Page 17 of The Transfer
Carter
I’m offended
ELEVEN
RIGGS
It’s a Friday night, and instead of spending it in the gym or with my parents, I enter Five Star Gamers with my teammates. Coach rented the place out for the entire team and staff, but so far, it’s just a bro fest. No Reagan in sight. I am both relieved and disappointed at the realization. Explain that one.
Everybody gets locked in and competitive to play laser tag. It helps to be fast and find hiding spots in the area. We play a few times, and I am on the winning side twice. Working together with the guys on something other than basketball feels good. I’m getting close with the other starters: Jordan, Moore, Williams, and of course, my old friend Carter.
Once laser tag is done, we all split up and play various games to see who can collect the most e-tickets to win the dinky prizes behind the counter. It’s like being a kid again, running around with my buddies, not really worried about anything but having a good time.
Just as I finish a game of Skee-Ball, a loud noise comes from the other side of the gaming area, and I quickly walk over to see what the fuss is about.
I realize most of the guys are surrounding the Pop-A-Shot while Jordan shoots for the high score. He is sweating and his face is completely serious as he takes shot after shot. I look over to the digital board attached to the machine to see the number he is after, and I can’t believe my eyes. The high score on this game is 152 points. That is absolutely insane! Then I look down to see where Jordan is at, and I’m impressed by his 136, but time is running out, and he isn’t going to get enough.
The buzzer sounds, and Jordan shouts in frustration. I know he isn’t taking thistooseriously, but the man is competitive. Half of the guys are encouraging him to play again, while the rest are giving him a hard time for not being able to beat it.
A throat clearing behind the crowd captures my attention instantly. “What are y’all doing?”
It’s Reagan.
I turn quickly to find her smirking right at her brother. She looks like she’s ready for a night out.Where are you going, Sunshine?I scold myself instantly because she is not my business.
Carter pipes up first. “Baby Mills, your twin here is trying to beat the high score on the Pop-A-Shot, but it ain’t happening tonight.” Then he starts laughing, and Jordan smacks him right in the gut. Carter doubles over but continues to laugh.
“Is that right?” I hear her reply, and that beautiful smile only grows as she stares down her brother. “J, do you know who owns that high score?”
His eyes narrow, and then I see the light bulb go off, and his mouth drops open. “Usernothinbutnet is you? You havethe high score?”
“That’s right. I placed that very high score freshman year, and well, you know how I shoot.” She is so beautiful, and that confidence is undeniably sexy.
Moore, Williams, and Carter go over and high-five her right away. They’re laughing and teasing Jordan. Now that he knows who has thehigh score, he is almost relieved. I feel that deep because the woman almost beat me in an actual shooting contest.
Jordan walks over to her, ruffles her hair, and heads off with the other three in tow. Just leaving me and a delighted Reagan behind.
“Well, Sunshine, looks like you really are the best shooter on the team.” She smiles at that and gives me a once-over that makes my insides heat.
“I told you, Point Guard, you were lucky you got a win the other week.” I laugh, and we walk up to the counter where the guys are cashing in their tickets for prizes.
I realize that I never asked her why she was so dressed up, so I pull her aside and whisper, “Why are you all dressed up tonight?”
She looks at me with intense, glittering eyes before she answers. “I had my first interview for the CTU Sports Administration graduate program that I’m hoping to get into for next year. I just came from there to see how things were going. Now I’m going to crash before we spend all day at the gym tomorrow.”
I’m not sure why I agreed to spend Saturday at the gym with her. It’s going to be torture having her that close to me. After she friend zoned me, I expected to feel relieved and could refocus my attention on basketball and school. Hasn’t happened yet.
“How did it go?” I want to be someone she confides in even though I shouldn’t. I’m slowly bending all my rules. I just can’t break them.
“Incredible. Like, I was so nervous, but I feel so good about how it went. I really hope that I get accepted. I’m going to apply to a few other places, though, just in case.”
“Oh yeah? Where else are you applying?”I can tell she’s happy that I’m taking an interest in her studies. I’m interested in every little thing about her even though I shouldn’t be.
“Los Angeles, to be near Mackenzie, my best friend. But I’m not sure I want to live that far away from home. I also applied to Durham, whichI know is a traitor move, but they have a great program, and it’s not far.” I smile at her. She knows what she wants and goes for it.
“You don’t have to rationalize it to me. Wherever you decide, that school will be lucky to have you.” She radiates at those words, and the look on her face is one I’m getting addicted to.
TWELVE
