' The game is starting!'' Jora shouts as I come running down the stairs, almost tripping over the last step.

The guys had been doing amazing so far as they went the rounds, defeating every team that they played so far. Last weekend they made it to the final four after a close game with Oregon State.

One more game to win and they could be headed to finals.

And they would be headed to finals.

I took my seat on the couch, criss-crossing my legs as I grabbed the bowl of chips sitting on the table in front of me. The game was barely just starting, the guys were getting ready for tip off. My eyes darted around the screen, finding Carson stretching out his foot before he got into position.

On a recent facetime call he complained about rolling it during one of the games. I pestered him about icing it and taking it easy on that leg throughout the next few games. He assured me that it was fine but would follow my instructions if it made me feel better.

And it did.

The whistle blew and the game was on.

We could hardly eat the food spread out in front of us as we watched on the edge of our seats. The game was tight during certain points of the quarters, each team jumping ahead on the scoreboard every so often. It was like an intense game of tug of war, except the stakes were much higher than falling on a dirty ground.

By half time, Skylar had her laptop out to search for plane tickets and hotels. She was adamant that the guys would advance to finals.'' My gut feeling is never wrong.'' She said, plopping back onto the couch as she opened her macbook.

The only reason we held off on buying tickets and booking hotel rooms was because anything could have happened over the course of March Madness. It was a smart move not to jump the gun and purchase plane tickets or book hotels until we knew for sure that they would be advancing to the next round.

They had come so far and based on the way they were playing tonight– they wouldn't be backing down without a fight.

'' I don't even know why you are looking up plane tickets when we could just take daddy's jet.'' Rhegan brought her straw to her mouth as Skylar paused, looking up at Rhegan as if she just said the most genius thing ever.

'' Sometimes I forget just how filthy rich you are.''

I snorted, munching on my chips as my attention stayed glued to the screen as a Doritos commercial came on.

Sometimes Skylar forgot just how filthy fucking rich she was herself. Who knew that a freaking Peach Farm could bring in that much coin— not me.

Skylar and Kyler came from a family built on generational wealth.

They were a part of that one southern family that owned land. And when I say land, I mean acres and acres upon acres of land. The type of land that causes decades and decades long of family drama. And on that land, they made their fortune off of Georgia Peaches.

They didn't necessarily enjoy spending time with their father's side of the family knowing that it usually ended up in arguments over what to do with the land when their great grandfather died.

And he was an evil old man.

But none could deny how much work and effort he put into continuing the family legacy.

Their family was either just as rich as Rhegan and Jora's , if not more.

'' You forget just how rich you are so I'm not surprised.'' Rhegan snickered as Sky shrugged, exiting out of the tab where she was busy looking up flights. '' I'm pretty sure that the guy's hotel is booked and full to capacity. Should we get a hotel in the same area?'' She questioned, glancing up at us from the screen.

'' We could always stay with them right?'' Sade asked, lifting her head from Elizabeth's lap.

I shook my head, reaching for my water bottle and twisting the cap off of it. '' I'm pretty sure that if we even set foot on the boy's room floor, Coach Z would have our heads and have us thrown out onto the curb. He'll preach about how we are a distraction and how we need to leave the boys to focus.''

But what better way to stay focused and motivated than getting good luck head the night before a game?

I don't know a better way either.

'' I beg to differ,'' Jora says as the guys come back onto the court. The room goes silent once again as the third quarter starts up once more. Skylar sat her laptop to the side and kept her full attention on the t.v screen.

Halfway through the third quarter, a fight almost broke out when a LSU player got into Haze's face.

Kyler wasn't having that shit. He stepped up to the LSU player, pushing Haze behind his back and getting up close and personal with his opponent. The refs intervened, having to separate the two as they continued chatting with each other.

Kyler got the last word in, smiling as he got pushed backwards by the ref with his arms open, almost taunting the other player. Dominic and Carson pulled Kyler away from the ref as he shook his head, laughing bitterly as he spared one last glance at the LSU player.

