Lucas tips his head back, laughing. “Your obsession with heris really unhealthy. You need some serious help. She’s moved on, man. You should too.”
“Oh, you think she’s moved on with you? Trust me, she’s not thinking about you.” I smile knowingly and that cocky grin slides off his face. “I don’t know what the fuck Annalise sees in you, man. Wait until she hears about what you’ve been saying.”
Shaking my head, I walk back toward my locker. I can’t believe I felt threatened by someone as pathetic as Lucas.
“Who do you think she’s going to believe? Me or the man who cheated on her?” he sneers.
My head whips around. “What the fuck did you say?”
“Maddox, walk away, man,” Elijah warns, stepping in front of me and holding a hand to the center of my chest.
Lucas leans against the lockers, folding his arms. “She claims the breakup was because of long distance, but I highly doubt that’s the case, given your reputation.”
My mind goes blank and all I can see is red. I shove Elijah out of the way and lunge at Lucas, punching him square in the jaw.
Being able to unleash all the anger I’ve built up toward him over the years is exhilarating.
Lucas staggers backward, rubbing the side of his face. With fury igniting in his eyes, he comes at me swinging, striking me on my temple. All hell breaks loose and our teammates clamor around us, trying to pull us apart. I land a blow to the side of his mouth and blood gushes from his lip. Elijah and Andrés grab my arms, pulling me back before I cause any further damage.
“What the fuck is going on here?” Coach’s booming voice fills the locker room. His eyes dart from Lucas’s split lip to the welt forming on my temple.
“These two idiots are trying to kill each other,” Darius says, shaking his head.
“Hilton. Kamado. My office. Now,” Coach demands, his nostrils flaring and face reddened from anger.
We round the corner, following him into the office. He slams the door behind him. “First, both of you play like garbage tonight, and now this? What the fuck is the matter with you two?”
“He punched me first!” Lucas points at me accusingly.
“Yeah, to get you to shut the fuck up. All you ever do is run your damn mouth and spread lies about me,” I say, glaring at him.
Lucas scoffs. “They’re not lies. The world needs to know what a?—”
“ENOUGH!” Coach slams his fist on the table, causing us to jump. I’ve seen Coach angry before, but not like this. “I don’t give a shit who started the fight. I need y’all to grow up and stop acting like some goddamn teenagers.”
Lucas and I remain quiet, staring down at the ground. Seeing the disappointment on Coach’s face makes me feel small. He’s been a father figure to me since I joined the Dragons, and he was one of the players I looked up to when I was growing up. Being able to work under him is an honor.
“Do you know how many people would kill to be in your spot? Being in the NBA is a privilege, and you two seem to be taking it for granted,” Coach continues. “I need you two to work out whatever shit y’all have going on because I do not tolerate this on my team. Now, apologize to each other.”
“You gotta be fucking kidding me,” I mutter under my breath. Coach’s eyes shift to mine, his face serious.
I inhale deeply and look at Lucas. “I’m sorry for hitting you, Hilton.”
I’m sorry I didn’t hit you harder.
“I’m sorry for what I said earlier,” Lucas says, his tone lacking any remorse.
“If this happens again, there will be consequences,” Coach says. “Do I make myself clear?”
“Yes, sir,” we say in unison, nodding our heads.
Coach scrubs a hand down his face. “I feel like I’m a principal scolding children. Hilton, you are free to go. Kamado, stay back.”
Lucas nods and steps out of the office, shutting the door behind him. Coach waits a few moments before turning to me.
“I know there’s some bad blood between the two of you, but you gotta learn to ignore him.”
“It’s hard for me to keep my cool around him. He knows how to push my buttons and constantly provokes me until I snap,” I say, squeezing my fingers.
