Page 64 of How We Loved

Basketball season officially starts on Monday, and I’m ready to get back into a sport that I can get lost in.

As I run through some drills, all I can think about is Maya and this guy. I can’t figure out what I am more upset about—her blowing me off or her blowing me off for another guy.

I hear a car door shut and turn to see Eli heading toward me. There’s only one guy I’d want to hang out with right now, and it’s Eli, so I say a silent thank-you to God and greet him by tossing the ball his way.

I know he won’t question what I’m thinking or give me shit about it. He’ll let me sit in my pity party with no judgment, and that’s exactly what I need right now.

He grabs the ball, puts down his bag, then shoots from where he stands, making the shot with ease.

All the guys in our crew are good at sports, but Eli seems to stomp us all. He was the football quarterback, he’s our ace pitcher for baseball, and he always leads the team in three-pointers in basketball. It’s not only with his height, standing a few inches taller than us, but by his abilities as well. He’s a natural athlete in all aspects of the word.

“What are you doing out here so early?” I ask after a few minutes of shooting around with neither of us saying a word.

“Needed to think,” he responds without looking at me while taking a shot.

He makes it so I get the rebound and toss it back his way for him to shoot again.

“I take it, you’re doing the same thing about Maya?” he asks.

I don’t respond. My not saying anything is the only confirmation he needs.

“I get it.” He runs up for a layup. “Question is, what are you going to do about it?”

I grab the ball and do the same. “Should I ask you the same question?” I put it back on him, not wanting to respond because I have no clue.

I don’t even know who he’s thinking about, but I’ve never seen him act like this, so I have to admit, I’m intrigued.

He ignores my question, so I do the same thing about what he asked me.

We play like this for an hour, neither of us saying a word as we toss the ball back and forth, both thinking about the girls that plague us, but if he’s like me, he doesn’t want to admit it to himself.

I check my watch to see everyone is due at my house shortly. “We should head out. You coming over?”

He agrees it’s time to go and turns to gather his stuff. “Yeah, I will. I have something to do first.”

I look at him. “You good?”

“Yep.” He gives me a firm nod.

I didn’t expect anything more from him, but at least he knows I’m here if he needs me.

“Cool.” I give him knucks and head back to my truck.

Shortly after I arrive back at my place, Dalton and Natalie show up as well.

“What’s up?” Dalton slaps my hand hello. “Where’s Maya?”

“She’s with Trevor,” Natalie responds for me.

I sigh, then stand to give Natalie a hug. “I figured. I only got a text, saying she couldn’t come, and she’d see me at school tomorrow.” Natalie looks uneasy, so I narrow my eyes at her. “What do you know?”

“We talked last night.”

“And?”

She shrugs. “And she seems really happy.”

“But?”

---