'' Looks like a few words were exchanged between Kyler McKay and Aaron Stevens. It seemed Stevens got into Haze Black, McKay's teammate's face and he did not like that.'' The commentator spoke as they played a playback of the altercation.

Skylar bit at her nails, almost having bit them down to the nail over the course of the past month. I gently pulled her fingers away from her nails as she sighed, bringing them to her temples and rubbing them to calm her nerves.

'' I wonder what that was about?'' Audrey spoke for the first time since the game started.

'' Who knows with these players.'' Sade spoke in between sips of her drink. ''He was probably trying to sike out Haze and clearly failed. You can't sike out someone like Haze when he has these guys as teammates. They take absolutely no shit from anyone whatsoever.''

Fucking with their teammates was lighting a fire under their asses that couldn't be tamed.They liked to make examples out of the other teams when fucked with– fucking with a Trojan was like a personal attack on all of them.

And to prove that, they dominated the last round making LSU their bitch as they swept the lead right from under them.

Like I said, a fire that couldn't be tamed.

The girls and I ran towards the kitchen and pulled out the bottle of celebratory champagne that we had been chilling for this very moment. '' Our boys are going to the championships, baby!'' I cheered as we raised our glasses, sipping on our drinks as we scurried back into the living room.

The guys were walking off of the court, celebrating their win as they headed into the locker rooms while Louisiana State walked off sulking. '' Looks like both teams will be heading on down to Louisiana but only one team will be participating in the Finals on April 2nd against Baylor University in a fight for the 2022 National Championship.''

As the broadcast turned off, we all crowded around Skylar as she looked up hotels, finding the majority of them already fully booked. We were so close to giving up and debating whether or not to rent out an airbnb when my phone rang.

I quickly recognized the number as Giselles's and answered it.

'' Hey!'' I greeted, running my hand over my forehead and smoothing over my hair as I walked away from the girls.

'' Ahhhh!'' I pulled the phone away from my ear as she squealed excitedly. '' Our boys are going to the finals!'' A smile spreads across my face as I nod, still not fully believing that they are one step closer to achieving their dreams that they've had since their childhood.

It was truly unreal.

'' I know. I still can't believe it.'' I chuckled, rubbing the back of my neck as I paced back and forth in front of the kitchen Island. '' The girls and I were actually just looking up hotels to surprise the guys but it looks like all of them are booked to capacity.''

Giselle scoffs, I picture her waving me off on the other side of the phone.'' Oh nonsense,'' she says.'' Cairo owns a hotel out there. You guys don't have to worry about anything. I'll make sure that you guys have the best of the best treatment as soon as you step foot in Louisiana, you hear me.''

Chewing on the inside of my cheek, I turned on my heels and faced the girls. " Are you sure, Giselle? I do—"

'' Ayanna–'' I swallowed at how quickly her tone turned stern.'' You are my son's girlfriend and my future daughter in law. We do anything for you, okay. Let us handle all of this on our side. You and the girls get packed and ready to head out here.''

I didn't grow up like everyone else in my friend group did so it made it harder for me to accept handouts from others without feeling some type of need to repay them. I couldn't even accept gifts from my boyfriend without feeling like it was too much.

Jax practically forced me to start using the black amex bed gifted to me recently. I'd only splurged on it here and there, my biggest purchase since having it being the watch that I brought Carson a few weeks ago.

" I- I can't thank you enough, Giselle, seriously." I approach the counter. The girls practically begged me with their eyes to tell them what was going on as I waved them off.

" It's fine, honey. We love you and we'd do anything for you and the girls." Her words warmed my heart as I found myself at a loss for words.

" I- I." I stuttered, not knowing what to say." Thank you so much!" I finally say, repeating my earlier words as she chuckles." Stop thanking me, Ayanna. I'll see you soon, futura nora." She chirps as I ponder over what she just said.

-future daughter-in-law

I made a mental note to ask Carson what she said later on when I saw him.

