Page 83 of Finding Fate

21

Birthday

Tucker sped down the court, dribbling the orange ball and dodging his friends on the opposing team on his way to the basket.

His heart raced with adrenaline, and sweat covered just about every inch of his body. They’d been playing for hours, but he wasn’t tired. He was in the zone.

Hector, the only other guy there that had talent anywhere close to his, ran up to block him. He looked around to pass the ball. No one was open. He was still pretty far away from the basket, but he knew he could make the shot.

He jumped and flicked his wrist at the precise moment to send the ball above Hector’s outstretched arms and straight into the hoop that was nearly half a court away for the winning basket.

“Sweet!” Kyle whooped, jumping on Tucker’s back to put his tall teammate in a lighthearted chokehold. “That was awesome, man!” The redhead ran over to Jet next where they bumped chests at their victory.

“Yeah, yeah, whatever,” Hector replied. “We all know Tucker can play basketball.”

“You’re just pissed ‘cause you know we kicked your asses!” Tucker taunted his friends, Hector, Noah, and Corey, who had been on the opposing team for their games at the park that day.

He wasn’t going to feel guilty about gloating. The teams had been pretty even ability wise since Hector was playing against him. The guy just hated losing.

“Come on, Hector. It was just a game,” Noah said, whacking him in the arm with the back of his hand.

“Yeah, alright,” he conceded. “I’ll have plenty of time to try to beat you this next season, Patterson.”

“You might not have to,” Cory interjected. “He’s going to be Izzy’s baby daddy pretty soon. Will you even have time for basketball this year, man, or are you gonna be too busy trying to pay for diapers?”

Jet smacked the back of Cory’s head, smashing part of his afro. “Watch it, man.”

He turned and jumped on Jet, initiating a jocular scuffle until the muscled Greek had his arm pinned behind his back in a wrestling move.

“Fuck, man, chill.”

Jet released the hold and offered his teammate a hand. “You’re talking about family, dude.”

“I didn’t realize you and Annie had tied the knot yet,” Noah retorted. “One big happy family, right?”

“Shut up, guys,” Tucker said to their ignorant friends, giving them a look that said ‘leave it alone if you don’t want to start anything.’

He grabbed his water from the side of the cement court, taking a long pull and looked around at the group again. “And to answer your question, yes, I’m going to play this year. It’s not like I’m quitting school or anything.” But his mind couldn’t help drifting over the what-ifs of his situation.

“That’s a relief,” Kyle said, picking up his water bottle from the bench behind Tucker. “‘Cause your moves are seriously sick, dude. With you and Hector on the team, we’ll kill at games.”

Tucker took one last swig of water before he dumped the remainder on his already sweat-drenched head, shaking it from his eyes before pulling on his shirt. His stomach grumbled, and he was suddenly very anxious to make it back home for the fajitas and sausages his dad would be throwing on the pit soon.

“Hey, if y’all are hungry, my Dad’s barbecuing this afternoon,” he said to the group.

“Sweet,” Kyle replied. “Your parents won’t mind if we come?”

He shook his head. “Nah, it’s for my birthday. There’ll be a bunch of people there. Plenty of food.”

“Bunch of people?” Noah asked.

“Mine, Jet’s, and the twins’ family. Emma’s coming, too.”

Hector's eyes lit up, “Sounds good to me. The free food, I mean.”

Several of them nodded, but Cory teased, “What, no Lisa?”

“Don’t even joke, man,” Tucker replied seriously. “We’d better head out, Jet. See you guys there,” he waved as he headed toward his truck.

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