Page 168 of The Right Move

When I’m in my uniform, I never lose focus. I don’t look into the crowd. I don’t pay attention to anyone outside of the game. But if the last four weeks taught me anything, it’s that this game doesn’t matter much without the three people sitting courtside for me.

Indy doesn’t need the world to know I love her, she’s said it herself, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want them to.

Holding my fist out, I connect it with Zanders’.

Leaning down, I pop a kiss on Stevie’s cheek.

“Love you,” she says.

“Love you, Vee.”

Next to my sister sits her best friend, the brown-eyed beauty who owns my entire heart. With my knuckle, I tilt her chin up and lean down to kiss her lips. “And I love you.”

She smiles into me. “Go give them hell, Five.”

Jogging back to my team, Zanders shouts from behind me. “What about me? You don’t love me?”

“Love you too, brother!”

It took half of the first quarter to get into a rhythm.

My knee is healed. It feels strong and stable, but I can’t help but favor my left side in fear of another injury. I quickly remembered, thanks to too many turnovers, that I can’t play scared at this level, and by the second quarter I felt like my old self again.

Up by ten deep into the fourth quarter. I’ll average ten less minutes than my usual court time. My coach is clearly trying to ease me back into the game, but, thanks to the constant reminders, we don’t have time to ease into anything. We have five games left and need to win at least four of them to make the playoffs.

As much as Leon can handle himself out here, I’m not ready to call it a night. I missed this rush too much.

The next two times on defense, Dom blocks a shot and Ethan gets a steal, putting us up by fourteen with four minutes left on the game clock. Without a doubt, the three of us will be subbed out at the next dead ball, but I want to feel like myself one more time before the night is over.

I tighten my defense, testing my speed, and I’m right there, just as I used to be. My opponent drives the lane, dishing the ball to another player out on the perimeter. They shoot, but miss, and Dom is there with the rebound.

We quickly transition. I take off towards our end, letting Dom outlet the ball to Ethan who is fast to throw it ahead to me.

I can feel my defender on my back and the scene playing out in my mind as I gather the ball on my way to the hoop is all too familiar. I don’t want to leave my feet. I want to play it safe, come to a complete stop, ensuring he isn’t flying underneath me before I safely put the ball away.

All those thoughts run through my mind in the half second I have to make a decision.

I can’t play scared.

With one swift dribble, I’m in the air, grabbing the rim with a single hand and putting the ball through the net. An internal breath of relief flows through me when my feet safely return to the floor once again.

The guy defending me sure as shit fouls me on my way up, holding my other arm and pulling me down, but do I get the call? Nope, and that’s nothing new for me.

Proud of myself for simply getting it done and not playing in fear, I get back on defense without saying a word. I’ve never been the player to complain to the refs even when they’re doing a shitty job.

“Hey!” Indy jumps from her seat, yelling at the referees as I jog past her. “What the hell was that? Are you blind? That’s an and-one! Why don’t you start blowing that whistle instead of blowing this game?”

My girl is red-faced and angry, stomping around on her strappy red heels as she continues to berate the refs.

Waiting for the other team to bring the ball up, I stand with my hands on my hips, watching her. Ethan and Dom join, sandwiching me on either side.

“He’s an MVP nod, for fuck’s sake! Give the man some credit! What the hell are they paying you for?” she continues before adding a few more colorful curse words. “Goddamn. Are your knees sore from blowing that call?”

An amused smile is fighting to break free, but I just shake my head as I watch her.

“Your girl is kind of scary sometimes, Shay,” Dom notes from one side.

Ethan laughs from the other.

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