Page 174 of Loving the Legend
“Need a hand?”
Arnaz.
“Hey.” I turn to face him. “Yeah, thanks.”
He rolls up his car window and climbs out. He takes a second to pat down his white tee and salmon-colored swim trunks. Besides on the court, I haven’t come face to face with him since Ussef’s birthday party. Sid’s had his teammates over a few times, but it’s always when I’m on the road. When Sid came out to him about us, he said Arnaz’s disappointment was palpable. He felt foolish for not seeing Arnaz’s crush before. They’ve been good, though, overall. Both their friendship and dynamic style of playing are still strong.
“Ice. Can never have enough, right?” Arnaz says, pulling me into a dap.
“Seriously. Sick Bugatti. Divo?”
“Yep. Thanks, man! You’re welcome to take it for a spin. Sid mentioned that he’s eyeing the Centodieci. It’s supposed to go from a full stop to sixty in under two and a half seconds.”
“Yeah. 1,600 horsepower and only ten made. Hard for him to resist.” I continue stacking the ice. “How are you?”
“Alright. Ready to chow down on your uncle’s infamous cooking. Sid wouldn’t shut up about it all week.”
“It really is that good.”
“Elite season, bro. You're about to clinch the top point guard spot. What was it, like sixty points against Denver last week?”
I grin and hand him a bag of ice. “Thanks, man! Y’all up there too.”
The Royals are in first place. We climbed our way to the third spot in the Western Conference. Everyone on our roster is locked in night after night. And it shows in the way we made a comeback this season. I’ve never wanted it more. I had to go deep to redefine what ball means to me. Jaden helped me realize that I get to choose how I honor my parents. Processing my grief and climbing out of the darkness is the greatest honor I could bestow upon them. I remembered something my mom used to say. She said that whenever you’re sinking in life’s muck, you reach out for help and keep going. I was too young to understand it then, but I do now.
One day, I stepped on the court and felt like the kid at my first game again, staring at the sea of fans, buzzing with awe. I love this game. I have the opportunity to leave an indelible mark in the history of one of the greatest sports in the world. I plan to see how far I can take it.
“Hey,” Arnaz says, shifting his feet, “my bad if I in any way made things uncomfortable for you both. I saw the posts.”
He catches me off guard, and I freeze for a few seconds. It’s big of him to step up to clear the air.
“Thanks.” I rub my neck. “It was frustrating, but I know it wasn’t on you or him. We’re good.”
I hand him another bag of ice.
“You two are lucky to have each other. It’s not easy finding someone to trust.”
I pause and look him square in the eyes. “He’s everything to me, my best friend, and my family. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do to protect him and what we have.”
He nods. “I got that loud and clear from him too. He’s obsessed with you,” he says, smiling, though there’s something else there in the shadows. Sadness.
“Is that so?” I continue stacking the ice. “From what I've heard, you’re getting hit up by mad dudes. Some closeted, some out.” I recall what Sid told me about Arnaz’s status as one of the most sought-after bachelors.
He grins. “Wellll, I never said I had a hard time getting laid. Just haven’t found the real thing.”
“Fucking stud.” I playfully punch his arm.
Once we divide up the ice, we make our way to the backyard.
“Hey, when I came out to my boys, it opened up the gates for us to get stuff off our chest. It got me thinking about maybe starting a meetup for players. Real chill, just beers and an open floor to talk. Any interest?”
“Sounds dope. Since I published my article, a couple guys reached out to share their struggles. I’ll spread the invite if that’s cool.”
“Definitely. The more the merrier.”
The barbecue is in full swing once we get inside. Bob Marley is booming from the speakers. Adam’s manning the grill and smoker. Ishan is shirtless in the pool, lying back in a rainbow-colored chaise float, talking to Tommy, who is treading water beside Phil. Kaleb’s three kids, his wife, and Nicholas’s girlfriend are chilling in the shallow end. Sid, who looks edible, clad inonly trunks with cobalt blue and tangerine freeform shapes, is at the center of a conversation with Malik, Tevin, Idris, and Kaleb. Ussef and Nicholas, whom Sid also came out to, are throwing a frisbee back and forth.
I lead Arnaz to an ice barrel cooler where we offload the ice.
