Colson looks like he’s trying to pretend he didn’t get metaphorically punched in the stomach.
I fold my arms. “In the whole league? Wow!” I say to Evan, side-eyeing Colson.
“My mom told me if I can get A’s and B’s this year, I can get a new jersey. I showed her one of yours. The special city jersey from this year.” He rocks back on his heels and my heart warms from sweet Evan.
A muscle in Colson’s jaw ticks and for the first time since I met him, he looks… guilty. Probably has something to do with his future in the NBA being in shambles.
Evan puts the nail in Colson’s grumpy coffin when he asks, “Are you helping us today? I’d be the coolest kid in my grade if I can tell them I got to hang out with Colson Burke this summer.” His eyes are wide and honest.
I try not to smile, pressing my lips together, but I can’t help it. My lips tug up at the corner. I couldn’t have drawn this up any better. And it’s like I can feel his icy shell melting.
Colson rubs his hands over his face and drops his shoulders in defeat. “Just for today.”
“Yay!” Evan yells so I don’t have to.
“See you in ten minutes,” I call over my shoulder as Evan and I walk back across the yard to the rec center.
My stomach flips and I can’t tell if it's a surprise from him agreeing to help me. Or something else.
Something else I refuse to acknowledge.
seven
Colson
Ican’tbelieveI’mactually walking toward the rec center. Actually, I can. It’s Evan’s fault—tiny human with his too-big glasses and the story about his mom bribing him with my jersey. Him talking about his mom had my chest cracking open.
Then it was his brother, and his class; how excited he was to be in front of me was like a glimmer of light in the darkness. For a moment, I wasn’t the guy who yelled at his coach on national television. I wasn’t the screwup or the potential has-been. I was somebody’s favorite.
And you don’t say no to a kid who says something like that. Not when your mom once saved up her tip money to surprise you with your first NBA jersey when you were about his age.
Now I’m here, standing outside the gym, hands shoved deep in my pockets, giving myself one last out. I could turn around right now. Walk back to the house. Make it clear this was nothing but a momentary lapse in judgment. Hell, they probably expect me to back out.
As if he has the best timing to ever exist, the door opens and Evan’s face peers through. “Coach Sadie told me to make sure you weren’t stuck out here. Said you might need a little encouragement.”
The way his tiny voice almost stumbles over the wordencouragement. I’m definitely not going back to the house.Coach Sadie. Fuck, how does she know me like this?
“No, I’m not stuck. I’m coming in,” I say, and with each word, the little boy’s eyes light up.
Evan opens the door further. “I told her you would. Colson Burke wouldn’t let us down.”
I’m going to melt into this floor. Evan is being too fucking nice to me right now. Part of me wonders if this is truly all him or if he had some specific coaching before he came to find me.
I take a couple steps in and the second I’m all the way inside, the chorus of small voices nearly rattles the windows.
I sigh, mutter a curse under my breath, and muster all the energy I’ll need for this.
“Say hi to Coach Colson.” Sadie’s sing-song voice cuts through the excitement.
And like they’ve said it a hundred times, all the kids call in unison, “Hi, Coach Colson!”
I lift my finger up and mouth ‘one time’ to Sadie. She nods, her dark blonde hair in a ponytail kissing her shoulders.
Sadie blows her whistle and all the kids' eyes go to her, like their heads are on a swivel. She looks at me over the top of the clipboard, eyebrows raised like she can’t believe I showed. When she flashes me a smile, my knees try to wobble.
Fucking traitors.
We’rewarmingupaftera halftime snack when I see a kid who hasn’t made a shot all day.
