Page 28 of Love me, Maddie Mendoza

I followed her with my eyes until she closed the door softly. Only then, did I turn to face my two friends.

Jason and Nick were staring at me.

Jonah bounced the ball with ease, showing off like the jackass he was. I laughed big, missing times like this. There was something about playing for fun that you forget when you’re playing to win. The pause for jokes and teasing, the stupid moves that are so illegal you have no option but to call your friend a bunch of colorful names.

Jonah twisted out of my reach just to try on the hoop and miss like a dumbass.

“I thoughtmyknee was fucked.”

“Everything about Jonah is fucked,” Andy replied. It took him thirty seconds, and he went for the hoop, scoring. He waggled his finger at Jonah. “Be better.”

Jonah flipped him off and turned to his teammate, Matt, who simply shrugged. “Be fucking better, Jonah.”

The man groaned, and we resumed the game, making fun of Jonah every now and again, but he took it like a good sport. Eventually we stopped. I knew it wasn’t good for them to have extra playing time outside of basketball practice, and I was grateful for whatever time they gave me.

“Ford is losing his patience.” Matt told me between gulps of water, motioning toward Jonah, who was getting his things ready in a backpack by the stands.

“Something up?” I asked. Since Matt took over as the captain, he came to me for advice. It was good, it kept me involved.

“Many things,” he said, his tone making me think Jonah’s problems were from outside the court. I decided not to be a dick and pry. I didn’t need to know Jonah’s business to understand what was fucking his game. Jonah was a step away from being benched. Matt was trying to fix it before Coach Ford was done. He looked distracted when I watched, but as I played him? His game was sloppy and anyone could see it a mile away.

“Give him time to figure out whatever is fucking with his head.” I told Matt. “Just give him a timeline and then say he needs to get in line.”

Matt looked skeptical. “You think an ultimatum is enough?”

“Not an ultimatum, no. Instead of suppressing let him go completely off the rails and get over it.” I looked at Jonah from afar. “He looks vanilla as fuck. I can’t see his worse doing much damage. Let the lion out and tell him it’s a one-time deal.” I shrugged. “He’ll probably scream in his pillow or something as stupid.”

Matt chuckled, but I knew my advice was solid. Sometimes people had to embrace the worst so they could search for the best.

Half of time being a captain was understanding how people’s minds work. We couldn’t forget for a second that the baller was a person with shit to deal with.

“Missus is here.” Matt nudged me to look behind and I saw Maddie stepping to the stands and waving to us. I chuckled and turned to Matt. “Have you said that to Peter Adamson-Burton III?”

Matt spat a laugh. “What the fuck was Maddie thinking?”

Shaking my head, I patted Matt on the back and jogged toward Maddie. She waved to Matt. “Hey, there good-looking!”

“Maddie Mendoza, stop stealing my heart!” the goof, Matt said.

“Never, my love!” yelled back Maddie.

They laughed like children and Matt left. “Stop flirting with my friends.” I warned her, jumping over to reach where she was seated.

“Never.” She beamed at me.

It wasn’t a Wednesday, and we were about to see each other at the house. I knew something was wrong if she found me. I could read her expression. I leaned on the railing beside her seat, not going too close since I was dripping with sweat. Not that Maddie cared much. She was usually the one to hug me first after a win.

“Tell me what’s up?” I asked firmly.

She rolled her eyes. “Does something need to be up for me to spend time with you?”

“No. All we do is spend time together. Still, I can tell something is up.”

She leaned back and tipped her head up. “I’m going to break up with him.”

“Are you sure?” I asked because it was my job as a good friend to ask.

“No. But I thought you’d be the one to walk me through it.”

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