The Carters | ✓

Chapter Three - Reece's Advice

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Max's POV

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I don't know what to do. It's getting harder and harder not to tell her. It feels like my feelings just won't stop growing. I find something new to love about her every day. I've been finding something new to love about her since the day we met. We've been friends for five years now. Yeah, I know, that's a lot of things.

But I can't help it. Everything she does is just so dámn perfect. I didn't know it was even possible for someone to be so perfect. Until I met her.

"One v one." She challenges, bouncing the basketball between her hands repeatedly, grinning smugly. We are in my driveway, practicing with the portable basketball hoop we have.

"You sure you wanna do that?" I ask, slowly getting closer to her.

She catches the movement and takes a few steps back as well, "I'm not the one who should be scared, Carter."

Basketball Bella is different. She is in her element when she plays basketball. She is confident and sassy. It's really fúcking hot, honestly.

"Alright, let's go," I agree, starting my advance towards her.

She moves around, dribbling the ball as she does. I see my chance and move forward, ready to take the ball from her. But she sees it and dodges, moving around me swiftly and running towards the hoop. I don't even have time to run after her before the ball has left her hands and is soaring through the net.

She turns to me with a smug smile as the ball falls to the ground. "Told you."

I grin and catch the ball, dribbling it as I step back, "I let you get past."

She scoffs, coming towards me, "Sure. I'm just too fast for you."

I roll my eyes and start moving forward, watching her movements carefully. I fake a step to my left, and she falls for it, so I easily slip past her to the right. I run towards the net but slow down when I feel a sudden weight on my back. Her legs wrap around my waist and her arms around my neck.

I chuckle, shooting the shot anyway and watching the ball fall through the net. "Did you really think that would stop me?"

She shrugs as I turn my head to look at her, our faces inches apart. She has a wide smile on her face, "It was worth a shot."

I scoff, patting her leg twice before she hops off my back. "Come on, we should head over to yours. Layla and Reece will probably be there by now."

Bella's eyes light up as she starts running towards the front door while squealing, "Girls night!"

I chuckle, following her inside. We both put on our shoes and Bella grabs her phone. "Mom!" I called out, "Bella and I are heading over to hers to see Layla and Reece!"

"If you walk there, you can drive back with them tonight. They're coming over for dinner!" She calls back.

I look to Bella and she nods her head in agreement, "Alright, we'll be back with them for dinner!"

"Be safe! I love you!" She calls out.

"I love you too! Bye!" I call back to her before Bella and I leave the house, closing the front door behind us. Bella runs ahead of me, laughing as the wind whips through her hair.

I shake my head, just watching her. She is so fúcking gorgeous. And she isn't even trying. Today she is wearing a cropped tank top with stripes on it with ripped denim jeans. Even when she is wearing something as simple as that she looks like a dream.