Tate POV
I couldn't help that the idea of Nika never coming out to her parents stayed stuck in my head. The rest of dinner ended up being awkward, I guess you can thank Nika and I for that. So, Paige and Abby decided, after we all ate, that they wanted to go look around in some places, catch up a bit. Nika decided she wanted to go back to the hotel, what we were doing wasn't clear, but I had a couple ideas. One I wanted more than the other.
Paige and Abby decided to take an Uber, Nika and I taking the car. The car ride was silent, besides the faint sound of music flowing through the speakers. Anything between The Weeknd and Taylor Swift mixing through the thick tension that somewhat formed in the car. I decided to break it.
"Hey, Nika?"
Without taking her eyes of the road, she responded, "Yes, baby?"
"Why'd you want to go back to the hotel? I mean, we could've looked around in some places with Paige and Abby," I picked at the fingernail on my middle finger. She glanced over, taking one hand of the steering wheel, taking mine in hers.
"I just wanted some alone time with you, that's all," She sent a small smile, moving back to look at the road.
I sighed, "Nika."
"Yes, Bebo?"
"What are you wanting to do with this...alone time?"
A smirk played on her lips, "Anything you want, pretty girl."
I sit up a little, "I wanna talk for a bit, if that's okay?"
She nods, the smirk fading into a smile, "Of course, what about?"
"You."
She turns, confused, "What do you mean?"
"You said you never came out to your parents, why?" She moved a little in the seat, trying to focus on the road and, I guess, the uncomfortable conversation she didn't want to have.
"I don't know," She shrugged.
"Nika," I rub the back of her hand with my thumb, "You can tell me anything, but if you really don't want to, I'll won't pushing."
She took a deep breath in, releasing before talking, "No, I wanna tell you. But can we talk about it at the hotel?"
I nod, not really knowing why she would want to do it at the hotel, "Yeah, of course, Niks."
She smiles, "You know? You're the best person to ever come into my life, Ta."
My heart fluttered, "Nik-"
"No, I mean it. Out of everyone I've ever known, you are by far the best. You listen to me, even if I shouldn't be. Like, in the bathroom, you should've just smacked me and left. Instead, you let me talk and tell you why I did what I did."
"Nika, I wouldn't smack you, and of course I listen. No relationship is going to go anywhere without communication. That's the key. Nika, I want nothing more than to be with you forever, and that means listening to you even if I don't want to," I spew out, I would honestly do anything for this to work. I needed it to work.
She sighs, "KK was right, I don't deserve you."
I groan, "Nika, please, listen to me," She stops at a red light, looking in my direction, tears threatening to fall, "KK doesn't know what she's talking about. Even if you didn't deserve me, which you do and much more, I would pick you. I would want you; I want nothing but you. KK was a jealous jerk who let her own feelings speak about something she has no clue about."
She begins to sniffle, "God, I love you, Tate."
I wipe her tears, placing a small kiss on her cheek, "I love you too, Nika."
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Nika POV
My reasoning behind not wanting to talk about why I haven't come out yet was because I didn't want to cry. Well, I did anyways. Tate's sweet words filling my heart to a point of realization. I wanted to tell the world about Tate and I, but something was in the way. My parents, my sister. So, I have a plan.
Reaching the hotel, we make our way to the room we're sharing. One bed, small, little TV, it will do. Knowing I had another game tomorrow, I shouldn't be up too late. But if Tate wants to stay up talking, I will.
"Alright, bebo, I'll tell you everything."
She nods, finding her place on the bed, "Okay, I'm all ears."
I explained. The way people talked about gay people in some parts of where I was from. The hateful things, the horrible things, all of it. It always scared me that my parents would be the same way. So, I hide it deep down.
"Baby," She rubbed my knee, "Why would you do that?"
"Well, I think some part of me knew that I was really gay. Then there's other parts of me that didn't want me to be gay. I think just listening to the things around me made a part of my brain shut it out. Not allowing it to surface 'til I came to UConn."
She nods, "So, it wasn't like, you knew for sure but hid it kinda thing?"
I nod, agreeing, "Yeah, I just needed the right girl."
"Who was she?" I was taken back; I hadn't told her yet.
