Page 148 of Sincerely, Your Enemy

“What are you guys having?” Chance asks at the same time a waitress comes over to hand us some menus.

I pretend to flip through the pages of the menu, even though I already know what I want—I’ve been craving pancakes since the day TJ and I had some with our siblings, and Munchie’s serves both breakfast and dinner options.

I take my sweet time browsing, attempting to diffuse the tension descending over TJ and me.

I don’t know what he’s trying to do to me with that intense staring, but it’s either going to make me mad or horny—-and I’m not sure which one is worse.

The waitress stops by our table again a few minutes later, and I order the Delight Pancakes. I realize I forgot to ask her for extra vanilla ice cream as she’s walking away. I’d forgotten how much I loved that combo, but having it recently reminded me of why it was my dad’s favorite.

I haven’t been paying attention to the guys’ conversation, but I’ve caught a few words here and there, all of them about basketball.

At first, I think it’s just boy talk per usual, until Chance says, “I hear the drafts are coming up. How are you guys feeling about that?”

Theo and TJ deferred entering the NBA draft last year, both for personal reasons. Theo was still struggling mentally after his breakup with Ashley, and TJ, well, no one really knows why he chose not to do it.

Word on the street is scouts have been at their games for a while now, and TJ, Xavier, and Theo have all been referred to as potential top picks for NBA teams. I have no idea how any of it works, but I do know that everything will change once they get drafted.

From media appearances, to signing a bunch of contracts, to entering the NBA summer leagues in July and training camps. I only know any of this because it was all Theo talked about last year before he thought things through and decided to wait a year.

In other words, getting drafted means leaving Duke and starting a whole new life.

What would this mean for TJ?

Would I ever see him again?

I scold myself for even wondering about our future.

As far as I know, it doesn’t exist anymore.

Theo, who’s sitting next to TJ, elbows him in the ribs. “About that. Coach looked like he was going to flip his shit when you missed the first half of practice yesterday. You havegotto stop showing up late when you go see your…”

Then nothing.

Theo doesn’t finish his sentence, stopping himself. I notice TJ making a face, his eyes the size of golf balls. It’s clear he’s thinking,Dude, shut the hell up.

Theo was talking about his mom, wasn’t he?

TJ keeps showing up late to practice because he’s been going to see his mom. Isn’t she dead? It sure sounded like she was when TJ said he wanted to avenge her.

Maybe he’s visiting her grave?

None of this is making any sense.

Theo obviously knows a hell of a lot more than I do about TJ’s personal life. I get that they got pretty close when they lived together, but it stings that he’d tell Theo and not me.

Theo clears his throat. “Anyway, how was everyone’s spring break?”

The group goes along with Theo’s topic change, discussing their vacations in detail. The guys spend the next half hour making small talk and cracking jokes, while I’m still stuck on Theo’s slipup and trying to sort out the million scenarios spinning in my head.

My overthinking is drawn to a close when the waitress sets my pancakes down in front of me.

I salivate at the smell, my stomach screaming at me for neglecting to fill it with food since this morning. I grab my knife and fork, ready to dig in.

“I’m sorry for the delay. Your orders will be right out,” she tells Finn and Dia and then turns to me. “Do you need anything else, sweetheart? More syrup, maybe?”

I open my mouth, about to tell her that I’m good, when TJ’s voice cuts through the air.

“Could you bring her some vanilla ice cream?”

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