But then a miracle happens. My father nods.
He actually nods.
And then my mother does the same. “Okay, fine.” She points her finger at me. “But don’t let yourself down, Jun Hie. We still expect you to protect our name and make this family proud.”
“Of course.” I nod, still in shock over their quick changeup.
I thought I’d be battling this out for days.
I guess I said all the right things to make them believe me.
“Go and shower.” Ma points up the stairs. “When you come back down, we’ll put together a plan that will ensure you stay on track with your studies while also refining your people skills in the house. We have to make sure basketball doesn’t dominate your life. I don’t want these boys pulling you away from what’simportant. The only reason we agreed to let you play is for the benefits of the scholarship. But your true purpose at this school is to be top of the class. To get your degree Summa Cum Laude.”
Trust my parents to suck the joy out of this win.
Spinning, I head upstairs, trying to remind myself that I’m a grown adult. But at every turn, I keep finding myself feeling like a little kid.
How do I stop that from happening?
You move into this house with the basketball guys and you ignore everything your parents tell you to do.
I nod, but the idea still has my stomach twisting into a painful knot. I’ve spent my life doing everything they’ve told me to do. There is no other option.
I’m just walking into my room when my phone buzzes. Pulling it out, I check the text from Mac.
Mac: So, are you in or out?
With a twitchy smile, I reply:
I’m in.
Mac sends me a shocked GIF, followed by another text.
Mac: Thank fuck for that. Wouldn’t want to be there without you, bro.
His words loosen the knot. Heck, they even make my chest expand, like I can breathe without it hurting. Maybe this won’t be so bad.
Mac: Welcome to the tribe, Li Man.
Mac follows up his last text with a bunch of GIFs that get more explicit as they go. I let out a soft laugh, then quickly delete them because I wouldn’t put it past my mother to check my phone while I’m in the shower.
Letting out a steadying breath, I start stripping off my clothes and thinking about what this year is going to look like.
I vacillate between thinking this is the best decision I’ve ever made to knowing it’s the worst.
By the time I’m clean, I don’t know what I’m feeling.
I just know that I can’t back out now.
I have to move in with the basketball crew.
I just have to.
37
DARIAN
Opening the door with a grin,I carry in my overstuffed suitcase and pause in the living room. We’ve been back at Nolan for about two weeks. It’s been pretty low-key; our training schedule is on summer hours, so there’s still plenty of time to chill between practices on the court and workouts in the gym. Coach is even more relaxed than last year, cutting practices shortor leaving the assistant coaches to run drills with us while he wanders off the court, looking all distracted.
