Page 46 of The Transfer
“I don’t understand that…do you think he is accusing you because he has been cheating?” I cringe that I even need to ask, but this is Mack, and if Trey has hurt her, I’m going to make sure he pays the price for it. Well, I’ll get Jordan to do it for me.
“There are rumors, but I have no proof.” She is devastated. The only reason she went to California was because Trey begged her to. Things were the best they have ever beenbetween them.
Mack looks like she has more to say, so I sit in silence until she decides to talk. “Look, Trey isn’t a bad guy. We have these fights, and then he makes it up to me. I love him, but I don’t know if that is enough anymore. I’m scared to let him go, but I’m also scared to stay.”
“Has he ever hurt you, physically?” My stomach sours at the thought.
“Trey hurt you?” Jordan yells as he flies into the living room like a man on fire. I didn’t realize he was home. I know he’s protective by nature, but not unhinged like this.
“Jordan, please don’t…” Mack says, but he jumps in and gets close to her.
“No, Mackenzie, youdon’t…if he put his hands on you like that, I’m going to kill him!” Jordan is next-level angry. He is fiercely protective of everyone he loves.
“Stop!” Mack yells. “Trey has never physically hurt me, okay! You are acting crazy right now.” She is crying again. My brother is never good with crying females. He wants to be Mr. Fix-It-Right-Now.
Jordan’s face falls for a moment, but then turns to stone. “I’m sorry I overreacted. I just can’t handle the thought of either of you being hurt. Rea, I’m going to stay at Riggs’s place tonight, so lock up.” He grabs his stuff and slams the door behind him.
I point at where my brother just stormed out of the house. “Mackenzie, you need to explain whatthatwas…right now.” I look at my friend for answers.
“Look, Jordan and I, well, it’s just a complicated friendship. I may have vented to him a few times when I was upset about Trey. And now he only sees the bad in him. Before I went out to see Trey on Thanksgiving, he confronted Jordan. He accused him, well, us, of cheating together. Jordan started in on Trey about how bad he treats me, and it just went on from there. Trey now knows I confide in Jordan. I shouldn’t have, but in the moment, Jordan was there for me. Trey thinks I’m cheating on him with Jordan. He has always been jealous of him and how close our families are.”
Things are clicking into place now. Trey knows Jordan; they were civil until high school, which coincidentally is when Trey started dating Mackenzie. It wasn’t high school rivalry that ended their friendship; it was my best friend. My brother and Mackenzie are often forced together by our parents. It makes total sense that Trey reads into it and gets jealous. It also explains why she doesn’t have him tag along. It sounds like his jealousy is out of control. I’m worried about her.
“I’m so sorry, Mack. I don’t know how to help you, but I’m always here to listen. You are welcome here, no matter what and no matter when. Just answer this for me: are you happy? Truly happy?”
Wiping a stray tear off her face, Mack looks at the floor. “I’m not happy right now, but I promised Trey we would talk when we get back to school. He had to leave today for hockey. I don’t know what I’m going to do. I still love him. I just can’t go on living this way, all the fighting and jealousy are ruining us.”
“Mack, you do what is best for you. Do what feels right, and the rest will follow. I will support whatever you decide.” I mean what I tell her. I hope she gets what she wants and what she deserves.
Wiping away her final tears, she straightens her posture and smiles at me. “Enough of this depressing mess. Let’s eat ice cream and watch garbage television until we fall asleep.”
Mack stands and heads to the kitchen. I follow her in, and we make the biggest bowls of cookie-dough ice cream possible. A few hours later, a genuine smile is on my best friend’s face, and all I want is for it to stay like that.
THIRTY-FOUR
RIGGS
We are entering conference play as December begins, and tonight, we face our rivals, the Durham College Wolves. They are known for having an unruly student section. They scream, chant, and yell at us the whole game. It is obnoxious, and I hate every minute of it. Not to mention, CTU hasn’t beaten them on their court in six years.
Three minutes are left in the game, and we are down by five points.I am not losing to these guys.Throwing the ball in bounds, Jordan gets it to me, and I dribble it up the court.
Durham is known for a stifling defense, and tonight is no exception. Drew is their best defender and is currently guarding me as I move past midcourt and start the offensive play. The rest of our team is moving around, setting screens, and trying to get open for a shot.
I see Carter run past a defender, so I send him the perfect pass in the air, and Carter grabs it for a nasty alley-oop slam dunk. Our bench and fan section jump in the air, screaming and cheering.
As we run down to defend against Durham’s next offensive possession, I see the competitive fire flowing through our team. The Wolvespoint guard looks a little rattled as I increase the defensive pressure on him. I find an opportunity and steal the ball, passing it ahead to a streaking Jordan. He takes it a few steps and stops at the three-point line, pulls up, and shoots. It swishes through the net. Tie game. The annoying Durham crowd has gone silent, and I love the sound, or lack thereof.
Time passes quickly as we trade baskets back and forth—they score, then we score. Drew hits a three-pointer with thirty seconds left that puts the Wolves up by one point, 71-70. Immediately, Coach Hart calls our final time-out.
“One play. You have thirty seconds to show we are the better team.” Coach H. is fueling our fire. We are the better team here. I take a drink from my water bottle and a deep breath.
Running back onto the court, I give Carter and J a nod. We are always on the same page without having to say a word. The referee blows his whistle. Moore throws me the ball, and I slowly bring it up the court. The guys know the play. We are going to take the last shot and put a dagger in the Wolves’ undefeated season.
Time slows down, like it always does in the crucial moments of a game. I look around the court and see how things will develop if we execute the play. I dribble the clock down to ten seconds and drive to the hoop. The defense collapses on me, leaving Jordan wide open. I swing it to him, knowing he will make this shot. He catches and pulls up, letting the ball go with zero hesitation. It sails through the air for what feels like forever before it reaches the rim. The ball circles around and falls through the net at the same time as the horn blasts, signaling the end of the game. We just beat Durham 72-71!
I run and jump on Jordan as the rest of the team follows, piling up on him. Carolina Tech fans have been waiting six years to beat these guys, and I’m so happy to be a part of this squad. I get up and see Reagan with her phone out, recording the celebration.
“That was quite a game, Point Guard,” she says as she joins in, giving her brother a huge celebratory hug.
