The days following the game were a whirlwind. Every time Akira spotted Nelson around campus or during practice, his eyes would linger on her, sending a surge of warmth through her chest. Their connection was deepening, and she couldn't help but look forward to each chance meeting. But Nelson's possessive edge hadn't gone unnoticed, and her teammates had started to catch on.
"Someone's got himself a watchdog," Jess teased one afternoon as they wrapped up practice. She nodded toward Nelson, who was leaning against the wall, waiting for Akira. He gave a slight wave, his smirk unmistakable.
"More like a bodyguard," added Kayla, another teammate, nudging Akira with a grin.
Akira chuckled, trying to play it cool. "He's just looking out for me."
Jess raised an eyebrow. "Looking out for you or keeping tabs on you? Seems like he gets a little jealous whenever other guys come around."
Akira couldn't deny it, but a part of her enjoyed the attention. Still, she knew she had to manage it carefully. She waved goodbye to her friends and walked over to Nelson, who straightened up, his expression softening.
"Ready to go?" he asked, reaching to take her bag without a second thought.
She nodded, smiling. "Yeah, thanks."
They made their way toward the parking lot, and Akira could feel the familiar tension building between them. She loved these moments—the way his hand would sometimes brush against hers, the way he would glance at her out of the corner of his eye. But tonight, something felt different. There was a spark, an energy that hadn't been there before.
As they reached her car, Nelson leaned against it, crossing his arms. "Your teammates are getting pretty comfortable with their comments," he said, a hint of a smirk on his face.
Akira laughed, rolling her eyes. "Oh, come on. It's harmless. They're just giving me a hard time because they see you around so much."
He raised an eyebrow, his gaze unwavering. "Well, they're not wrong. I like being around you."
Her cheeks flushed, and she looked down, the intensity of his gaze almost too much. "I don't mind."
He took a step closer, closing the distance between them, his voice low. "Good. Because I don't plan on going anywhere."
Just then, Mason walked out of the gym with a few of his teammates. He spotted Akira and waved, a friendly smile on his face. "Hey, Akira! Great practice today. See you at the next game?"
Nelson's jaw tightened as he watched Mason approach. His hand slipped around Akira's waist, his grip firm, a silent claim. Akira could feel the shift in his posture and shot him a look.
"Yeah, see you, Mason," she replied, hoping to keep things light.
Mason's gaze flicked to Nelson, his expression neutral but slightly amused. "Alright, take care, Akira." He gave a nod before heading off with his friends.
As soon as he was out of earshot, Akira turned to Nelson, her hands on her hips. "Seriously, Nelson? Was that necessary?"
Nelson's expression was unreadable as he met her gaze. "What? I don't like the way he looks at you."
She sighed, crossing her arms. "He's just a friend, Nelson. You don't have to get all territorial every time another guy talks to me."
He ran a hand through his hair, clearly frustrated. "I know. It's just...I don't want anyone thinking they have a chance with you."
Her heart softened, and she took his hand, her voice gentle. "You don't have to worry about that, okay? I'm here with you."
He looked down at their intertwined hands, his expression softening. "Guess I'm just not used to feeling like this."
She squeezed his hand, her voice barely a whisper. "Maybe that's not such a bad thing."
For a moment, they stood in the quiet of the parking lot, both of them caught in the intensity of the moment. Nelson leaned in, his lips brushing against hers softly, sending a thrill through her. And as she kissed him back, Akira felt something shift between them, a spark catching flame, both of them diving headfirst into something neither of them could ignore.
