She told me about his threats.
“She didn’t leak any pictures of the wall, so stop trying to take advantage of her.”
He smiles, genuine delight edging into his expression.“When we brought you here, you were a killer.You’re losing your edge.”
“Fuck with me and we’ll find out.”
An outburst from the court makes me look up.
“Shit!”
“Fucking yes!”
The guys are gathered around a phone.
I jog over to them.
“Practice over?”I drawl.
“Clay!You made the all-star team,” Jay says.
I straighten, palming the ball in one hand.This past week, I’d all but forgotten about the timeline to name participants in the game.
The guys swarm me, throwing their arms around me and hitting me with their towels.
“I made it.”Pride rushes up through my chest.
When I look over, James is gone from the tunnel.I push him from my mind as Jay comes up beside me.
“Gentlemen, Mr.Clayton Wade has been selected for the all-star team!Let’s give him a round of applause!”
Amidst the whistles and cheers from the other players, I just stand there, relishing the moment.This is what I've worked so hard for—to be recognized as one of the best basketball players in the league.
For a moment, my worries about the future melt away.
“It’s a big deal!”Nova exclaims over the phone.Her enthusiasm lights me up.
“I’ve been a bunch of times,” I say into my car’s hands-free speaker.
“Doesn’t matter, Clay.You’re one in a million.”
“Twenty-four of three hundred,” I say because, what the hell?I’ve never been humble, might as well try it on for size.
“You’ll have to come home and celebrate.”
Home.The word hits me hard.
I never thought of my condo as home since I bought it a year ago, but hearing her say the word makes it sound appealing.
My home.Hers.Ours.
We’re in a strange in-between spot.With Coach in the hospital, we lean on one another, but we’re still rebuilding the trust between us.
Yesterday, when she came over, we watched a movie and she spent the night curled in my arms.
I want to tell her how I feel about her, but it’s a weird time to do it.Coach’s hospitalization hangs over all of us, and the mood is tense.
“Listen, I should stop in to see Coach on the way,” I say as I turn off the road and into a drive-through.“You don’t have to wait up.”
