Page 86 of On Merit Alone
“It does.”
“Can you tell us about that?” Tonya asked. “Who got you started in the game?”
Merit took a long breath before answering. “Both my mom and dad played basketball all throughout college. It’s where they met, they even had the same number. I play because of them.”
“So you play for their legacy?” Tonya continued.
Merit swallowed. “For their memory.”
When a couple beats of silence passed, and Merit didn’t elaborate, Tonya asked, “Did they pass away?”
Mer nodded a few times without saying anything. Swallowing several more to try to contain whatever was stirring inside of her.
Finally, she said, “Yeah—yes. When I was little, they both passed away. I don’t remember much about them, but I know they loved basketball and I know they fell in love because of it. So, I love it too.”
“That’s very sweet, and I am so sorry for your loss,” Tonya said. Merit didn't respond, so she continued. “So growing up, who taught you to play?”
“Um,” Merit’s voice wavered, becoming watery and uneven as she blinked up at the ceiling. “My grandpa. He taught me—I’m sorry, I don’t really talk about this often.”
Ever. She didn’t ever talk about this. I could fucking tell by the last thread she was visibly hanging onto while just scratching the surface.
What the fuck? This was supposed to be a lighthearted interview. How the hell had my girl gotten this intense emotional shit?
I wanted to go out there and stop it. I wanted this over, if only to stop Merit’s obvious trembling as she sat there annihilating her fingers in a cobra grip. But I couldn't. I couldn’t go in and fuck with her career like that. She told me clearly that she had a contract and she wanted to keep it. But damn.
Picking up my phone, I rang the number I texted earlier. He answered on the first ring. “Carmen.”
“Are you by the arena?” I asked.
“I’m here,” he said both in the receiver and behind my back. I looked over my shoulder to see the man storming up to my side, a vicious scowl on his face as he leaned into the curtain and took in the view of Merit before us. He cursed underneath his breath. One look at her and he knew she was in terrible shape, muttering a grumbly, “I told them this was a bad idea.”
“What the hell is this, Ry?” I asked. “You knew about this and youlether do it?”
“I strictly said nothing personal,” Ryan said. “They aren’t supposed to be talking about this.”
“Well, they are.” I swallowed, tuning back into Mer as she continued on about her family.
“Grandpa taught me everything I know about basketball. He was my mom’s dad and he used to play too. Same number as my parents.”
“Is that the number you wear?”
“No,” she said. “I mean I used to wear it. But after they both were gone too, I changed it.”
“Gone?”
Merit cleared her throat, uncomfortable. Shaking as she corrected herself. “Died, too. It was a long time ago, though.”
She added the last part quickly, as if she knew if she forgot to add that, people might feel bad for her. This only got nosey Tonya to ask more questions.
“How old were you?”
“Um,” Merit looked up. Her eyes searching for something in the direction of Ryan and me. And when she found it, she looked at him pleadingly.Him. I don’t know which hurt worse, her begging for another man’s help or her falling apart right outside of my grasp. “Um, I was fourteen.”
“Fuck,” I heard myself hiss. More urgently, I turned to Ryan. “You said you didn’t agree to this?”
Ryan shook his head but seemed focused on Merit. Tonya was focused too. Milking every word she could get out of her.
“Fourteen. That’s very young,” she said, all fake concerned for Mer as she continued to drill her with questions. “Did you live with other family after that?”
