Basketball Baby

• Chapter Sixteen •

Dad to the Rescue

     I sat on the couch waiting for my Dad to get home and I was starting to become impatient. I started biting my nails nervously and my Mother tapped my hand lightly making me stop. "That was always such a bad habit for you to break." My Mother teased and I gave her a small smile as I stared mindlessly at the TV, but I could feel my Mother staring at me curiously.

  "What is it, Mom?" I asked gently as I looked over at her and she shrugged as she smiled at me.

  "So, Colton seems very nice." My Mom said gently and I smiled a little as I nodded and looked down at my hands. "He likes you, you know." My Mother mentioned and I felt my cheeks start to burn as I rolled my eyes and shook my head at her.

  "Jeez Mother, you're so straight forward." I teased and she giggled as she nudged me with her knee gently. I snuggled next to her as she embraced me in a tight hug and I never wanted to leave her arms.

  "I love you, Diana Nicole. My little Princess." My Mother cooed gently as she rocked me back and forth in her arms which caused me to cry. I hated that I hadn't told my Mom sooner and I wished I never met Kevin. I wish I had met Colton sooner and he would've showed me what a true gentleman looks like.

     Suddenly, the front door was ripped open and I jumped out of my Mom's arms and quickly jogged toward the main hallway. I saw my Dad come in carrying his basketball equipment and I froze. When he looked up and noticed me standing there, he quickly dropped his stuff on the ground and practically ran to me and pulled me into his arms. "Oh Diana." My Father croaked out and my whole body shook as a heartbreaking sob rumbled through my chest.

  "Oh Daddy, I'm so glad you're home." I whispered and held on to him for dear life.

     I fixed my hair as I looked out at the crowd of teenagers and families trying to search for my own parents and little brother. I graduated from high school and I finally pressed charges against Kevin. For the first time since I was fifteen years old, I felt safe and happy. I smiled once I found them with the rest of my Dad's team that he invited and quickly walked over towards them.

  "There's our little high school graduate!" My Dad announced and all his teammates plus my family erupted in cheers and I couldn't help but blush as I grinned at them.

  "I can't believe you invited the whole team, Dad." I teased and he chuckled as he pulled me into a tight hug.

  "They're proud of you Diana, you're a part of the family on the team." My Dad said gently as I rested my head on his shoulder and felt at peace with myself.

  "Oh Colton, congratulations!" I opened my eyes to see my Mom pulling Colton in for a tight hug and I couldn't help but smile as I shook my head at her. When my Mother finally noticed me staring at her, she began to wiggle her eyebrows teasingly making me roll my eyes as I giggled and started to lift my head from my Dad's shoulder.

  "That's a nice young man, Diana." My Dad admitted and I stared at him in disbelief. My Dad grinned as he placed his hand on my cheek gently. "I know you're not ready to date or anything and I don't want you to date either honey, but I want you to know that I think he's a wonderful guy and I wouldn't mind if one day you two got together." He admitted with a shrug and I gaped at him as my cheeks began to burn and I shook my head at him in shock.

"Oh my God, Dad! You are awful." I chuckled and left to walk towards my Mother and Colton.

"There's my baby." My Mom sighed once I was in earshot and I grinned at her.

"I did it Mom, I graduated." I sighed and she grinned back at me as she nodded her head and smiled laced her fingers through mine.

  "I know you did baby, now you're off to New York and I'm gonna miss you so much." She groaned and I looked over at Colton nervously. I hadn't told Colton yet about me leaving for New York by the end of August to go to college. Colton gave me a small smile as he looked down at the ground sadly and then looked back up at me.

  "You're leaving... to New York?" He asked slowly and I bit my lip as I looked around avoiding his beautiful eyes. My Mom looked between us confused and then it suddenly clicked in her mind about what happened and then she gasped.

  "Oh no, she didn't tell you about New York?" She asked Colton and he shook his head as he looked back at me. "Oh honey, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to say anything." My Mom said guiltily and I shook my head and grabbed her hand.

  "Don't worry, Mom. Can you just give me a minute with Colton?" I asked softly and she nodded her head as she gave my hand a light squeeze.

  "I'll be over there with your fan club." She teased and I giggled as I rolled my eyes as I watched her walk away, leaving us alone. I turned my attention back to Colton and he was staring at me seriously and I felt the nervousness creep back inside me.

  "So, you're going to New York for college?" He asked again and I nodded my head slowly.

  "I was going to tell you tonight, but since now you probably don't want to hang out now so I have a lot to tell you. Colton," I sighed and he continued to stare at me silently. "I was scared to tell you and I'm sorry. You tell me everyday to not be afraid to tell you anything and I want to tell you everything that has happened between Kevin and I and I want to tell you how I feel about you..." I trailed off nervously and he looked at me in surprise.

  "How do you feel about me, Diana?" He asked curiously and I felt my heart start to hammer against my chest due to how terrified I was to admit my feelings because the last time I had done this it got me trapped in an abusive relationship.

  "I... I like you, Colton. I didn't want to like you or anyone for that matter because of what happened with Kevin. But I do, I really like you and I'm terrified of what's going to happen because I don't want to get hurt again and-" Colton grasped my face gently and pressed his lips firmly against mine. It took me a moment to process what was going on and then I pulled him closer and started to kiss him back. This kiss felt perfect and his lips were so gentle and soft I couldn't believe that a kiss could feel so amazing.

     We heard cheers from behind us which caused us to pull apart from one another. I looked to see where the cheering was coming from and noticed it was my family and the Miami Heat basketball team cheering us on. I blushed and shook my head at them in embarrassment then turned my attention back to Colton. He was grinning at me with such a radiant smile that I couldn't help but smile back. "I know I didn't ask for your permission to kiss you, but I just couldn't help myself." He admitted with a chuckle and I giggled along with as I shook my head.

"I didn't mind you kissing me at all." I smiled widely at him and he smirked down at me as he placed his hand on my cheek gently again and started to lean down again.

"Well then, I guess you won't mind if I kiss you again." He teased and I giggled as he continued to lean in close, but we interrupted by Kelsey squealing suddenly.

  "I knew it was bound to happen sooner or later!" Kelsey exclaimed proudly and I rolled my eyes at her as I walked over to her. She pulled me into a tight hug and I rested my head on her shoulder.

  "Thank you for everything, Kelsey. We're gonna have so much fun at Columbia in the fall." I whispered and she grinned as she nodded in agreement. Colton was staring at us with a smile and Kelsey jogged over to him and gave him a tight squeeze. I giggled at Colton's reaction to the hug and he was grinning at me. I couldn't be anymore happier than I was in that moment.