Chapter 11: The Chase Flips

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After knowing Derek’s feelings, I was eager for a title, but now I wasn’t in a rush. Started shamelessly ordering Derek to do this and that for me. Although when I was chasing him, he seemed to do a lot for me too. But with male beauty in front of me, I could hardly resist. Suddenly I was waking to his good-morning texts, finding snacks in my locker, and hearing “break a leg” at practice—my own montage of him chasing me.

Even though I wanted to kiss and hug Derek every day, reason told me he was still in the stage of chasing me. I had to be reserved. I chased him for almost two months, he only chased me for a week. I can’t let him get me so easily!

Derek soon noticed my wavering will and started seducing me with his looks. Like deliberately playing basketball during my training breaks, then lifting his shirt to wipe sweat. Drinking water while looking at me, his Adam’s apple moving, totally seducing me! I reminded myself: standards, girl. Eyes up, heart steady.

I totally forgot where I was, my mind full of his abs! His moving Adam’s apple… I want to touch… Or when we eat together, he purposely wears lip balm, making his lips look juicy, making me want to kiss… I dragged my gaze back to my plate like it was a lifeline.

To avoid being overwhelmed by lust, I cut our three daily meals together to one. “I protest! Aubrey, this is unfair!” Derek complained, “When you were chasing me, I didn’t refuse to eat with you.” I thought about it, and it was true, but back then I seized every chance. But now it’s different. He just wants to experience my life, then smoothly win the beauty. Also, Coach has me tracking macros—one shared meal keeps me on target for weigh-ins.

“I made you a love lunch, why didn’t you make one for me?” I tried to refute his protest. Kidding, if this goes on, I’ll surrender in two days, not two months.

Derek chuckled, “Who said I didn’t make one for you?” I looked at him, trying to recall something I’d forgotten. But unfortunately, I really couldn’t remember. “Dummy.” He tapped my head, “All the food you ate when you were hurt, I made and delivered myself.” The memory flashed: warm paper bags, the smell of garlic and rosemary sneaking into my room.

Oh. Back then, he stepped on my foot, making my injury worse. To make up for it, he delivered food, so he already liked me then. “Derek, so you were scheming from the start.” I shamelessly leaned closer, “And still pretended.”

Derek shamelessly admitted and asked if he could make it official early. “No!” Kidding, I’m a person of principle, “I even got hurt watching you play basketball.”

Unexpectedly, he got even more excited, “Why do you think I always play in that spot? Just for you to watch, you really thought it was a coincidence?” I was stunned.

Before I met him, I really thought it was coincidence. Even thought it was Cupid tying our red string! Turns out it was all his scheming!

“Derek, you’re so sneaky.” I teased him. “Why didn’t you talk to me first?” “How didn’t I?” He sounded aggrieved, “I finally got up the courage, but got nervous and pulled off your wig, scared you ran away.”

Damn! So he pulled off the wig! I really thought it was Amazon’s quality problem! “Then I called on you to answer the question, who knew you really knew nothing, I was embarrassed for you.” “You called me and I thought something happened, but you snored all night, I couldn’t bear to hang up.” I groaned, covered my face, then peeked through my fingers—mortification, but also a ridiculous glee.

Ha, so this is male god’s initiative. Every time was a social death moment for me! “Later I wanted to play hero, but couldn’t stop and…” I covered his mouth, signaling him to stop. Say one more thing, and my embarrassing moments will haunt me again.

Derek hugged my waist, “So now… can I make it official early?” I shyly nodded. After all, in all those little things just for us, though the process wasn’t pretty, at least our hearts matched.

“So… Derek, can I touch your abs now?” I finally mustered the courage to say what I wanted. I’ve craved them for days. Before I could control myself, but now we’re officially together!

Unexpectedly, Derek let go, “No!” I shamelessly clung to him, “Please, I have abs too, you can touch mine.” Derek blushed, took a deep breath and scolded me for being shameless, “Aubrey, aren’t you embarrassed to say that?” He grinned. “Earn it—after your next PR.”

“Not embarrassed!” At this moment I admit my lust clouds my mind, I’ll admit anything for abs. After that fleeting glimpse, I still dream about them.

But I didn’t get my wish, instead got dragged back to the dorm. And tomorrow, Coach’s discipline—and the next meet—loomed like a drumroll.