Me: I regret to inform everyone, my dad was right—you do learn something new every day
Myles: can you believe my mom still said no?
Me: No
Me: The first thing you should do once you have your own place is get one of those.
Myles: agreed. before I even get a couch or a bed, I’ll buy a yodeling dog
Me: Priorities
Myles: speaking of priorities, I was looking at colleges in Washington state like you suggested and realized surfing would be… challenging up there
Me: It’s not really that easy here, either
Myles: I know! I’m hoping to head somewhere warmer
Me: Warm and rainy and with good surfing? That’s a tall order
Myles: well. surfing trumps rain, so.
Me: I should have known
I immediately cringe, wondering if that made me sound like a stalker who knows how much Myles loves surfing. I quickly pivot.
Me: Don’t you need to go somewhere with a good basketball team, too?
Myles: no, why would I?
Me: You don’t plan to keep playing in college?
Myles: doubt it. I’m not good enough
I frown. Does he really think that? I don’t go to the games, but the next day at school everyone’s always talking about how awesome he played, and he’s the star of the pep rallies. If this were Kat, I’d know she needed a tough-love pep talk and she’d snap right out of it. She’s stupid talented and she knows it, even if she gets in her head sometimes.
Me: Could have fooled me.
Myles: it’s the last name
Myles: it fools most people
Me: What do you mean?
Myles: maverick was the best at basketball. matt owned the football field. everyone just assumes I’ll do the same, and I’m not sure anyone’s really noticed that I’m not like them
Myles: or maybe they’re just pretending not to
I frown at the screen, surprised and a little sad that he thinks that. I know nothing about basketball, but I’ve gotta say something.
Me: Come on. Everyone knows you’ve got a mean… bounce pass?
Myles: have you ever even seen me play?
Me:… No?
Myles: hahahaha
Myles: honestly, that makes me like you more
