The Square Up (F*** On The Court)

Chapter Eleven

Kade

The sound of sneakers squeaking against the hardwood echoes through the gym as I throw a long pass across the court. Marcus catches it effortlessly, spinning around Tavon before sinking a layup.

“Nice!” I shout, wiping sweat from my brow. I’m so glad practice is winding down because my head’s not on basketball today.

All my thoughts are about my Abby.

Coach Tillman blows the whistle to end practice, and I grab a towel to drape it around my neck, trying to push down the buzz of excitement running through me. I’ve found my other half, and if I keep this great news bottled up any longer, I’m going to burst.

Marcus jogs over, slapping me on the back as we head for the locker room, “Hey, man, you’ve been in another world today. Everything okay?”

I break out in a grin. “Everything’s amazing.”

“What?” Marcus shoots me a curious look. “Did you get a new endorsement contract?”

“Nah,” I laugh, shaking my head. “It’s much bigger than that.”

“Bigger than a new endorsement? What could possibly—” He stops mid-sentence, his eyes narrowing. “Wait. That’s a big, fat, smug grin plastered across your mug. You finally land yourself a Victoria’s Secret Angel?”

I stop in front of my locker, tossing my towel into a laundry bin. “Even better than that. I’m engaged.”

Marcus’s mouth drops open. “Hold up. Kade Nash is engaged. Has hell frozen over?”

I chuckle, leaning against the locker. “I guess so. I never thought I would be a one-man woman, but I found my soulmate.”

“Soulmate?” Marcus’s brow crinkles. “Are you on something?”

“Just love.” I wink.

“Alright, man. Spill. Who is this goddess?”

“Abigail Roberts.”

Marcus blinks at me for a secondlike he didn’t hear me right. “Wait, wait, wait. You’re talking about the Abigail Roberts? Your agent?”

“The one and only.”

His face twists in disbelief as he lets out a low whistle. “The barracuda? Isn’t she…ya know, kind of soulless?”

A flash of protectiveness surges through me. “First of all,” I snap, “she’s not soulless. And second, Abby’s one of the most amazing women I’ve ever met. She’s tough because she has to be in order to survive in this industry. But she’s kind, loving, funny, smart as a whip, and she has a heart that blows me away.”

Marcus stares at me, looking like I’ve just grown a set of horns. “You’re serious.”

“As a heart attack,” I pull off my practice jersey. “People only see her as the barracuda because she’s strong and doesn’t take crap from anyone. But there’s so much more to her.”

“Damn. You’ve got it bad.”

I shrug, a grin tugging at my lips. “Maybe. But here’s what I know…it’s right. She’s the one.”

Marcus drops his water bottle, holding his hands up in surrender. “Alright, alright. I’ll take your word for it. But are you sure about this? I mean, you’re Kade Nash, man. There are, like, a million women who’d kill to be in your bed. You sure you’re ready to give all that up?”

“I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life.” I declare.

“So, what now? You two planning some big, fancy wedding, a house with a white picket fence and two point five kids?” He rubs his brow. “I’m having a hard time wrapping my brain around this. Who am I going to catch women with?”

“Tavon’s a stud.” I laugh. “He’ll make a good wingman. And to answer your what now question, I’m going to ask her to marry me tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow?” Marcus’s eyes widen. “Man, you’re not messing around.”

“Nope. There’s no need to wait. I know what I want, and it’s her. I want to marry her tomorrow, Marcus. I want her in my life…forever.”

It feels good to say this out loud. I mean every word. I’ve never felt this sure about anything in my life. Abby’s the one. And I don’t want to spend another second of my life without her by my side.

Marcus claps me on the shoulder, still shaking his head in disbelief. “Man, I can’t believe I’m going to say this, but…I’m a little jealous. I want whatyou’ve got.”

I grab my bag, smiling. “Sorry, buddy. She’s all mine.”

“You wanna grab lunch?”

“Thanks, but no can do, buddy. I’ve got a wedding to plan.”

As I head out of the locker room, there’s a spring in my step. In my heart, Abby’s already mine. Now, I’m going to make it official.