Page 31 of High Baller

"What's on Google?" Trey asks as I pull the covers back over me.

"Your abs." I pull the covers away from him. "Well, can you blame him for asking? Have you seen them?” I ask, gesturing to his torso.

"Yes, I have—it's not like I can miss them."

I sit up and only now notice that he’s dressed. “What time did you wake up?”

"About an hour ago. I had a call with Derek about some photoshoot."

“Right. I'm about to have a shower, then we can plan the day. Want to do anything interesting?" I ask as I get out of bed and make my way into the bathroom.

“How about shower sex to start the day?” I feel his hands moving under my top and grabbing my breasts, his lips on the back of my neck.

“What other way is there?” I can’t hold back my smile as I turn the shower on.

***

After meeting Dave and Calvin in the hotel restaurant, I turn to Trey. “You didn’t have to come.”

"I wanted to. I want to get to know the people you love. They might give me tips on how to win your parents ov-"

"My parents are dead, and no, I don't want to talk about it,” I snap. There’s no way I'm telling him about them, so he might as well think they're dead because that's what I tell myself every day.

“I’m sorry.”

I don’t reply. I stand up as the guys walk over to the table, and I greet them with a kiss on the cheek while Trey gives them a handshake.

"Nice to see you again, Trey," Dave says, then looks at me. "Don't hurt my girl, will you?" Dave has always thought of me as a daughter and quite protective over me too.

“I don’t plan on it, sir.”

"Trey, I'm not your teacher," Dave says.

Trey looks at me with a smile, and I shrug.

I look at Calvin and Finn, who’s sat on the other side of the table. “Did you two enjoy your day?”

"Yeah, we went sightseeing—nothing too special. So, before Dave gives you his and Gemma's birthday gift, I have to give you mine." Calvin passes me his phone. "I couldn't bring it with me, but it's at my place, and when you get home, you can pick it up.”

Looking at the picture, I let out a small squeak of joy. "Calvin, Oh my God, this is amazing! I've been looking at this for ages." I look at the vintage vinyl player, but it has an updated version that I can connect my phone to it.

"I know. You posted it a few times, and mentioned it in conversation every chance you got.” He laughs. Trey leans in closer to have a look at the picture. He knows I like music, but I don't think he knows how much I love it.

“I can’t wait to get home now.”

Dave hand's me his phone. “So, Gemma and I got you this.”

I look at the picture of the set up that they’ve gotten me to go with it, old vintage images, and a few records too. “Are those…?”

“Yes. Gemma has been on the hunt for them, and we finally got them. Michael Jackson vinyl." Dave's smile is so big right now.

“This is amazing, guys, best gifts ever.” Handing the phone back to them both, I can’t stop smiling. “I know where I’m going to put them, too.” I feel like a child at Christmas that just got the gift of the year.

"What time is the flight out tomorrow?" Calvin asks Dave as I take a picture of just my hand in Trey’s.

"How is it that you can post a picture of us, but I can't?" Trey asks as he leans closer to my face.

“If you post a picture, there’ll be a million questions. Who is she? Blah, blah, blah. If I post one, no one’s going to care. l post, and I'll get a completely different response, watch." I post the picture with the caption: My man taking me out for lunch.