually just water, if they have it,” I yelled over the crowd.

“Okay, wait here.”

I was positioned near the corner, relaxing as the tunes seeped deep into my veins. Rocking from side to side, I checked out the scene in front of me. Although everyone was loud and rowdy, they all seemed so happy. I’d never witnessed anything like it before, and sadness washed over me. Where was all the happiness in my life?

Before I could sink completely into a melancholy funk, Jamel and Lamar came crashing through the room, Lamar holding something high above his head.

“Mar! Give it,” Jamel shouted.

“Dude, you’re not getting this back,” Lamar yelled back.

I tried to focus on what he was holding. “Oh my God,” I whispered to myself, then ducked my head and covered my eyes.

“Hey.” Tiberius had made his way over to me holding a bottle of beer and a bottle of water, completely oblivious to the ruckus in the middle of the room.

“Is that what I think it is?” I asked, my face still planted in my hands. I peered through one eye, spreading my fingers just a sliver so I could see him when he turned toward his teammates.