"Um, well, there was this one girl in my Psyche class. She had beautiful dirty blonde hair, long, usually in a ponytail. She'd wear nothing but sweatpants for a week, then surprise everybody the next week by dressing up all the time. Her hazel eyes would look in my direction occasionally, but she probably was never really paying attention to me."
"You seem so...smitten," Did she really not pick up on who I'm talking about?
"Yeah, I still am. My favorite part about her is how much she cares for me. Oh, or her beautiful hazel eyes, the ones that tell me everything I need to know," Her face twisted from confusion to realization, "I love how her smile brightens up my day, or even her presence in a room. The way she listens to everything I say, the way she talks to me, the way she just exists. She's perfect."
"Nika," A smile plays at her lips, "You've liked me since Junior year?"
I scratch the back of my neck, "Uh, yeah. Why? Is it weird?"
"No, not at all. It's cute honestly," I roll my eyes, "It is. I wish you would've said something to me."
"You never noticed me, not like the others did. People knew me as The Nika Muhl. You just knew me as the girl in your class. I liked the feeling of being treated as a human, I mean, rather than a big shot. I wasn't even a big shot, I just happen to go to UConn and play on the Women's basketball team."
"You kinda are a big shot, and, by the way, your Junior year on the team was killer. You stepped up and helped lead the team," Confusion twist on my face.
"You said you didn't watch basketball?"
She fidgets with her rings, "I hadn't before the game I meet you. But, when you go to practice, I watch your old games and interviews," I blush.
"You miss me that much?"
She laughs, "It started out as a way to get to learn the sport, so I could understand it when I went to your games. Eventually, it became a way to see you when you weren't there."
"Oh, so you just watch me on your phone when you miss me, huh?" I lean closer to her, my lips grazing her ear.
"Nope, none of that until we talk about your plan," she pushes me away a little, a pout forming on my face.
"But, baby, I want you."
She shuttered, a smirk dying to makes its way in my lips, "Well, you better tell me this plan of yours quick then."
I sigh, "Fine. Well, we play Ball State soon. My sister plays for them, so, I'll tell her. If it goes well, I talk to my parents."
"If it doesn't?"
"I'll hard launch us on Insta."
"That's your plan?"
"Yep," I pause, "Can I kiss you now?"
She nods, she opens her mouth to talk, but I kiss her before anything could come out. I get on top of her, straddling her hips. Her hands moving from the back of my neck to in my hair. The way her soft touch seemed to heighten my mood.
"You're so beautiful," I mutter between kisses I placed on her neck, moving further down.
"Mhmm," She hummed, her hands moving to the hem of my shirt. I took the hint but wanted her to say it.
"Words, lijepa djevojka," I whispered into her ear, she squirmed beneath me.
"Take your shirt off," She rushed out, "Please."
"Anything for you, bebo," I watched as her eyes landed on my stomach, her hands finding their way to it, "What is it, baby?"
"These," Her fingers gliding across my abs, "These I love."
An idea popped into my head, "You wanna try something?"
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Tate POV
Nothing has ever been better than whatever just happened. No way anyone could do it like that, no way.
After.....what we had done, we both hopped into the shower. She washed my hair, gently massaging every part of my scalp. Then I did the same to her. Quickly to finish, I threw on some sweats and one of Nika's hoodies.
"God," Nika groaned from behind me, "I'll never get over the sight if you in my clothes."
I laugh, "Calm down, Niks. You gotta get to bed."
"Why though?" She placed her hands on my hips, her head finding its place in the crook of my neck.
I snicker, "Baby, you have a game tomorrow."
"Ughhh," She says into my shirt.
"Come on, let's go cuddle," We made our way out of the bathroom, immediately getting under the covers. I laid my head on her chest, her hand rubbing small circles on my back.
"I love this, Nika."
"What do you mean?"
"Us, being together, little moments."
"Me too, bebo."
I smile, "I love you, Niks."
"I love you too, Ta," that was the last thing I heard before nodding off to sleep.
A/N: personally, i love Tate and Nika guys. Definitely horny all the time, but they have they're cute moments. This book is gonna be long, i can just tell. So, I was thinking about making a couple? Maybe? or do you guys think it's smarter to keep it all together?
Guys, I have to wake up for school in 4 hours and 30 minutes, yayyyy.....
Anyways....
Peace y'all, 'til the next chapter