Page 8 of The Transfer
The drive goes by quickly, as most of us take advantage of the free time and get some sleep. When we pull up, I quickly realize this is no cabin. It’s a freaking mansion. It seems the weekend is getting better and better. As we unload, Coach tells us there are enough rooms for us to share with one teammate, and I’m paired with Jordan. I’m relieved at that. I want to get to know him better so he will see me for who I really am—a man who wants to win basketball games.
Walking into the room, I take the twin bed on the left side. Jordan is already lying on the other, staring at the ceiling. I look around and see we share a bathroom with one other bedroom occupied by Carter and Theo Williams. That is an odd pairing, for sure. Carter is loud, opinionated, and the team's funny guy. Williams is, well, the opposite. Think Eeyore, but he can dunk.
“Hey man, you alright?” I look back at Jordan, and even though we haven’t known each other long, I can see something is weighing on him.
“I’m good, Hart. Just a lot going on, you know? I’m feeling a lot of pressure, especially as I get closer to the NBA. My dad brought a championship to CTU, and I haven’t yet. This year is important to me and the team. We all have to be locked in and on the same page. This weekend is the start of that, you feel me?” He looks over at me, narrowing his eyes.
Everett Mills is a giant shadow to live in. He played at CTU and is a legend. His NBA career was just as stellar. Jordan telling me this doesn’t surprise me at all. I am going to take this opportunity to show up for my captain.
“Man, I can’t even imagine that kind of pressure. But you have to know that the people who know basketball and matter are looking at you as your own person. Don’t get stuck in the comparison trap. As for this season, I need you to know that I am all in on this team. I want everything this year. The conference title. The national championship.Everything.” He nods his head like he’s picking up what I’m putting down. Then he lifts one eyebrow and directs a suspicious look at me.
“What about life outside of ball? You got a girl? Because I see the way you eye my sister, and I don’t approve of that.”
I’m stunned silent for a moment. I know I look at Reagan, but so do a lot of other guys. I clear my throat, trying to make sure what I say next doesn’t earn me a punch in the face. “Nah, man, I’m not looking for anything with anyone, including your sister. I don’t date. I only have time for basketball and school. Well, my family, too.”
I didn’t lie about Reagan. I’m not pursuing her, but she has been running through my mind more than I ever expected, and it has me confused. I’m trying to push her out of my thoughts constantly.
“I hear you, man. Just know that Reagan is not for you or any of these other guys on our team. My sister deserves someone who will put her above everything else. That isn’t a basketball player, at least not one I’ve ever met. As for everything else, I can see how invested you are. Adding you to our roster instantly makes us championship contenders. I have respect for what you bring to the table.”
Relieved that we can drop the subject of Reagan and girls in general, I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding. Knowing I have the support of my captain gives me hope that our team will be accepting of me as well.
After dinner,I decide to go out on the back porch and chill in one of the hammocks that overlooks the lake. As I walk out the door, I see that one of my freshman teammates has the same idea, and I take the chance to get to know him.
“Hey, Zee. Looks like you found the spot.” I laugh a little as he looks at me with a genuine smile on his face.
“Yo, this place is crazy! I can’t believe we are at Everett Mills’s house. It’s surreal.” I’m nodding at that because I’m still getting used to it myself.
“Yeah, for real. I wanted to talk to you, though. I know that Coach recruited you as a point guard, and you weren’t expecting to have me on the team.”
Zee has a little bit of a shocked face, and he clears his throat before he responds. “Yeah, I mean, at first, I ain’t gonna lie, I wasn’t thrilled. But then I looked at your highlights on YouTube. You are the dude who’s gonna make a huge difference this year. I know I’ll get three years starting, and learning from you is only gonna push me harder and make me better.”
“You’re a lot more mature than I was at your age. I would have been pissed.” We both laugh. “But truly, you’re going to be an asset this year, and I can’t wait to see you lead the team in the years after that.”
He beams at that. “Thank you, man. Means a lot that you reached out.” I nod, and we both go back to looking out at the lake.
Wakingup the following morning to the sound of the CTU Titan fight song playing through the house sound system has both J and I groaning, then laughing. We stayed up late talking about our families, basketball, and what we want for the season ahead.
“Carter, turn that off before I beat you into the middle of next week,” I yell over to the room next to me.
Jordan looks over at me with a grin. “How did you know it was Carter?”
Carter walks in laughing like a crazy person. “Oh, J, my musical motivation started many years ago. Riggs was lucky to get all my high school soundtrack wake-up calls when we played travel ball.”
Nodding, I smile, remembering how much fun we had back then. “Yeah, he was always up first, so Coach had him wake the rest of us up.”
“What was the worst song he woke you up to?” Jordan asks with curious eyes.
I think for a moment before responding. “Not that I don’t love the song, but he had an Usher obsession for the longest time. If I never hear ‘You Got It Bad’ again, it won’t be soon enough.”
Carter busts into his own horrible imitation of Usher’s song, and we all start booing until the rest of the team is in the room with us, laughing and giving Carter a hard time for his awful voice.
We spendmost of the day on the lake. The coaches want us to have as much downtime as possible, giving the team a chance to bond off thecourt. Creating friendships is imperative, and it translates onto the court. I’ve seen it time and time again.
We rent Jet Skis, a giant trampoline, kayaks, and paddleboards. Anyone who thinks paddling across the lake on one of those things is easy clearly hasn’t tried it.
The local Publix, a grocery store with the best sandwiches, caters lunch. The pub subs are a hit with everyone. In addition to that, we have fruit, veggies, chips, all sorts of drinks, and every bite is eaten by the guys.
If I’m being honest, this is the most relaxing, fun day I have had in the last year. I needed it, and I can already feel the bonds between the players growing stronger.
