Seeing Lili propels me back to my teenage years when she used to burst into Ali’s room and bug us to play with her. She looks a lot like her brother, with those honey brown eyes and chestnut brown hair.
“Lili?”
Her eyes light up and she lets out a little squeal before rushing over to me. After a quick hug, she steps back and angles her head up to look me in the eye.
“Holy shit, you’ve grown.”
I chuckle. “It’s been a while. How are you?”
“I’m good, yeah.” She looks down at herself. “Don’t judge me right now, though. I’m a hot mess. I normally look better, but I didn’t think I’d run into a celebrity.” She glances around and lowers her voice. “I mean, a regular guy. I don’t want to blow your cover.”
I laugh again. “It’s fine, and you look great.”
“Pft. My hair is tied up into the messiest bun, this is the second day in a row I’ve worn these leggings, and I’m pretty sure my shirt has spit-up on it, but thanks for lying.”
“Spit-up?”
“Oh. I had a baby a month ago.”
“Wow, congratulations!”
“Thank you! It’s no being rich and famous, but I did push a human out of me, sooo. . .”
I bark out another laugh. “You win, for sure.”
“Well, I was just running out for a coffee, because. . .newborn, and some doughnuts, because I wanted them. My baby’s with my mom and Alejandro, so I guess I should get back.”
At the sound of his name, my body reacts. “Ali?”
She grins. “Yeah, he just got back in town, too. What a coincidence. Do you want to come over? You can meet the baby.”
“Oh, no, I shouldn’t. We haven’t really talked in a while, and things might be awkward.”
Her eyes study my face. “Yeah, he may have mentioned something about an argument. But you’re really gonna turn down seeing my baby?”
I shake my head. “Of course not. Maybe another time? I’ll be around for a while.”
“Cool. Give me your number and I’ll call you. Don’t worry, I won’t sell it to the tabloids or to a bunch of thirsty ass girls.”
I laugh, and she hands me her coffee cup while she digs her phone out of the waistband of her pants. “Okay, go.” I rattle off the number, and she saves it in her phone, then takes her cup back. “I’m so glad you’re back and that I got to see you. I don’t have a lot of childhood memories that don’t include you. You and Alejandro were attached at the hip for so long. I hope y’all can make up.”
My lips quirk up on one side. “I hope so, too. Take care.”
“You, too.”
After my run-in with Lili, I continue on toward Cill’s shop, but I can’t stop thinking about Ali, and how he’s at his mom’s house right now. The house I spent so much time in. I could just head over right now and see him, but I don’t think we should have our first conversation in front of his family. I may need to ask Lili for his number so we can set up a time and place to meet. If he even wants to do that.
The last time I saw Ali, he told me he was done with me. For good. But before then, back between the ages of seventeen and eighteen, he told me nothing would ever stop the way he felt about me. Ali admitted to me that I’d forever have a place in his heart.
I hope that was true. I hope that overrides the anger and frustration he had with me later. People say things they don’t mean when they’re mad, and that’s all I have to hold onto at this point. Hopefully he’s not done with me for good.
10
Merrick
9 Years Ago
“You’re so full of it,” Ali says, elbowing me while he laughs.
“No I’m not. I’m serious. I’m the best fucking basketball player on Earth.”
Ali tries to steal the ball from me, but I hold it up over my head. I have a few inches on him, but he comes chest to chest with me and tries to hit it out of my hands.
“You’re a cheater, that’s what you are.”
I look at his mouth as he’s pushed up against me. “Just admit I’m the best.”
His cheeks turn pink. “No.”
He jumps and attempts to steal the ball, but I spin around and bend at the waist, holding the ball in front of my stomach.
Ali pushes against me from behind, still trying to get the ball. To anyone watching, it just looks like we’re playing basketball, but I can feel his cock against my ass, and basketball is the furthest thing from my mind.
“Feels like I’m the best,” I tease.
Ali chuckles and gives up. “You distracted me.”
“How?”
“You had your ass all out, and you’re looking at my mouth like you want to stick something in it.”
I smirk. “Maybe I do.”
Ali’s screen door swings open with a loud creak, and Liliana comes bounding out, her long hair flying behind her.
“What’re y’all doing? I want to play.”
“We’re not playing anymore,” Ali says, picking up the ball.
“We can play another game,” I offer. Lili smiles up at me.
“Nah, let’s go to your house,” Ali says. “I’m gonna shower first. Meet you there?”
He walks backwards and gives me a wink.
I smile in return. “Okay.”
Lili crosses her arms. “He acts like I’m a baby. I’m fourteen. He’s only three years older than me.”
“Sorry, Lil. We’ll play a game next time, okay?”
“If you want to kidnap him and keep him at your place, feel free,” she says before storming back into the house.
I wish.
An hour later, I’m showered and dressed, and Ali’s hanging out with me in my room. Elijah’s out back cutting the grass, so we have some time to be alone.
“I think you had mentioned putting something in your mouth.”
Ali’s eyes twinkle as he spins