As soon as we said our goodbyes and hung up, the girls didn't wasn't a second pestering me with questions.

" What did she say?" Audrey asked, closing the fridge after raiding her stash of cherry coke that stayed stocked in our fridge. " We have a hotel room ladies!" I announced after they stopped speaking over each other.

I winced, plugging my ears with my pointer fingers as they jumped up and down, squealing excitedly.

It was Rhegan who stopped celebrating first, a frantic look in her face. " We have to pack! And go shopping!" She stated, making a run for the stairs.

" We just went shopping!" I called out after her.

The girl has a serious shopping problem. Shaking our heads, we followed after her as she skipped the stairs two at a time.

As soon as I entered my room, I quickly shut the door behind me and picked up my phone. I walked over to my bed, pushing packing for New Orleans out of my mind as I went to recent contacts. I clicked on his contact and waited, adjusting my position in my bed as his line rang.

Frowning, I waited a few extra seconds before hovering my thumb over the end button.

" Yaya!" Dominic's face popped up on the screen. His charismatic smile shining bright in his face as "love sosa" played throughout the locker room. The guys were high off of their win and screaming the lyrics at the top of their lungs.

" Dommy!" I smiled so big that my eyes shut slightly. "You guys look like you're having fun." I said, noting the dancing that was going on in the background. Rocky flashed by the screen, half dressed as he bobbed his head to the music.

" We're going to the championships, yaya! Of course we're having fucking fun!" He shouted as Abel jumped on his back, looking fresh out of the shower.

" Championship here we come!" He shouted, snatching the phone out of Dominic's hand. " How's our girls doing?" He asked, taking a seat at his locker as Dominic hovered over him, interested in my response as well.

Do I tell them? Or do I keep it a surprise?

The girls and I didn't discuss if we were just going to show up and surprise them, or come out and tell them.

" Oh, it's a total girl party over here." I assure them, giving them a genuine enthusiastic smile. " We're so happy for you guys! And we miss you so much that it's actually embarrassing."

They rolled their eyes knowing damn well that we were probably a moping mess without any of them here.

It felt odd without them here— empty even.

Sure they had a few days where they weren't here due to away games, but this was different. This was a whole month that we'd spent without them. It felt like a part of normal routines were missing without them here. I couldn't even remember what life was like before them anymore.

" You love us!" Dominic puckered his lips at the screen before it was snatched away. " Nah she loves me. Isn't that right, Angel?" Carson made an appearance into the camera, a white towel wrapped low around his waist and his tattooed torso on display as he smiled into the camera.

" Hey baby!" I squeal, my cheeks burning from how wide my smile grew. " I'm so fucking proud of you and the guys. Well mostly you— I'm mostly proud of you."

Carson nods his head, looking over his shoulder to make sure that Dominic and Abel heard that. " You hear that, mostly me, as she should."

I smiled, loving this moment with the guys as they waved him off. Haze managed to sneak up beside Carson, waving at the camera with Xander hot on his trail.

" Hey, Yanna!" Haze waved continuously, smiling as if he was being held hostage.

I got up from my bed and walked over to my desk where I could prop my phone up. Sitting in my fluffy spin chair, I grabbed an abandoned hair tie that sat in my desk and threw my hair into a pineapple.

" Rooks! I'm so fuckin' proud of you guys!"

The locker room began to get rowdier and rowdier by the second as the guys piled out of the shower room. I barely could keep up the conversation with Haze and Xander from how loud they were being.

" Tell Carson to call me back when you guys get to the hotel." I reach for the end button as Haze nods, waving goodbye to me before the screen goes black.

Sighing, I pushed myself out of my chair as I released a good stretch before walking over to my closet, ready to tackle it and pick out a few days worth of clothing worthy of a championship game.

And we were heading down to Louisiana. The weather there would be in the high seventies, almost eighties coupled with the humidity we would no doubt be experiencing.

