“You think that’s true?” Kieran asked. Atticus scanned his face. Kieran pulled in a short, shaky breath. “You think we can fix it?”
Atticus hesitated, weighing his words carefully. “I think my sister has had to make some really hard decisions lately,” hefinally said. Kieran felt pinned by his bright eyes, a different shade of blue, but their shape so, so similar to the ones he’d longed to see for the last two weeks. “I think you could be the easiest decision she’s ever had to make.”
The air rushed out of Kieran, a relief coursing through him that he hadn’t known he needed. Because Atticus was his friend. Atticus was Sammie’s brother. He knew the two of them in such a specific way. There was history there, so much history between the three of them.
And if Atticus felt any amount of confidence that Kieran and Sammie could mend things, then it had to be true, didn’t it?
“Listen up!”
Coach Rodriguez’s booming voice rang out, echoing through the room and quieting the players in the span of a heartbeat.
“The Comets just won their game,” Coach said, planting his hands firmly on his hips. “They’re the favorite to win this whole thing. We had a good season. It was rocky there at the end, but you pulled your shit together and came out on top, and that’s all that matters today. You got us here. Now I want you to get us to that final game. Get us through the next two, so we can face those fuckers and steal the title they already think they’ve won!”
A chorus of whooping shouts went up, a cacophony that rattled through Kieran.Thiswas one of the things he loved most about playing. The moments before the game, when anything could happen. When they guys he’d come to love like a family all buzzed with the same collective energy. A vibration that tied them all together, each and every one, a rhythm they all felt as they prepared to head out onto that court and fight for the win.
“Get up there!” Atticus was shoving Kieran off the bench. Bowen and Eric were rabid dogs at his feet, pushing him forward.
Kieran had never been one for speeches. He really wasn’t one for a lot of words in general. But his team deserved to hear himtoday. They deserved to know how proud he was. Of them, of himself, of everything they’d accomplished together.
“The Hawks are good,” he began, holding the rapt attention of every player in that room. “We know they’re good, we’ve played them before. We’ve beat them, but we’ve also lost to them. It’s easy to say that this game could go either way.” He paused, reaching up to tie his curls back from his face. “I’m not gonna say that. Not only is thatnotwhat you all want to hear from me, but itis not true.”
A few of the players whispered to one another, but most kept their eyes locked on Kieran. Public speaking was terrifying at best, but not in front of this group. Not in front of his family.
“We fought for our place in this tournament. Weearnedit. I’ve seen each and every one of you bust your asses all season long just for a shot at this.” He sucked in a heavy breath, steeling himself for the next part. “You showed up when I didn’t. When I couldn’t.” His nose itched with emotion. “You made it so easy to fight for this team, because it’s about so much more than just the game now. It’s about a story we’re building together, piece by piece, day by day.” He pointed sharply toward the door. “Every second that I get to spend out on that court with you means more to me than I know how to say. So instead, I’ll just say this.”
A faucet dripped somewhere in the distance as Kieran steadied himself.
“You’ve made this the best season of my career, and I’ve never been more proud to lead this team. Thank you for letting me in, for letting me be a part of something this special. Now, let’s go tear those birds out of the sky.”
Kieran’s team crashed into him, a poor excuse for a huddle, but he didn’t mind. As arms wrapped around him, as faces pressed close and more bodies barreled into the group, cheers and war cries and maybe even a littleactualcrying bursting out around him, Kieran had truly never felt more at home.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
“NO MORE ALCOHOL.” Kai groaned as he leaned back in his seat.
“Lightweight,” Sammie and Atticus chirped at the same time. Ivy giggled into her sparkling water. The four of them were shoved into a small booth in the hotel’s restaurant. Players and team staff were strewn about the place. The guys had wanted to go out, to celebrate their penultimate win the night before the final game, which their coach expressly forbade under any circumstances.
He okayed light appetizers in the hotel lobby, as long as everyone on the team agreed there would beno drinking.
“Fuck off.” Kai glared at Sammie as he reached under the table to pinch Atticus on the thigh, sending him bouncing around the booth seat to try and avoid the pain.
“Nobody said you had to celebrate for the both of us,” Atticus crooned, earning another pinch. He picked up Kai’s glass, remnants of a neon blue fruity concoction pooling at the bottom. “I don’t even like this sweet shit.”
Kai groaned again, dropping his head onto his folded arms. “I do, that’s the problem.”
“They’re cute,” Ivy whispered, leaning close to Sammie. Since their evening spent raiding dragon hoards, things had almost gone back to normal. There was still a hesitancy between them, a tentative truce that still needed reinforcement on Sammie’s end.She knew it would be fine, though. Ivy had accepted her apology, and as far as Sammie was concerned, that had been the biggest hurdle. If she could make it that far, she could go the distance in proving that their friendship was one she would always fight for.
“They are.” Sammie smiled to herself, which seemed to catch her brother’s eye. He frowned.
“What are you two whispering about? Haven’t we all learned our lessons when it comes to secrets?”
Sammie rolled her eyes as Ivy leaned forward. “Actually, I have a bone to pick with you shitheads.” Ivy pointed at all three of them in turn, though Kai didn’t notice, considering his face was still buried in the table. “I finishedBanana Fishand what theactualfuck?” She looked at them in mock horror. “Are you all so miserable that you had to bring me down with you?”
Atticus beamed as Sammie shrugged. Kai’s shoulders shook with… giggles?
“I’m never taking another recommendation from any of you ever again.” Ivy crossed her arms, sinking low in the booth.
“It was great, right?” Sammie nudged Ivy with her elbow. Deep frown lines cut into her friend’s face as she pondered the question.
