Page 7 of Before I Loved You

The two girls walk away giggling as I turn and continue into the locker room, finding my teammates prepping for practice.

“Look who it is. The legend himself!” Glen, my friend from grade school and now my teammate on the Linrey University basketball team, broadcasts as I make my way over to my locker. He jumps up, trying to tap me on the head, but, like always, comes up too short.

A few guys from the team pat me on the shoulder or fist bump me as I sit on the bench, dropping my bag to the floor.

“Coach Rivers wants to see you,” Tony, one of our shooting guards, informs me.

“Do you know what he wants?” The zipper on my bag snags as I yank it back, revealing my essentials for practice: headband, sports drink, protein bar, and basketball shoes.

He shakes his head and then shifts it toward the coach’s office. “All I know is that Greyson is in there too.”

Greyson Black, the captain of the Linrey University basketball team.

I’ve never liked the guy.

Something has just always felt off about him, so I make sure to keep my distance. And he usually does the same to me.

“Thanks.” Quickly, I change into my practice uniform and throw my bag into my locker before walking to Coach Rivers’ door. My hand wraps around the silver handle as I hesitantly push it open, unsure what to expect. “You wanted to see me, Coach?”

“Yes, Paul, please take a seat.” He motions toward the chair in front of his desk, placed beside Greyson.

Greyson doesn’t look at me as I approach, taking a seat. Nor does he show any emotion on his face besides a clenched jaw as he stares straight ahead, his fists tightened by his sides.

“I was just discussing logistics for this year with Greyson,” Coach deadpans.

“Logistics?” I ask.

He nods, sitting back in his seat as he places his right ankle over his left knee. “Yes. I’ll cut straight to the point. We want to offer you a place as a captain for your senior year.”

And now, I know why Greyson looks ready to murder me.

“But Greyson is the captain,” I counter.

“Yes. Yes. Well, we were looking to have you both be co-captains of sorts. Having the two of you as head figures for the other team members to look up to will be motivational.”

Motivational?

I wish he would just say the real reason.

They want me to be captain because of my last name.

Weston.

Just like the famous Steve Weston.

Aka my dad.

Making me captain will guarantee more publicity for the team, which the organization wants and needs.

I sigh, rubbing at my chest. “Sir, I would be honored, but…” I glance at Greyson. “This doesn’t feel right. I only joined the team in the spring after transferring here, and Greyson has been here for three years now.”

“Greyson doesn’t mind. Do you?” Coach Rivers directs his sight on Greyson as his fingers steeple in front of him, waiting for Greyson to respond.

Greyson turns his head toward me, an unpleasant grin appearing. “Not at all. It would be an honor to share the spotlight with Paul Weston.”

The smug way he enunciates my last name goes right over the coach’s head.

“Good.” Coach nods, sitting up. “Paul, there’s also a couple of scouts out there to watch you today. I’ll make the announcement at the beginning of practice so they’re all aware of what’s going on.”

---