I grabbed a couple of pairs of everything and threw it towards my suitcase before sitting down and beginning to pack. I didn't realize that I had pulled out as many outfits as I did until my suitcase was full with both shoes and clothes. If we were to be flying commercial, I was sure that this bag would be overweight.

Opening it up, I twisted my mouth as I took out a few shoes, deciding to put them in another bag. By the time I was done packeting, I had two suitcases and my carry on tote. I stood up from the floor and walked over to my drawers to pull out my pajamas for tonight.

As I shuffle out of my closet, my phone starts to vibrate in my palm. Sliding my thumb over the screen, I set my phone on the bed leaving him to stare at the ceiling while I get dressed.

" Why am I staring at the ceiling?" He asked, sounding comfortable compared to the 'rowdy and high on a win Carson' that I just got an hour ago.

" Because I am putting on my pajamas." I say, slipping out of my sweats and pulling on my silk sleeping shorts.

" Okay."He attests as I hear shuffling and sheets moving on his end. " Let me see please." I hover my head over the phone, seeing him grinning like a child and blinking repeatedly at the screen.

" Since you said please." I pull away, grabbing the phone and walking over to my desk, propping it against it. Turning around, I walk back towards the bed to retrieve the matching top to my shorts.

" All that ass! Good Lord, why must you do this too me?" He cries, watching me as I walk towards the bed. I reach over to grab my shirt from off of the bed, hearing a frustrated sigh from Carson as I arched my back a little more than necessary.

" Keep it up, Ayanna, and i'm going to fuck you so hard that you'll have tears running down your face and you'll be begging me mercy. As a matter of fact that'll be the only thing you'll be able to do when I fuck all the sense out of you."

Dear God! Even miles away he still has this fucking effect on me and my body. It was as if I could still feel that dominating presence following me throughout my room.

Like a ghost of Carson.

Clenching my thighs closed, I could feel my underwear begin to get damp as I pulled away from the bed. Spinning on my heels, I place a coy smile on my face as I lock my arms behind my back. " I don't know what you're talking about."

I smile shrug my shoulders as I purse my lips, Carson's dark chuckle told me that he was buying the bullshit that I spewed out of my mouth.

" Such a fucking teaser." His eyes were hot with desire.

I could practically feel it through the screen as I lifted my oversized shirt slowly, switching my hips a little in the process. I watch him watch me through the screen as the little bits of my exposed tattooed torso begin to show.

And as the shirt gets pulled higher and higher, the slower I go until my underboob is revealed. Turning around, I look over my shoulder to see a look of frustration covering his features as I smirk and pull the shirt over my head, throwing it across the room blindly.

" Ayanna." Carson grunts, running a head down his face as I turn around my hands cross-crossed as they cup my breast. " You are fucking killing me woman!" He whines as I laugh, approaching my phone.

When I got closer to the camera with only my torso and upper chest in sight, I removed my hands from covering my breast and gave him a nice view.

" I want them in my mouth." He deadpans, nothing joking about it showing on his face.

I ran my hands down my torso, watching as he shifted in his bed as my fingers brushed over my skin, tattoos, and abs. I took my time teasing him, moaning softly whenever my thumbs would brush against my hardened nipples.

If he wasn't in such a trance, I was sure that he would have whipped out his dick that was painfully hard and would have rubbed one out at the sight.

But he couldn't because they were partnered up in rooms on this trip. And the only reason I was doing this for him was because he wouldn't ask to see me or speak to me that way if one of the guys were in the room at the time.

Deciding not to push my luck and get caught, I pulled away from the camera and pulled the piece of silk material over my head letting it fall just below my underboob.

"That's all for tonight." I grab the phone, finding Carson with a permanent pout on his lips and his brows furrowed.

I tapped the circular button on the side, capturing a screenshot because he looked so adorable when he wanted something that he couldn't have.

At least not yet anyway.

" You're just asking for it, Ayanna." He grumbles as I get into the comforts of my bed. Tucking my legs under the covers as I remembered something.