Page 16 of Worth the Trip

“Man.”

“Get outta here.”

Malik headed toward the locker room, smiling, and I watched long enough to see him disappear through the door before reaching for my whistle.

“You thinking again.”

Malcolm dropped onto the equipment cart beside me with one leg stretched in front of him.

“I do that sometimes.”

“Dangerous hobby.”

“You should try it.”

“Nah. I protect my peace.”

“You don’t know what peace is.”

“I know enough to recognize when somebody else ain’t got none.”

I looked at him.

He grinned. “See?”

“See what?”

“You doing it again.”

“Doing what?”

“Thinking like the answer might file a report if you stare hard enough.”

“Man, shut up.”

His laugh followed as he leaned back against the cart. We sat there for a minute, watching the last players disappear inside before he nodded toward the locker room.

“For real, Malik straight?”

“As much as he can be today.”

Malcolm nodded, then looked at me. “You good?”

I frowned. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

“’Cause you collect people.”

“I coach people.”

“Mhm.”

“That’s literally my job.”

“Lando.”

“What?”

He studied me for a second, apparently deciding how committed he was to whatever argument he’d been preparing. “Never mind.”