Page 57 of High Baller

"Since when?" he asks as we both run back up the court.

"Coming on eight weeks. I’m hoping to get her to stay for the first game." Now, that's a conversation that I can't wait to have with her. One game, that's all I want, and since all this shit has happened, I'm not sure she’ll come.

Chris taps my shoulder as coach blows the whistle. “You’ve kept that one quiet.”

“She wanted it that way, said no pictures, and I’m good with that. I like that no one knows about us. Just wish the press would fuck off.” The guys start laughing at me. Some of these guys have been playing the game for so long, they know how it works.

"Good luck with that. When they do, then tell us how you did it," Q says, and others all shout the same sort of things to me. I can't help but laugh as we walk over to coach.

Maybe they're right. I'm never going to get rid of them, so I need to make sure that Sky knows that it's all a load of shit and make sure that she believes that she's the only one for me.

“Right, boys, we have a game in two weeks. No one’s missing a training session, look through the play— I want no fuck ups,” coach tells us, and we all agree. This team is my second family. When one fucks up, we all fuck up, so we make sure that no one is left behind. "Get in the showers, and I’ll see you in the morning."

I can't wait for the first game to get the rush running through my body again. The high feeling on shooting the ball through the hoops, hearing the crowd cheering, hearing the crowd talk crap about you so you lose your head… Just thinking about the first game has me excited.

"She'll call. You're worse than a girl right now," Derek tells me as we make our way back home. "I've spoken to her, I asked her straight is she breaking up with you, and she didn't answer. That's a good sign to me."

I don't answer him back, as I thought she'd want to talk to Calvin about it. I just thought maybe she would've messaged me today or something, but there was no word from her at all. I keep trying to ring her, but she doesn’t pick up, and if I stop trying, she might think that I'm not trying hard enough.

“I have a few things for you to sign,” Derek tells me as we pull up to my house. “The sponsor wants them done so we can move on to the next step.”

“I'll sign them now. Did you read through them?”

"What a question, you know I have." We get out of the car, and I look over at him. “Do you want to come out tonight?"

"No, I'm going to stay in just in case Sky calls me later.” I make my way into the house, and hear Ariel talking to someone. Does she not have a job or her own fucking house? I look over at Derek as he shrugs his shoulder. Well, it looks like he didn't know she was coming over either, so why is she here?

I walk into the kitchen and scan the area to see who she's talking with. My eyes lock with Sky’s as she drinks her tea. I know I should be saying the word, hello, but no words are coming out.

“I thought we should talk,” he tells me as her eyes flick over at Derek then back to me.

“How long are you here for?”

"I leave in the morning—it’s up to you now. Do I leave happy, or do I leave broken?"

Derek pats me on the shoulder as Ariel walks past me.

"I'd never do anything to break the trust you have for me, never." I throw my gym bag on the floor, and walk over to the counter. Not too close, as I don't want to push anything with Sky, but it's taking every ounce of strength in me to not touch her.

“I'm not sure that I can keep doing this, Trey. We've been apart for nearly three weeks, and the number of things I've had to read about, I don't think you're ready for a committed relationship." She places her mug on the counter and folds her arms. Her eyes are red and slightly puffy, and I’m sure it’s from crying.

“I've wanted a relationship with you since I saw you. I've not even looked at another girl. I only see you. I only want you.” I stop for a moment as she wipes her cheek. This isn’t what I wanted; I never wanted to make her cry, ever. "The press has painted a certain picture of me. I'm not making excuses for it because at one time, they were right, but that’s not me anymore But, if I stop that picture, they'll be—"

“Trey, I get it. It doesn’t mean I have to like it, and it doesn't mean that when I see it, I’m going to feel fine about it.” She takes a step closer to me. “It’s going to hurt, and I’m not going to be okay to talk to you about it all the time.” Sky lets out a deep sigh and shakes her head. “I called Cody. I needed to talk to someone that would understand the situation I’m in.” I don’t say anything. I know she has things that she wants to say. “She told me that they've been together for five years, and she still has to read things about Russell that aren’t true. She was honest and told me that he did cheat on her, but she loved him and gave him a second chance.” She looks up at me, her eyes boring into mine. “There won’t be a second chance for you, Trey. The second there's a picture of you in bed with another girl, or a story turns out to be right, that’ll be it.”

“You’re the only girl for me. I'll never break your trust, so I'll never need a second chance.” I walk over to her, standing so close that I can feel her breath on my chest. I hook my finger under her chin, lifting her so that she's looking up at me. “I’m sorry that I’ve made you cry.”

Sky rests her forehead on my chest as I wrap my arms around her. I feel like shit right now that I've hurt her. The pain in my chest has never been there before. I knew I was falling in love with her, but after these two days, I know I'm in love with her. The thought of her ending things between us scares me, and I've never been that scared before. The thought of not talking to her on the phone, not seeing her again, the fear ran through me. I won't fuck this up again.

“Shorty, are we good? I just want us to be back to how it was,” I say as her arms wrap around my waist.

"I've missed you," she says, looking up at me.

I lower my head and gently kiss her. “I’ve missed you too,” I say into her mouth, not breaking my lips away from hers

"I can see it,” she says, pulling away from me, and she laughs. I feel like someone needs to pinch me, to make sure I'm not dreaming this right now. “Oh, I so want to do what you're thinking, but I need some food." She points the sandwich behind me.

Right now, I don’t care about anything. Sky’s forgiven me for the video, and I just want to show her how much I’ve missed her, how sorry I am, and how much she means to me.