Page 43 of The Tip-Off
He answers with a chuckle. “What?”
“I’m just curious if you asked me up here to make out or if we’re really watching this movie.”
He just shakes his head. “Watch the movie, beautiful.”
20
Zeke
The next dayI’m in the weight room when Wes tracks me down.
“There you are. I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”
I pull my headphones down around my neck but go right into my next set of squats. “Been right here,” I grunt out.
He waits until I’ve finished and moved to add more weight before he asks, “Everything okay?”
My eyes narrow and concern flashes in his. “Everything’s fine. Why?”
Immediately, I regret giving him more ground because the concern turns to amusement. “Maybe because this is your third workout today. Is this the workout of a man with a mission or a man that is working off his sexual frustration?”
I flip him off, but he’s not totally off base. “Just focused. I’ve got interviews coming up, graduation, I got my invitation to the combine… my head is spinning.”
I’m feeling… anxious and all sorts of unprepared and no amount of working out seems to help.
He moves to help me add on the appropriate weight to the other side of the bar and asks, “So the crazy amount of working out isn’t because you’re in a Gabby-induced blue ball hell?”
“No.”
Wes stills with the weights, waiting for me to say more.
“We’re just…” Friends seems like the wrong word, but it’s the only one I can think of. “We’re friends is all.”
“Alright, if you say so.”
I do another set with him spotting me. When I rack the weight, he helps me unload the bar wordlessly. He sits on a bench and looks around the room. “I can’t believe this is all really happening. It’s not going to be the same next year without you. We had a lot of good times. I’m gonna miss it.”
“Me too.” I will. It’s been the best four years of my life, but it’s the next years of my life that I’ve been working toward for as long as I can remember.
“Does Sara still think you’ll go top five?”
“Depends on which team gets the top picks. Suns could be a possibility. They’ve had a crap season and Sara says there’s been some interest there, but everything is up in the air.” I shrug. “I’m just gonna show up and hope I get picked up by someone who will give me some floor time next year.”
I drain my water bottle and we sit, contemplative and nostalgic. Finally, Wes stands. “You done for the night?”
“Yeah, I was about to head out.”
“Good. We’re going to The Hideout.” He holds up a hand before I can protest. “Joel insisted that we need to officially celebrate my getting the coaching job and if I have to go, so do you.”
“How many more last hurrah parties you think he’s going to throw?”
Wes chuckles. “My guess? A lot.”
* * *
It’s just the roommates tonight. Which is nice. Since Wes and Joel got girlfriends, we don’t hang like this much anymore. I’m like ninety-nine percent sure their girlfriends are going to drop in “unexpectedly” later, though.
When we got to The Hideout, it was some relief to find out that Gabby was working and I wouldn’t have to watch the door wondering if she was going to show up with Blair and Katrina. But just being in the same room has me a little on edge. When she’s close, I start to forget my reasons for not making a move on her. When she’s bringing me food, it’s especially hard.
