Booked & Busy ? Devin Booker

Chapter 3: Game On, Tensions High

She was looking forward to a few quiet moments to herself to fully take in her victory before shifting her focus to the next round. But as she approached the hallway leading to the locker room entrance, she was greeted by an unexpected sight for the second time that day: Devin Booker and Tyrese Haliburton were waiting for her. The two men were leaning casually against opposite walls and looked up at the squeak of her tennis shoes.

Whitney stopped, surprise imminent on her face. Security had clearly recognized Devin, thanks to his NBA All-Star status, and let them in.

"Nice shoes," she commented, noticing the familiar red stain on his otherwise perfect white sneakers—a reminder of their encounter in the dining hall. The sight was oddly satisfying.

"Yeah, some girl I've known for like ten years spilled Gatorade on them because I was getting on her nerves," Devin responded. His tone was casual, but his eyes tracked her every move with an intensity that made her stand a little straighter, despite the heavy duffel bag weighing down her right shoulder. His supportive façade from earlier was gone and a lingering resentment was bubbling beneath the surface.

Tyrese, on the other hand, was all easy charm. He smiled as he stepped forward, his warm gaze focused entirely on Whitney. "Congratulations on the win! You got me wanting to pick up tennis on the side."

"Thank you," Whitney said, a genuine smile forming despite the growing awkwardness she felt from Devin's presence.

"You know that feeling when you wake up in the middle of the night, cringing at a memory from 12 years ago that still haunts you?" Tyrese asked, seemingly randomly. "Well, I woke up last night kicking myself because I realized I'd met the prettiest girl I've ever seen and I never actually introduced myself."

Whitney let out a genuine laugh, completely ignoring the way Devin's eyes burned into the side of her face. "I know who you are. Tyrese Haliburton, starting point guard for the Indiana Pacers."

Tyrese couldn't hide the surprise in his expression and his smile grew. "I take it you're an NBA fan?"

She nodded. "Since I was 7."

"Do you know who she is?" Devin cut in, his demeanor reading undeniable irritation.

Whitney rolled her eyes.

"Is it bad that I googled you when I got back to my room last night?" Tyrese asked her, ignoring his teammate completely. His honesty was refreshing. "Whitney Denise Elliot, ranked 12th in the world, Olympic bronze medalist, and 4-time Grand Slam winner."

"Don't forget no ass," she added as a jab to Devin.

"Clearly you have a nice ass, Whitney," Devin mumbled. "I saw you hip thrust 300 pounds in college... I can only imagine how much you're doing now."

"Pervert," Whitney said, with no fire behind her words, shifting her duffle bag from her right to left shoulder. As much as she hated to admit it, she was flattered by the compliment.

At that, Tyrese instinctively grabbed the bag from her shoulder and rested it on his own. It was as if the moment he noticed her struggling with the weight, he took over without a second thought. He didn't even seem to notice he'd done it.

"Can you really serve more than 100 mph?" Tyrese asked excitedly, completely ignoring her and Devin's interaction. "I couldn't believe it when they put it on the screen. The ball was going so fast, I could hardly keep up with it."

"I can," she confirmed. "111 mph on average."

Devin's gaze flicked between them, his jaw tightening ever so slightly. "I could probably serve quicker."

Whitney decided against acknowledging his comment and giving him the satisfaction of another spat. She'd just won her first match and she wasn't going to let Devin ruin her mood again.

Tyrese appeared to agree with the sentiment because he also ignored Devin. "If you have some time before your next match, would you like to grab some coffee with me?"

Whitney blinked, taken aback by his directness. Tyrese's interest was flattering and she found herself very intrigued by him. Yet, she found herself hesitating, her thoughts distracted by the unresolved tension with Devin. She hadn't expected him to make a move so soon.

"I—uh," she stopped, glancing at Devin whose posture stiffened. "I have some media obligations today and a doubles match tomorrow so I've got a lot to do. Maybe another time?"

Tyrese's smile didn't falter. "Of course, no worries!"

"Awesome," Whitney said with a genuine smile. "I'll definitely keep the coffee offer in mind. I have to head to the locker room now."

Devin then took the duffle bag from Tyrese's shoulder and handed it back to her. "I think she needs this back," he said, his tone now slightly colder than before.

Whitney turned her back to him, giving her undivided attention to Tyrese. She extended her hand, her voice carrying a hint of playfulness. "Phone?"

Tyrese slipped it out of his back pocket without a word and placed it in her hand. Whitney touched the screen to wake it up, then raised the phone to his face, unlocking it effortlessly with Face ID. It didn't take her long to find the phone icon and she quickly saved her number in his contacts. Before he could say anything, she slipped his phone back into his pocket and continued her walk to the women's locker room.

"Text me," she said over her shoulder without looking back.

"I will!"

As Whitney walked away, she could feel Devin's eyes piercing through her back, the weight of their past hanging in the air. Tyrese was a breath of fresh air and it had been a while since she was genuinely intrigued by someone—not since Nick. Despite her growing interest in Tyrese, the unresolved tension with Devin made it hard to embrace their interactions fully.

Whitney's mind was a whirlwind of emotions as she entered the locker room. Her victory felt much farther away and her excitement leaving the court was now overshadowed by a strong motivation to keep moving forward in the tournament.

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Up Next

Chapter 4: Turning Points - Whitney's bond with Tyrese deepens as they plan a coffee date, hinting at a growing bond between them. Later, an unexpected encounter with Devin leaves Whitney reflecting on her feelings and the evolving dynamics of her relationships.

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