Page 37 of The Riley Effect

“I hung out with you for two hours after we got home last night,” Ivy reminds her roommate. “You really don’t remember any of that?”

“Nope, but if you’re going to stay here, you can replenish anything you use the last of.”

Ivy moves towards her best friend and gives her a hug.

“Good morning to you too, Sunshine.” The girls walk over to the couch laughing.

“She seems comfortable here. Are you going to make this a regular thing?” Marcus asks.

“I don’t think it’s up to me.”

It makes me more upset than I’ll ever admit but I honestly have no clue if this will be more than a one-time thing, but I’d be hurt if Ivy decides to pull away again.

I go to the kitchen, where Aaron is making coffee. I grab two mugs, and he hands me the coffee.

“You want to join us for breakfast?” I ask him.

“Nah, I don’t really feel like fifth wheeling. How was the end of your night?”

“It was good.” I can’t keep my smile at bay.

“That’s all you’re going to give me. Jalen, we have lived together for four years, and you have never made a girl breakfast.”

“I really like her,” I say with a shrug. I’d never admit this to anyone, but that terrifies me.

20

Ivy

I’ve been coming to the Riley Center for the season opening basketball games for as long as I can remember. Well before I ever picked up a basketball. The double header is one of those small-town events that’ll have you bumping into your elementary school principal and the person who caused your first heartbreak all before the end of the first quarter.

One of my favorite pictures of Ruby and me was taken at this event, it’s from the year she gained custody of me. She always tells me that she thinks that was the day I fell in love with the game of basketball.

Now I’m about to play in my last home opener. I look around the arena and commit this moment to memory. I take in the sounds of the fans, the smell of popcorn that wafts through the arena, the bouncing of basketballs against the old hardwood floors and the sense of pride I’ve had putting on the Westvale University jersey for the last three years. I’m not taking any moment for granted this season.

The crowd is extra rowdy tonight because it’s our first home game since we won the national title last March, and tonight, the school is celebrating by hanging a banner to commemorate that accomplishment. This banner will ensure that anyone who watches a game in the Riley Center will know what we accomplished last season.

One thing I’m not sure I have memorized is the speech I have to give after the banner is revealed. Indy and Lola have been good sports about listening to every tweak I’ve made to it, but I know I’ve been driving them crazy. I hate public speaking, and knowing I have only one shot at giving this speech makes it even worse.

A buzzer signals the end of warm-ups, and it’s time to line up for the national anthem. My teammates and I line up along the foul line beside our bench. I scan the seats across from the scorers’ table, looking for my sister and her kids. A pit forms in my stomach when I don’t spot them in their normal seats. I know they are probably just late. Ruby warned me that this might happen because it’s meet the teacher night, but my mind always drifts to the worst possible scenario.

A rare moment of silence in the gym draws attention to the sound of a door slamming and has everybody looking toward the arena’s entryway. I smile when I see my sister and the kids rushing to their seats. I give them a wave and blow Caleb and Stella a kiss.

Mr. Holloway invites us to join him at center court when the national anthem is over. He says a few words about our team, and as the banner moves towards its new home in the rafters, I hear someone calling my name, but I can’t put my finger on who the deep voice belongs to. Not until I notice Jalen standing behind our bench with Marcus, and I have to say he looks so damn fine. I don’t know what it is about backward-facing baseball caps, but Jalen pulls it off better than the best of them.

“How’s the shelter been lately?” Mr. Holloway asks me while Coach Lee addresses the crowd. “I haven’t seen Jalen in a few weeks.”

My throat goes dry. What does he mean by that? Has Jalen told his uncle about us? There isn’t even an us to talk about. We hooked up once. So what.

“Yeah, he’s starting to form relationships with the dogs at the shelter,” I tell him, wanting to keep the conversation as professional as possible.

“That’s good.”

Surely I’m just paranoid, but I feel like he knows more about what is happening with Jalen and me than I do. I have no more time to stew over whatever Jalen may or may not have told his uncle because Coach Lee hands me the microphone.

The panic of having to talk to a sold-out arena, mixed with anxiety that Mr. Holloway knows I slept with his nephew is just what I needed tonight. When I make it to center court, all that anxiety eases because I notice Stella in the stands giving me two thumbs up. I make sure my eyes stay locked on hers so I can pretend I’m having a one-on-one conversation with my niece.

“I know I speak for the entire team when I thank you for coming out on a Tuesday to celebrate last year’s team. Being from Westvale has made this National Championship so much more special for me. I promise we will do everything possible to bring you guys another win home.” Short and to the point,just like Coach asked for it to be. Mr. Holloway comes to get the microphone from me and he lets us soak in the standing ovation from the fans.

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