Her Courtside Dream

Chapter Fifty-Three

The sound of the knock on the door was like a jolt of electricity shooting through me, and I swear my heart just somersaulted in my chest. I had been waiting for this moment for weeks. Chase. He was finally here.

I'd missed him so much during the break, but he'd made the distance feel bearable. Between his texts, random selfies, and video calls, it was like he was always just a heartbeat away. But now, knowing that he was finally here, physically here, only a few feet away from me, made me feel like I could burst.

The book I'd been reading, The Seven Year Slip, tumbled out of my hands and onto my bed as I scrambled to my feet. I barely processed Esmi's sly glance from across the room before she spoke.

"Should we prepare ourselves for another epic make-out session?" she said, wiggling her eyebrows dramatically. "You know, the kind where it looks like you're trying to eat each other's faces?"

Heat rushed to my cheeks so fast I thought I might combust. "Esmi!" I exclaimed, shooting her a glare that only made her smirk wider.

Poppy bursted out laughing beside her, nudging Esmi's arm playfully. "Let them be, babes. Besides, they're so cute together!"

I huffed out a laugh of my own. "What can I say?" I said, rolling my eyes as I adjusted my glasses. "My boyfriend has the most kissable face!"

Esmi groaned dramatically and flopped back against the pillows. "¡Dios mío! You guys are insufferable." Her tone was dripping with sarcasm, and I knew she didn't mean it. She adored Chase almost as much as I did—or at least, she adored teasing me about him.

"Yeah, yeah, keep hating," I said with a playful eye-roll, already heading toward the door. I was too excited to focus on anything but the handsome guy on the other side of the door.

As I reached for the doorknob, I paused for a second to compose myself, even though my heart was practically beating out of my chest. When I finally swung the door open, there he was. My six-foot-eight boyfriend looked like a walking daydream in his hoodie and sweatpants. His duffel bag slung over his shoulder, his hair slightly tousled, and that signature smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.

"Hey, pretty girl," he said.

For a moment, all I could do was stand there, staring up at him like an idiot. How was it possible that he looked even hotter? My heart was pounding so loudly that I was sure he could hear it.

"Hi," I finally managed to breathe out.

Chase chuckled and stepped inside, closing the door behind him. Before I could say another word, he reached for me and pulled me into his arms. He smelled like faint hints of cologne and that indescribable Chase scent that I'd missed so much.

"You have no idea how much I fucking missed you," he murmured against my hair.

"I think I do," I whispered, my arms wrapping tightly around his waist. "I missed you, too. So much."

Chase leaned down, his lips grazing against my forehead in that soft, familiar way that always made my heart stumble. And then, just like that, he pulled me into a kiss, deep and passionate, with an intensity that sent a shiver straight down my spine. My toes curled, and my head spun as every part of me melted into him. God, I missed this—him.

Behind us, Esmi groaned dramatically. "Oh my god, you two. Get a room."

I smiled against Chase's lips, pulling back just slightly. "Okay, okay, we'll stop," I mumbled.

Chase's eyes darkened, meeting mine as if asking me if I actually meant it. But instead of protesting, he dipped his head lower and pressed his lips to my neck.