Page 73 of Game On

“Sorry,” he says real quick, but then he hangs up. I think about throwing my phone across the room, but I don’t make it that far.

There’s another day, another game tomorrow. Who knows, maybe I’ll even play.

* * *

Alec makesit up to me the next day by visiting me in my locker room while we’re getting ready for the game. He kisses me until my head spins, and then escorts me into the boys’ locker room for the pre-game talk. Lake is glaring at me from the moment I walk in. He’s been doing that all day. Here, though, I’m silenced. I might as well be wearing a muzzle. I have to pretend that we’re just one happy team except there’s one person on this team I don’t trust for shit.

Coach goes through all his normal stuff. As the season progresses, my nerves have died down. Now that the end of the season is nearing, maybe I’ve just given up all hope of getting what I wanted out of this. With a loud clap, Coach Bradley stands. He turns toward me, a smile on his face. “You’re starting today, Dale. There’s a WNBA scout in the stands tonight. Good luck.”

Everyone turns to stare at me. My eyes go wide. I’m speechless. It isn’t until I hear Lake start to argue that I say, “Thanks, Coach.”

The rest of the team files out. It’s a home game, so the there’s the whole lasers and loud music for the starters. A smile parts my lips. And I’m one of them. Tonight will be the first time I get the Baller announcement. Holy shit.

“Come on, O’Brien,” Coach says, trying to get him out of the locker room.

The Ballers are all just standing there. They’re shocked as well. Hayes has moved almost imperceptibly closer to me. Why, I’m not sure. I’m not about to get upset. I’m thrilled.

“This is bullshit, Coach,” Lake snaps.

Coach Bradley’s eyebrows rise into his hair. “Don’t mouth me, O’Brien. You got ten suicides after the game. If you stop now, I’ll put you in later.” He turns toward me, nodding in my direction. “You should be happy for your teammate.”

“That’smyposition,” Lake seethes.

“You can’t play in the WNBA,” Coach says. “Or is that your new goal?”

“It has nothing to do with that. She’s…a girl.”

Alec puts a hand on his shoulder. “Come on, man. You’re making this worse.”

Lake pushes him. “Fuck you. You all don’t care. You’re all fucking her. You’ve lost your minds.”

Hayes moves completely in front of me. For a man with few words, his actions speak volumes. Except, I don’t need a savior right now. I just need my moment. He can say whatever he wants, Coach has already made the call.

“I’m not listening to this,” Coach says. “I don’t care about your personal relationships. This is my call. It’s done. Get your ass out onto the court, O’Brien or I’ll suspend you.”

He still doesn’t move. The veins are bulging out of his arms.

“Come on,” Alec tries again. He moves forward again, but Lake pushes him once more. Alec careens back into the lockers. He hits hard but stands right back up. “What the fuck, man?”

“You’re picking her over me!” He glares at each one of his best friends, noticing how close Hayes is to me. “That’s it. We’re fucking done.” Lake grabs a towel off one of the benches and storms through the door. Hayes moves with him until he’s blocking me at all points.

Coach sighs. “Well, that went well.”

“Of course it didn’t,” Ryan snaps. “Lake’s the starter.”

It’s like Ryan just threw a knife in my chest. Coach isn’t playing that game though. He moves forward. “It’s my call, Linc. When you become Coach, you get to make the tough calls. Before then, shut your mouth.”

He grabs his clipboard and then uses his forearm to swing the door open. The world is pressing in on me. The tension around me is crazy. They’re all pissed Lake’s not starting. At the same time, I’m more ecstatic than I’ve ever been. Outside the doors, the music starts playing the song the Ballers agreed on before the season started. My heart lodges in my throat. There’s a WNBA scout in the freaking stands. Holy shit.

Hayes puts a hand on my shoulder. I look into his deep blue eyes. “You got this,” he says.

I bite down on my lip. Hayes “Ice Man” Irving is warming to me. I can tell. I smile up at him. He’s right. I just need to put all of what just happened out of my head and play the game I know I can.

When they call my name, I run out there and slap hands with everyone. It’s not exactly like what I envisioned. I don’t get the welcome all the other Ballers do. In fact, the loud jeers from the Baller Bitches are loud and clear over any applause I get. I look up to see my dad in the front row though. He’s clapping, a smile on his face. I’m so glad he’s here for this. I mouth to him, “Call Mom.” He points a little ways down the stands, and I see Mom jumping on her toes. I smile even wider. They’re both here for this. I swallow my excitement down and try to get in the game for the shootaround.

Before long, the referee blows his whistle and I’m the one standing on the court, chasing down rebounds, taking shots. I’m electric. I feel unstoppable, unbeatable. The guys and I are working in sync. There’s a little bit of crust around the edges because I’ve never played with them like this, but Ryan’s an astounding point guard. He knows what he’s doing, so when we break for halftime, we’re up by twenty points.Twenty freaking points. This is our best game all season.

I walk into the boys’ locker room a sweaty mess, figuring Coach is going to pull me now so Lake can go back out, but he doesn’t. He makes a big speech about us working together as a team and if we’re not all working as a team, he’ll make decisions to make sure we do. When we go back out, he tells me I’m still on the floor. He puts his hands on my shoulders. “You’re doing great, kid. I know this is nerve-wracking, just keep doing what you’re doing.”

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