I came back to my alma mater tonight because they’re honoring last year’s championship team. Watching the banner drop from the rafters hits me with pride as it takes its place beside the one my dad won when he played here.
He shakes off my compliment and just smiles at me and it hits me how much I miss my college teammates. The NBA is great, but it’s a job. A business. In college, it’s life—you pour everything into it. There’s passion, and the drive to win is like nothing else. You still find that in the league, but it’s not the same.
“How’s the league, man?” Carter asks. “Is it everything you hoped it would be?”
“Everything and more. But yeah… I miss this.”
He nods, taking it all in. We talk for a few minutes until Williams saunters over, a rare smirk on his face.
“Williams—or do you only go by Captain now?” He laughs and shakes his head. Always the picture of humility. I wasn’t surprised when he was voted captain. He’s come out of his shell and become a vocal leader.
“Nah. You’ll always be the Cap, Mills.”
His eyes scan the gym and I know who he’s looking for. Like me, Williams has a girl he’s always wanted—but never could have. I don’t know the whole story, but Lindsey Sharpe and Williams have history, and he’s drawn to her.
Sounds familiar.
His eyes narrow, and I follow his stare. Lindsey’s in her orange-and-blue Titans dance uniform fiery red hair long and wavy and glitter sparkling on her cheeks. She’s talking to my sister, but that’s not what Williams is destroying with his stare. It’s the male hand wrapped around Lindsey’s waist—belonging to someone other than him.
“Who’s that?” I regret it instantly when I look over Williams’s shoulder and see Carter giving me a big X with his arms.
Williams doesn’t look away from them when he answers in a clipped tone. “Keagan Wilder.”
My eyes widen as I look back and catch the face of the man claiming Lindsey very publicly. “I’m sorry, man. I thought after we won in the spring you were going to make it official.” Carter slaps his forehead, frustrated I didn’t take the hint.
“Things change. Listen, it’s good to see you, Mills. I gotta head out.” And without waiting for a response, Williams walks off.
Carter’s glare makes me laugh—because he’s only half serious which is basically how he lives. “Bro, I gave you the X. You don’t ask Williams about Lindsey.Ever.”
“What happened?”
Carter hesitates, and I’m not sure I want to know, but it’s too late. “He won’t tell me the details. He and Lindsey were together right after the national championship. Then, out of nowhere, she’s official with Keagan and Williams is eternally miserable.”
“Keagan Wilder. He’s a good dude?” I’ve never met him, but the press paints him out to be baseball’s golden boy. He’s highly sought-after with insane pitching and a batting average that scouts drool over.
Carter nods, grimacing. “I think that’s the hardest part for Williams. She found a guy who’s good to her and can protect her. It’s all messed up.”
“What about you, Mills? You still hung up on Mack, or have you finally moved on?”
My mouth drops open and Carter doubles over laughing. “Dude, you should see your face. I don’t know how your sister didn’t see it for years. It’s always been obvious you’ve had a thing for her.”
“Why didn’t you say anything before now? And, well, it’s complicated.”
“Man, it wasn’t my place. Plus, she was so far away—and had a boyfriend. I do have boundaries, despite what y’all think.” I laugh, thinking about how involved Carter was in helping Riggs and Reagan last year. He saw what even they couldn’t: they were meant to be.
“What about you, Carter? Didn’t you have a girl?” For the first time, in his life, Carter doesn’t say a word. “Come on, man. You always ask about everyone else’s love lives, so you have to share too.”
My usually happy-go-lucky friend sobers before he says quietly, “It’s complicated.” I don’t push. We say goodbyes, and I congratulate Coach Hart and Riggs before hugging my sister and heading out.
On the drive home, I promise myself I won’t waste any more time sitting back and watching the girl of my dreams slip through myfingers again. When I finally make it back home to Charlotte late that night, I fall asleep fast— for the first time in months.
CHAPTER
FIFTEEN
MACKENZIE
Ihaven’t had much time to think about Jordan’s visit because school’s been relentless. Between lesson plans, assessments, and faculty meetings, I barely do anything after work besides eat and sleep. So, here we are at the end of November, and he’ll be in my classroom after lunch.
