She elbows me just as the next New York recruit is announced.
The draft marches on and on, and I can’t stop yanking on my tie. I feel like I’m choking. Pretty much every team I tried out for has come and gone by this stage, and I can see my options narrowing before my eyes.
“Relax, Conley.” Amy squeezes my leg. “You’ll be right up there with the rest of them.”
She sounds calm—almost threateningly so.
“Why do you make it sound like you blackmailed someone, or something?”
Please tell me she didn’t…
I whip around for a closer look at her, taking her chin between my fingers and tilting her face to mine. I narrow my eyes.
“Did you have something to do with Don going to New York?”
She beams back at me.
“Let’s just say, I know a guy who knows a guy…”
I freeze. I wouldn’t put it past her, but still… She didn’t.Did she?
“Only kidding!” She bursts out laughing. “You’re so cute and gullible when you’re stressed, you know that?”
I give her a gentle shove.
“I’m seriously freaking out.” I eye her. “I’m warning you—me and Meeko are coming for you tonight.”
She plants a kiss on my cheek. “Sounds good to me.”
I pull her in against me, relaxing a little when she rests her head on my shoulder. I’m glad she’s here—I still can’t believe I nearly missed out on this girl. I feel so lucky she decided to forgive me for acting like such a jerk.
With only a handful of teams left to go, the ceremony is drawing to an end, and I can feel my friends’ eyes all over me.
“Guys, come on. I know I look damn good in this suit, but you’re rubbernecking now.”
“The Miami Heat…” A voice comes blaring through the speakers. “Lewis Conley!”
For a couple of seconds, my mind goes completely blank.
“Lewis Conley?” I murmur.
My friends have burst into screams, hands flying down on my shoulder, ruffling my hair.
I blink. “Did he just say Lewis Conley?”
“Lewis Fucking Conley!” Adam yells.
I jump to my feet. “Lewis Conley!”
I did it. I fucking did it!
Coach is running wild as a roar sweeps through the gym, applause raining down over me, and all I can see is my girlfriend, holding out a fist to me now, a smile playing on the corners of her lips.
“Show me some love, Hitman!”
I scoop her up in my arms, lifting her high in the air before covering my mouth with hers. The whistling is deafening. Slowly, I lower her to the ground, and I turn. In a few quick strides, I’m up on the stage, and the realization hits.
I made it to the NBA!
