Page 56 of Before I Loved You

As fans scream, coaches yell, music wafts throughout the arena, and teammates’ feet scuffle past me on the wood floor, positioning for a pass, all I hear is complete silence.

It’s just me and the ball.

My fingers grip the leather basketball before letting it fall to the floor as I dribble with precision outside the three-point line, watching and observing everything around me—the bright lights shadow most of the fans in the stands, focusing on only the players.

Neon lights from the scoreboard flash, displaying the score. Sixty-five to sixty-five. Tied.

The clock ticks down in warning…

Twenty… Nineteen… Eighteen… Seventeen…

“Paul!”

My eyes catch on Glen jumping up and down behind his opponent, blocking him from a clear pass. He tries to perform a back door cut toward the basket, but the fucker defending him is double his size, making it impossible for him to break free.

My own opponent doesn’t touch me when it comes to height, but he’s fast. Probably the quickest guy on the floor tonight, which is why he was assigned to cover me. When I shift to my left, he shifts to his right. When I shift to my right, he shifts to his left. It’s how it’s been all fucking night.

And I’m over it.

I dribble between my legs, quickly gazing up at the timer.

Ten… Nine… Eight…

With my feet kept shoulder-length apart, knees bent, and back straight, I leap in the air, giving it everything I have. My eyes focus on the basket as I release the ball with a quick extension of my elbow and a flick of my wrist and fingers. The ball soars through the air with just the right amount of backspin before bouncing off the backboard and directly into the basket, the perfect bank shot.

The place erupts in cheers as the buzzer blares in the stadium.

“Weston! Weston! Weston!”

I look up at the scoreboard seeing the final score.

Sixty-eight to sixty-five.

“Hell yeah!”

“Fuck yeah, Paul!

“We won our first home game!”

The guys gather around me, celebrating by jumping on each other and patting my back.

I smile proudly, scanning the crowd.

Natalie and Nate stand, cheering in one spot.

A few family members celebrate three rows below them.

And the seat where Sarah sat last time is empty. Empty because I was too chicken shit scared to ask her to come to my first game after what happened the last time she was here, so I let the ticket sit in an envelope, wasting away behind the ticket booth with Will.

I didn’t want to mess up the subtle progress we seemed to be making.

Especially with a lot on the line, like a first date. Possibly the only date to prove to her that I’m worth it. And I’m not going to fuck this up. After leaving here tonight, I plan on making some finishing touches to prepare everything for tomorrow.

Everything has to be perfect.

“Paul!” Spinning on my heels, I notice the scout from Boston, Peter Green, walking my way. “That was one heck of a game you played out there.”

Straightening my spine, I say, “Thank you, sir.”

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