Page 37 of High Baller

"She said that if I touch her again, she’ll make sure that I don't have sex for a very long time, and fuck, she scared me." Tracy looks at me. "She isn't going to mess Trey about, don't worry about it. I like her. After watching her and her friends, I’d love to go out to the club with them." Tracey grabs a beer and stands next to me. "Do you think she’ll come out to a club with us, or do I have to wait until you're out in public?"

"I have no idea—you'll have to ask her," I tell him as I grab my beer and make my way to the pool. "I'm next in." I look over at Sky as her eyes move to Tracy, Jade, and Sean behind me.

Calvin hands me the cue. “You’re next—I just lost.”

Sky knows how to play this game, and she knows how to drink. As she puts the last ball in the corner pocket, she looks at me. “I’m sure you have training in the morning, so I'll take this for you.” She downs my shot and walks out to the bar with Calvin.

“I like her,” Jade says. For the time we’ve been in here, Jade has had the chance to see how Sky is with her friends, and even a little with how she is with me. Every shot, she potted, she slyly took my drink for me without anyone suspecting a thing. “She won’t let you mess things up, and that’s all I want. Tracy and I have your back.”

“Me too,” Seans adds.

I place a kiss on my sister's head. That's all I wanted from her—for her to say that she likes Sky. Because the more I'm with her, the more I want to be with her every day. So, having my family’s support means a lot.

I take my phone out as it beeps with another message. Sky’s been sending me so many pictures today. This one is her looking outside as she lies on the floor with Calvin and Finn, her caption saying she’s catching up on her tan.

I get back to the party, which I can't wait to finish so that I can spend time with Sky. It’s been hard, not able to touch her when she looks so hot, but I’ve enjoyed watching her from afar, too. The way she smiles when I'm not looking, the way her eyes twinkle, and the confidence that she has is incredible. She knows how to look after herself, and I like that.

“So, when are you going to tell Ma?” Jade asks.

"Sky flies out in two weeks. When she leaves, I'll tell her, and you'll be there,” I reply. I think it’d be better that I tell Ma about Sky when she flies out because that’ll give Ma some time to cool down before Sky comes back to LA. I'm not even sure if that would be her first flight.

“You’re going to need me there.” Jade pulls me down, and gives me a kiss on the cheek. “I’m leaving now, enjoy the rest of the party.”

“Jade, thank you.”

“Only want the best for you.”

Sean walks her out, and I jump in the pool, taking a few pictures with the girls that keep asking for one My gaze move to Sky as she watches me. She winks, then gets back to the conversation with Finn. These girls are some of the players' girlfriends, so they're friends. Sky hasn't really seen what it's like when we go out to the club, so I'm hoping that she’ll be like today and be okay with it when they do come flirt with me. The only girl that I have eyes for is Sky, so they can flirt all they want—it won't be happening.

Chapter 9

Sky

I've had the best week here with Trey. Everything about him is just perfect. And I know that after a week, you're still in the ‘it’s all new’ phase, but it's incredible.

Jade’s been over every day. She’s protective of Trey, and with the things she’s mentioned about him, I can see why. Trey told me about his dad and how his mother had no money to look after them. Even with the financial struggles, she still took him to every game, and if it wasn't for her support, he wouldn’t be where he is now. Jade told me about a few of his exes. Not in secret—Trey was there too, but she was telling me so that I know why his family is not a huge supporter of his relationships; how they’re after his money or going for the fame. They always seem to want something from him. So far, there hasn't been a girl that they all like, which doesn't really give me confidence.

One thing that Jade did tell me without Trey in the room was that a lot girls will try to be with him even when he was dating. Others would do things, try to take pictures with him and say they were with him at a club, make fake stories, there was always something. The world thinks that Trey’s the big baller, the player, but all he wants is to be happy with someone. Now that surprised me. You do get the big player vibe from him, but the week I've spent with him, it really feels like he’s just going with what people think of him because with me, he’s Trey King.

Even Jade said that he’s more himself with me. I’m just happy that Jade likes me now, and can see that I’m really not with him for his fame or his money. I’m with him because I do like him.

I have plans with Calvin and Finn tonight. Calvin kept saying that I haven’t been out with him once this week, and wanted one night out before the birthday weekend. He’s still not telling me what we’re doing, no matter how much I’m asking.

Trey said Derek and him are having a night in, as the club we’re going to tonight is the club he first saw me in, and I learned this week that he owns it. He put our names down, and he wouldn't come so that I can have fun without him staring at me all night. I thought that was funny because he can stare at me all he wants. He just can't touch me.

I even spent some time with Ariel. We’ve even planned to go shopping next week. They're a new couple, and it was nice. I got to ask how she is handling with all the travel that they do, as she hasn't been with him during the season, so it’ll be good to talk to someone when I might find it hard. She seems lovely, and if Trey and Derek spend this time together and things work out for both of us, Ariel and I need to get along with each other, too.

Looking over at the door, my body tenses up as I see Trey’s other sister, Madison, walking into the kitchen.

“Is Trey home?” Her eyes look at me in disgust, like I’m nothing but trouble. I don’t think she knows who I am.

“No, he should be here soon.” I check the time. “Can I—”

“When did you start working here?” she asks me. I don’t say anything, but her eyes are locked with mine. I have no idea what game she’s playing right now because I get the feeling she knows who I am; she knows I'm not the maid.

"I don’t—"

“Can you get me some coffee?” she asks, cutting me off.