All I Need (The Knights, #1)

by E. Salvador

Just like I didn’t expect to fall in love with her, it just happened. I hadn’t realized how deep I was until I figured if it’s not her, it’s not anyone else.

Every moment I spend with her leaves me wanti...

Jagger: I swear you’ll never see me pussy whipped. Jayden: We know.

And the idea of Jagger with a girlfriend seems…illogical.

Jagger: TJ I can’t wait for the day Lola comes to her senses and realizes you’re not worth it and leaves your ass. When she does, daddy will be right here to console her.

She hums. “In that case, I think I can fit you in.” “I know you can.” My gaze flickers to her mouth as hers drifts below my waist.

“It’s easy for me to say what I said because I’ve had to deal with it for almost three years. Not to mention, I was in therapy for it, and then you and Nix came along and I found my happy place.”

“But you, you got thrown into this and I really wish you hadn’t. I wish I could make it all go away. I really fucking wish I could, Lola. But even though I can’t, just know that I’m always going to be here. If I need to cuss someone out online, then I will. I’ll even find out where they live if I need to.”

“I really want to kiss you right now,”

“You know, you amaze me.” “You’ve said that before.” “I wanted to remind you again.”

“My thoughts are that I’m in love with my tour guide.”

“Louise, I love you. This”—I grab her hand, placing it on my chest right where my heart beats wildly for her—“this is yours, it’s all yours, and will always be yours. I want you to know that you own every part of me, and no one, absolutely no one will ever have this because it’s all for you, my love, my happy, my everything, only for you.”

“You love me?” Her softened eyes search mine. “Louise, I fucking love you.” She blows a shaky breath, smiling despite the way her bottom lip trembles. “And I love you.” Such simple words, but I swear they ignite every inch of me.

“Never been more thankful for peach juice in my life.”

“Whenever you look in the mirror, I want you to look at this and remind yourself who owns you,” he gravely murmurs against the spot. “Remind yourself that you’re fucking mine.”

“You’re annoying.” “But I’m your annoying person.”

Every inch of you. Every part of you. Every microscopic thing is nothing but perfection. I won’t let you believe otherwise.”

“Mmm, you look like a fucking dream,”

“Fuck,” he hoarsely says and clears his throat. “I’ve never…that was…you were…fucking hell, Lola, you broke me.”

“I’ve been thinking a lot about you and Phoenix, and I’ve decided that I’m going to wait until next year to enter the draft.”

“I know what you’re thinking, but I meant it when I told you I don’t want to be anywhere you and Phoenix aren’t. I’m sorry that I made you choose between me and school. That was stupid and selfish. I didn’t think that through, but I’ve put a lot of thought into this.”

“Yes, it’s my dream, but there’s always next year. You and Phoenix are my priority.

“I’d do anything for you both. Even if it means putting it off for one more year because as much as I love basketball, I want nothing more than to have the two people who mean the most to me. And I can’t play if you guys aren’t there. Basketball serves a purpose in my life, but you both are my purpose too.”

So I knew one day it’d be just Phoenix and me. But now, it’s not just us. TJ’s in our lives. And he’s not just someone who’s going to be here from time to time, but someone who’s going to be here forever.

“We’re not going to stay here because we’re going with you.”

“I’m not going anywhere. I’m here,” he assures me. “But you don’t need to be here. You need to be wherever it is that you get drafted to, and Phoenix and I will be with you.”

Wherever it is, we’ll be with you.”

Because where you go, I go.”

“Your pussy is mine, so my money, your money. Stop. Being. Stubborn.”

“Lola?” “Yeah?” “I’m thankful for peach juice.” “Me too.” I smile.

“Forget it. Fuck you.” “Daisy, I—” He grabs her elbow, but she jerks it away. “Touch me again and I swear to God, I’ll break your fucking hand,” she angrily spits out before she storms in our directions and steps out of the room.

“I love you, Phoenix.” I rest my forehead against his tiny one. “Luh you, Daddy.” He cheekily grins.

The noise, the pats to my back, the ripple of blue and black become nothing but a blur because having them both here is all I need.

“I’m thankful for peach juice.”

“You say the sweetest things to me, Teddy.”

“I didn’t understand it at first, but then you explained it and it all made sense. Just like when you showed up in my life again, slowly everything started making sense. With all the chaos and peace in my life, I decide I want no one else to spend it with than with you. I want the calm and the crazy as long as you’re in it.”

“Read the label on the bottle.” I blink past the water that blurs my vision and release a shaky breath. Peaches, marry me.

“We’re young, really, really young. We still have a lot in this world to experience, a lot to see, a lot to learn, and so much to do. But, Louise, there’s no one, absolutely no one in this world I’d rather go through life with than with you.”

“This world is filled with infinite possibilities. Some are in our control and some aren’t. Meeting you was out of my control, but loving you was something I had complete and total control of. You’re my most favorite and unexpected possibility, and I don’t want to stop exploring the endless possibilities life has to offer as long as you’re in it.”

Life may not have turned out the way I wanted, but in the end, it turned out to be everything I needed.