Chapter 5 (Indi's POV)

 "DADDY!! Are you still here?" Duce yelled as he ran in and jumped on the couch between me and Jayson "Woah Duce watch out, yes I'm still here what is it?"

"Nothing. I thought you had a game today!"

This boy was so excitable all the time lol

"Nah the game got canceled because of the weather so I'm staying here today and Ms. Quint is staying as well till the roads are cleared."

"That's awesome! Woah we could have a sleepover and watch movies and eat snacks," he said as if he just figured out a brilliant idea" let me go get my blankets and pillows" he said quickly

"Duce i don't think..." Jayson tried to say before Duce ranoff "and you just had some food you don't need a snack!" Jayson shouted to him running down the hall

"But you can always eat more!" Duce shouted back before he disappeared into his room

"That boy a trip I tell ya" he said to me both of us laughing

"Yeah he is, he always makes my classes and lessons interesting. He has so much energy. I need to borrow some because I be tired for sure at the end of the day." I said while still chuckling

"I feel that, but I noticed a little twang in your talk. Where are you originally from Indi?"

"I'm originally from Georgia, lived there most of my life then I moved to Philly for two years and eventually made my way up to Boston."

"Yeah I thought so cause I was like ain't no way this girl from here cause people from Boston have a distinct talk, my teammate Marcus from here and he talks so funny at times. But I can't even talk myself being from St. Louis."

"Lol yeah y'all do talk different from the Midwest"

His mom walked in and we talked about other things while Duce came in with idk how many pillows and blankets you couldn't even see him as he stumbled down the hall just dumping everything on the floor. Jayson gave an annoyed look but eventually gave in cause he just couldn't say no to Duce. Somehow he got us and his grandma to build a fort in the living room and we prepped snacks and got several movies geared up. Since it was clear I wasn't gonna be able to go home tonight, Jayson insisted I stay in the guest room after we were done with our "sleepover". All of us got comfy and we queued up the first movie "The Prince of Egypt '' which was actually one of my favorites aside from the religious aspect. The movie is beautifully made and the soundtrack is amazing. Me and Duce were intensely watching even though I've probably seen it hundreds of times. Each time I watch it I fall in love with this movie all over. I even got a tattoo on the inside of my arm inspired by this movie. How much I liked it.

"Do y'all need anything from the kitchen?" Jayson asked us as the movie ended and the next one was getting ready to play. His housekeeper was already off duty and chilling in her quarters so she wasn't there to serve us anything

"Could I have some more juice daddy?" Duce asked

"Little man you've already had three glasses. I can get you some water though."

"Please daddy?" Duce asked with pleading eyes

"No." Jayson said flatly

"Fine, I guess I'll take water then." Duce said, rolling his eyes a lil "But can I at least have some more popcorn and apple slices with caramel?"

"Mom? Indi? Y'all want anything?"

"I'm fine son"

"Okay Indi you want anything?" He said to me

"Apple slices with caramel sound good. Actually I can help you make it though I don't mind"

I walked with him to the kitchen to help make the snacks. Sometimes I had to do this for Duce and the other kids at the center for snack time so I didn't mind.

"Here go the apples. I can get the caramel stuff and popcorn ready while you cut the apples Indi, that's cool with you?"

"Sure that's fine" i said

The rain still hadn't let up and the news said all roads were closed till further notice. Jayson said he would set up the guest room for the night after we were done with our movie night soon so I could retire up there. It was still early so I wasn't that tired. While we fixed the snacks me and Jayson just talked some more which was nice. Even though this is the longest we had been around each other over these past few weeks he was so easy to talk with like I had known him forever.

"So Indi I been meaning to ask how did you end up all the way in Boston from Georgia, that's a pretty long distance right?"

"I mean yeah it is but I moved in with my sister in Philly while she was in medical school after I graduated college and she found a residency position in Boston when she finished and I just decided to move with her. I found a job at the Beacon Hill center and I have a few family members and friends up here so it only made sense ya know." I told him

"That's cool and that amazing your sister is a doctor but you're really young to be working there at that center, most of the instructors I have met besides the front desk are at least in their 30s', is being an art instructor what you've always wanted to do"

I laughed in my head for a second cause all I could think was damn this man asking a lot of in depth questions "Well this isn't what I've always wanted to, I went to an art school in Georgia and got my degree in Visual Arts, I've wanted to be a painter and a digital artist but nobody was picking up my work or accepting me for jobs off my portfolio so I had to make money and teaching art was the next best thing. I still try to paint and create. It's just hard sometimes because of other things in my life that stress me out, like work, and I have had a creative block for forever. But I'm not complaining because I enjoy this job and it's crazy how my path has led me to this moment which was ironic since I never expected to be here. But I've enjoyed teaching your son as well as the other kids I work with at the center and in the outreach program. And I can't lie and say I'm not enjoying being here with you and your family,"

I really couldn't believe I just shared all that but Jayson just made me feel so comfortable.

