Page 21 of My Heart to Keep
I whipped my sweaty head at him, probably causing my brain to suffer from whiplash. “You have? He’s okay with me leaving?” A pang of hurt spread throughout my chest. Coach Dean had said he had big plans for me and the team. He and I had talked about the upcoming season, practices, the captain’s role, the new guys on the team, and even about state championships.
Coach Green lifted up his ball cap, swiped a hand over his short salt-and-pepper hair, and then returned the cap to his head. “I know this sounds like it’s terrible news, but I struggled with my decision. Coach Dean and I are good friends. The last thing I want to do is steal his players. But he assures me he’s fine with me making the offer. He wants to give you the best opportunities. Look, Maiken, I know you had a terrible season last year. Coach Dean tells me you’ve been working your tail off. And I see it here. I’m highly impressed with your dedication and work ethic. You have great potential to play for the NBA one day.”
His compliment dulled the pang in my chest and validated all the long workouts, the endless hours of shooting ball, and the days of pushing myself to the brink of pain even when I knew I should’ve taken breaks.
Sighing, I glanced up at the clear blue sky, saying a prayer to Dad, who I hoped was watching over me. I longed to have him there, talking to me, giving me advice, helping me make the hard decisions, deal with girls, everything. Sadly, he wasn’t.
I swallowed down the emotions clogging my throat. I wasn’t there to get teary-eyed. I was a young man who knew what he wanted, at least in the next phase of his life after high school.
“I know this is sudden,” Coach Green said. “Just think about it. Talk to Coach Dean. I’ll show you around the school this weekend as well. We’re playing a scrimmage with the Greenridge team. Then afterward, you can make your decision. Fair enough?”
That was more than fair. I found the timing suspect, though, since Mom was considering the school. “Coach, have you been talking to my mom?”
Lines dented his high forehead. “Not at all. Should I?”
I chuckled. “Nah. She’s been looking into Greenridge for us this year.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Really?”
“She feels the school would be good for her five teenagers.”
“I see. Greenridge is a great school and well known for preparing students for college. We have a great ROTC program for those interested in the military, and we have smaller classes than public schools. Every student who attends Greenridge is given a job on campus, from tutoring others, to working in the cafeteria, to leading and managing new students.”
I wasn’t interested in ROTC, although if basketball didn’t pan out, then I’d always thought I would follow in Dad’s footsteps.
“Has your mom visited the school yet?”
“She’s supposed to in the next week or so. I guess my cousin Kross is supposed to accompany her and the family.”
He rose, fingering his whistle. “Kross is a good egg. He did well while at Greenridge.”
I wouldn’t exactly know, although he was a big-time boxer.
“Let’s invite her up this weekend,” Coach said. “I’ll show her around. For now, get something to drink and think about our conversation.”
“Yes, sir. Coach, what about the other guys? I’m sure they would like the same opportunity. Noah in particular.”
Noah and I hadn’t talked much about his background except that he’d moved twice in the last three years. His mom accepted temporary assignments with the company she worked for, which kept them traveling around like gypsies.
Coach smoothed a hand over his somewhat big belly. Word from some of the boys who’d attended his camp last year was that he liked beer. “None of them are as good as you, son. And I need a shooting guard.” He blew his whistle.
The guys jogged over.
Noah pulled me aside as I headed over to get some Gatorade. “What’s up, dude?”
“Coach wants me to attend Greenridge this fall.”
He slapped me on the back. “For real? That’s great.”
“What would you do?” I asked. “You’ve heard of the school.”
He ran his fingers through his black hair. “I would take it, man. Lots of guys from there have gone on to play in the big leagues.”
I grabbed a drink. “Why don’t you enroll?”
“Noah. Maiken,” Coach called. “Hurry up.”
I discarded my cup in a box Coach had set out for trash.
