Forever Blake (Once Upon a Player Book 3) by Elena Matthews (motivational novels for students .txt) 📕

“It’s definitely a perfect place to celebrate the Fourth of July,” my dad pipes up.

He’s right; it really is.

“Let’s find some loungers,” I suggest.

Everyone follows toward a large area where we can all hang out together, a spot close to the pool and the bar. My eyes instinctively look out for Ever, and it doesn’t take me long to find her within the crowd. She’s sitting by the pool with a couple of women, but my chest constricts when I see her eyes are already on me.

She smiles her drop-dead smile and waves.

I wave back and mouth, Hi.

My eyes travel down her body, and I see she’s wearing a white cover-up. I feel the stirring in my pants when I spot a hint of leopard print peeking out from her shoulder. It’s the first time I’ve seen her since she walked out of my office yesterday after giving me the most mind-blowing oral sex known to man, and the memory comes flooding back. Her crawling under my desk, her manicured nails trailing up and down my thighs, her mouth wrapped around my cock…

I don’t realize I just stopped dead in my tracks until I feel a shove from behind. I spin around to face Jace.

“Dude, if you don’t want your boss finding out about you two, you need to be a bit more discreet.”

Shit, he’s right, but it’s so hard because the instant I’m in her presence, it’s easy to forget about everyone else around us.

“Thanks, man,” I tell my brother before continuing on with the rest of my family.

We get settled really quickly, and my mom, Ally, Remi, and Kaelyn, holding Sophia, relax around the pool while my dad beelines for the bar. It’s where he can usually be found whenever we go out as a family.

My brothers, Chase, and I head straight in the pool to play a little volleyball with a net that’s been set up.

We group up into two teams. Jace, Chase, and I are on one team. Nate and Logan are on the other. Though Logan persuades Ally to join, so the teams are fair…but honestly, they’ll cream us anyway, even without Ally. They were both better than Jace and me at sports when we were growing up. But then again, we do have a retired NHL hockey player on our team, so who knows?

Not even five minutes into the game, and my team is already losing. It’s mostly my fault. Every few moments, my eyes naturally go to Ever, and that’s usually when a ball comes flying at my head, meaning I miss the ball every time. She’s so distracting though, looking all kinds of sexy with the sunshine beating down on her. And I can feel her stare on me through her sunglasses even though she’s talking with some friends.

When I miss the ball again, Jace literally shoves me in the chest. “Eyes on the ball, dickhead. We’re losing the game.”

“It’s okay. If you’re losing the game, that means, we’re winning,” Logan hollers, high-fiving Nate.

They laugh at our defeat.

“Come on, man,” Chase says. “Do you really want to lose to your baby brothers?” He points to Nate and Logan.

That awakens me. “Hell fucking no.”

“Well, head out of your ass then and play,” he tells me with a clap on my shoulder. “I can’t be associated with a losing team. I have my rep to uphold.” He sniggers. “Plus, your sister is watching me.”

Now, that has me laughing. “Okay, I’ll try better.”

I do for approximately thirty seconds, but then with a quick, unintentional glance over at Ever, I hit the ball in the completely wrong direction. I see she’s no longer wearing her cover-up and is showcasing the hot-as-hell bikini, looking fine as hell. That’s when I realize the ball has landed directly in front of Ever, splashing her in the process.

“For fuck’s sake, Blake!” Jace yells.

“Sorry. I’ll get it.”

“Yeah, I bet you will,” Jace says with a smirk.

I flip him off before swimming in Ever’s direction. As I approach, I see she’s holding the ball in her hands, peering at me from under her sunglasses. I notice she’s alone now.

“Lost something?”

“Yes.”

“I’m not sure I should give it back to you.”

“Why is that?”

“Well, you kind of stink at volleyball.”

“I can’t help it if I’m distracted. You look fucking hot, by the way,” I tell her, making sure to keep my voice low.

“You don’t look too bad yourself,” she tells me, and I know she’s checking out my chest, which is dripping with water.

“Blake, the ball!” Nate yells from behind me.

“Here,” Ever says as she goes to hand me the ball. “I wouldn’t want your brothers getting pissed at you.”

Just as I’m about to take it from her, she lifts the ball over her head and throws it over to Nate.

“Thank you!” he shouts over to Ever, and she waves at him.

“That was just mean,” I tell her as I begin to swim backward.

“So, what are you going to do about it?” she asks with a giggle, kicking her legs in and out of the water.

“You’re just lucky we’re in public.”

And with that, I return to the volleyball game.

“Now, I know what’s been distracting you—or who’s been distracting you,” Chase says as I stand beside him while we’re getting ready for the next set.

I smile. “Yep, she’s definitely a distraction all right. But FYI, if you somehow find yourself talking to the guy in the Hawaiian shirt, who greeted us at the front door, you might not want to mention it to him.”

“Why not?”

“Well, he’s my boss, and she’s his daughter, who also happens to be my intern.”

This time, it’s Chase who misses the ball, and I’m the one who manages to hit it forward.

“Holy shit,” he murmurs.

“Yes, holy shit indeed.”

“Not that I need to tell you, but you know you’re asking for trouble, right?”

“Oh, I know.”

The day continues, and I’m having an amazing time with my family. The sun is shining, the barbeque is grilling, and the music