"I appreciate that Indi and I appreciate you being here for Duce. He loves you being his teacher you brought so much creativity out of him I haven't even seen before which is amazing. And I get it it's hard to follow your dreams when things are not going the way they should but I see how you work with Duce and what yall accomplish; you are really talented, I feel like things could happen for you and you shouldn't give up somebody will recognize your talent like I do" He said with a smile

"Thank you Jayson, that means a lot I appreciate," I said , feeling my spirits lift a little. Usually when talking about my actual dreams made me a lil depressed because I didn't even know if things would be possible with what I wanted to accomplish and most people didn't believe in my dreams. But the compliment Jayson gave me made me feel like maybe my dreams of becoming a professional artist were possible.

"So you asking me all these questions, what about you Jayson, what made you wanna be in the NBA?" I asked him while I finished up the snacks

"Well I've always loved the game, since I was a toddler. And Kobe is my all time favorite player and he inspired me to want to be a pro player in the NBA just like him. Also I just wanted to take care of my mom because we really struggled financially when I was younger and I knew like when I was 11 that basketball was gonna be the way I took care of her and me cause she made a lot of sacrifices for me to play ball so I just knew I had to give my all. And I kinda knew when I was in high school I had the potential to go pro so I just kept chasing that dream till it came true ya know. I wasn't gonna let nun stop me."

"Wow, that's really inspiring Jayson and I really didn't know you and your mom went through stuff like that but it's really amazing that you did what you set your mind out to do. I'm really happy and proud of you, you seem to put your whole heart into the game when I watch you guys play."

For some reason he blushed at that comment and turned his back to me to grab some more bowls before turning back his cheeks still a lil pink.

"Thanks Indi, I appreciate hearing that come from you, but you should come to more of the games in person. It's way better than watching it on TV. I could get you tickets"

"You don't have to Jayson, besides sometimes when I'm not watching on TV I go with Jonah, he's a huge fan."

Jaysons glow from his face from our conversation seemed to diminish a bit when I said that.

"Oh who's Jonah, is he your boyfriend?" he said flatly.

Was I tripping or was this nigga suddenly getting jealous all of a sudden?

"No Jonah is one of my coworkers from work, we just hang out sometimes and go to the games since we both like basketball."

"Oh okay " was all he said as he put the dishes in the sink and stacked the snacks and water on the tray.

"Why would I think I have a boyfriend?"

"I would just think a person like you would," he said as he stepped towards me , his large frame getting even closer to me. Damn this man was so tall, even though I was 5 '10 he made me feel so small compared to him. "I mean I don't know, you're really smart, compassionate, funny, and a really beautiful person, any guy or girl would be stupid not to check for you ya know" he said to me while he stepped even closer, only inches from me, and placed his hands on the counter behind me closing the gap between us. Us being this close forced me to look up into his face and into his brown eyes which I couldn't stop looking at the whole time I'd been there. He licked his lips while looking into my eyes so deep, like he was searching for something, like what to say next. "I mean if it was me, I'd definitely be checking for you Indi, you're a catch for sure and somebody I would really wanna be with." He said slowly leaning down closer to my face so I wouldn't have to crane my neck looking up at him. Him saying that made my heart take a pause. Like this was crazy right? Was Jayson Tatum, a guy who could have any girl he wanted, really flirting with me? And he was so close I could feel the warm breath from his nose on my cheek and his deep voice was making my body vibrate again and react in a way it hadn't for a while. A part of me was ready to risk it all and just kiss him right then and there but I didn't want to be unprofessional even though we had crossed that line like 10 mins ago. Plus even if I did, where would that go? I was trying to focus on my career and my art, I was not trying to get hurt again, not like before. There was a beat of silence as I tried to find the words to respond. My mind was moving a mile a minute.

"Look Jayson I appreciate you saying that but...." as I was going to continue there was a loud crack of thunder which scared the shit out of me causing me to yelp jumping into Jayson. I tripped over his foot and almost fell but he immediately caught me and pulled me to his strong chest. "You okay Indi?" he asked, rubbing his hand slowly up my back comforting me from my scare but making my body feel like it was on fire at the same time.

"Yeah I'm fine, I'm just terrified of thunder and lightning so I get a little scared during storms."

He chuckled softly flashing his perfect smile.

"Don't worry I got you," he said to me, smiling sweetly.

Suddenly he pulled me closer and wrapped his hands around my waist. His eyes had lowered and he had a serious almost lustful look on his face as he bent his head lower to mine. I could feel my heart in my stomach. This moment seemed almost surreal as the thundering of the rain hushed out all noise and it seemed like it was just us there frozen in that moment. We were so close I could feel his breath on my lips. I bit my lip in anticipation and said his name softly before his lips connected into mine.