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Ambe blinked at the meaning behind his words. Of course, knowing him, it wouldn't be surprising if it want what she was thinking to might be. She shook her head, her cheeks turning pink, before making her way over to the rest of the team.
Every one of them got at least a small smile. Except for Jace, who she was trying to ignore. "Looked like a good practice, guys."
Jace winced as Amber ignored him, turning her attention towards everyone else. He knew he deserved it. He didn't receive any sympathetic looks from his teammates. They thought he deserved it, too, and he truly did. Instead, they kept their attention on Amber. Parker winked at her.
"You barely looked at any of us, Amber," he chuckled, shaking his head. "Man, I wonder how William managed to snag you like that."
"Does he mess with you a lot?" Jude questioned curiously. "Like, to the point where you feel utter exasperation? Or does he actually treat you extremely nicely? Because that's something I seriously can't see."
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Amber chuckled and shook her head. "He's amazing. I had an idea that he liked me for a while, but I didn't know for sure until he kissed me that day."
This time, Drew joined in with the teasing.
"Oh, really? And how did you know that he liked you?"
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"Well, one, he told me. I haven't known him to lie about anything," Amber said with a shrug. "And, two, he was just so happy… I don't think I've seen him so happy."
The entire team looked at her like she’d grown two heads.
“One… so he told you before you both kissed,” Holden repeated slowly.
“Two…” Jude stared wide-eyed. “He was actually… HAPPY?”
“No way,” Parker shook his head, disbelief coursing through him. “Definitely not our Shooting Guard. You’ve mistaken him for someone else.”
“What if… what if that’s not our Flower Boy?” Drew’s eyes widened. “What if he’s actually an alien?”
“I second that,” Holden nodded. “Did you know I actually used to tell people I’d do something if William was actually happy?”
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Amber chuckled and slowly shook her head. These boys… They were certainly something, weren't they?
"And what was that, Holden?" she asked with an amused grin.
“Literally everything I didn’t want to do,” Holden shot his gaze towards her, looking slightly startled. “Like, just a few days ago, I told someone the only time I would ride a roller coaster would be when William’s happy. Now I can’t ever use that trick. Maybe I should have stuck to him not being a bully.”
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"Well, he's not a bully to me, so in not sure you can rely on that, either," Amber teased with a chuckle. "He's actually very sweet. It's amazing. He's so cute sometimes."
“Bully to us,” Holden corrected himself before his eyes went large again. ”Excuse me?”
“Hold up, did you actually say what we think you just said?” Parker almost choked on the water he was drinking. He immediately took out his phone and opened the voice recorder app. “Okay, say it again so I can save it. I’ll listen to it whenever I need hope.”
“Make sure to send it to me!” Jude said to Parker, his own eyes wide in shock. “William’s sweet and cute? This can’t be right.”
“You know what?” Drew looked at his teammates gravely. “Pack your bags, kids. We need to evacuate. The end of the world is approaching.”
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Amber laughed, amusedly shaking her head. "Wow. Maybe I should record him being nice so you guys believe me, huh? Really, he's adorable. Just don't tell him I told you that. He wouldn't thank me."
William walked into the gym, his towel in his hair as he looked around to find Amber. When he spotted her, he scowled. She was with the guys. Laughing. Her cheeks were slightly pink. His scowl deepened. That was his girl. He wanted to be the only one who make her smile or blush like that. He shook his head, choosing to pick up a stray basketball to throw it in its basket.
Parker, who opened his mouth to answer to Amber, found his gaze traveling to William. A Cheshire grin found its way to his lips.
“Hey, Amber,” he nudged the woman. “I think you should tend to your boyfriend. He looks quite grumpy.”
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Amber's eyebrows drew together slightly as she turned to look at William. When she noticed his look, she sighed and slowly shook her head. This was going to be fun…
"William… What's up?" she asked gently when she was close to him.
“You guys look like you’re having fun,” he muttered bitterly. Everything screamed at him to not give Amber something to tease him over, but he couldn’t help it. “Don’t mind me, Blue.”
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"We were just talking, Will. Nothing too fun," Amber assured him, moving even closer so she could rest her hand on his arm. "In fact, most of it was me talking about how much I like you."
“I’m jealous,” William admitted in a serious, yet a rather embarrassed tone, his eyes flickering to her hand on his arm. “I like to be the only one to make you laugh or blush like that. It’s an immature thought, but one I can’t get rid of.”
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Amber smiled and reached up with her other hand to cup his cheek. "You don't have to be jealous, babe. I want you and only you. Okay? If I was blushing, it was just because I was laughing. And I was laughing because the guys think you can't be cute or sweet, which is ridiculous because you're both."
William leaned into her touch, reaching out to grab the hand on his cheek. He dipped his hand, rested the other hand on her hip, pulled her close and connected their lips together.
I want you and only you. God, how much he adored those words. The lightness that came after she said it—
William halted against her lips.
“… you told them I was ‘sweet’ and ‘cute’?”
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Amber laughed at his reaction and pecked his lips before pulling away to speak. "Yes, I did. Because you are. They didn't believe me, just so you know."
William scowled. “You are so troublesome, you know that, right?” He muttered, resting the other hand on her hip and pulling her back to him. “Now I’m having second thoughts. I was going to kiss you a lot when I was coming back, but… I guess we don’t need to do that now, do we?”
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Amber laughed a little and cupped his face in her hands playfully. “Only for you, babe. As for the kissing… Why would we not need to do that?”
“Because you, love, are trying to ruin my image in here,” William reached up to flick her nose before his hands went back to her hips. With his face in her hands—her small, warm hands—, William pressed their foreheads together. “Unless you initiate the kiss.”
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“Hey, they didn’t even believe me, so consider you image in tact,” Amber chuckled before smiling and turning to press their lips together softly.
William didn’t answer. He was too caught up in the feeling of her lips on his to respond, or even think of a retort. He kissed her back softly, his grip tightening on her hips, ignoring the fact that they weren’t alone. When Amber kissed him, William always lost his sense of reality. It was just him and her.
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Amber felt her breath catch when his grip on her tightened. She knew he didn’t mean anything by it — other than how much he liked her, of course — but it still made her think of other things and other guys from before him. She pulled back a little, mumbling an apology before shaking her head.
William simply shook his head, pressing a light kiss to her head.
“Don’t apologize,” he said gently, quietly, only for her to hear. “I understand. Wanna go home?”
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Amber let out a slow breath and looked up at him, giving him a small, grateful smile. “Home sounds good. Are you hungry? I could make something when we get back.”
William cupped her cheeks, giving her another kiss on the forehead.
“And as a good boyfriend, I’ll help you,” he murmured. “So you don’t feel burdened.”
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“You don’t have to do that, Will. You should rest. You had a good practice,” Amber insisted, wrapping her arms around him in a loose hug. “I’ve got it. No big deal.”
“I’ve gone on longer,” William murmured, getting lost in the maze of her eyes. He loved the twinkle in them, or the way they shined brightly. He hoped they never stopped. “So don’t worry about it.”
He cocked his head to the side, removing his hands from her cheeks to brush his fingers through her unbearably soft hair.
