Page 35 of Loving the Legend
“Not yet. Let’s grab a plate on the way,” he says.
He leads the way out, and my eyes devour the muscles of his back and ass. I tuck myself under the waistband of my briefs. I groan inwardly when I realize I have to watch him bowl in that onesie. Whatever confidence I felt on the call with Adam is non-existent now.
CHAPTER EIGHT
We watched Brooklyn beat Boston after a couple of hours of bowling. Brooklyn’s star power forward, Salem Jones, is a beast when defending the rim. His block on the last possession secured the victory for Brooklyn. We played Monopoly and traded stories. Sid wasn’t lying. Kieran is definitely a cheater, but he only steals from Sid. Considering Sid bought more properties on the board than the rest of us, including Boardwalk, I can’t say I felt bad for him.
I shared stories about my parents and Adam. I learned Sid was protective of Kieran growing up. There was no shortage of homophobic bullies. Kieran moved in with Lily and Sid during his junior year of high school because his mom kicked him out for being gay. Tommy entered the picture during Kieran’s senior year after transferring from another school. They bonded immediately. No one dared to mess with Kieran once he and Tommy became inseparable. Tommy’s size was a major deterrent, and his temper toward bullies didn’t hurt either.
“I have to head out pretty early in the morning,” I say to Sid, who's lying against the opposite armrest of the living room couch, hands behind his head, gazing at me through heavy eyelids. It’s after midnight and everyone else retired for thenight. We just put down the PS5 remotes after I beat him in Madden NFL three times in a row.
“What time? I’ll text the pilot now,” Sid asks, reaching for his phone.
“Six. Got practice in the morning.” I pull out my phone to set an alarm.
“That’s brutal.” He tosses his phone on the table and leans back, but then suddenly pops up again. “Be right back.”
I watch him disappear toward the kitchen. He returns a few minutes later, throws back a handful of pills, and swallows it down with a glass of water.
“What’s that?”
“Supplements,” he answers after swallowing.
“Like what?”
“Vitamins…fish oil, probiotics, prebiotics, and adaptogens. Want?” he offers.
I shake my head. “I’m good.”
“Helps with energy, immunity, and stuff, y’know?” He tosses more water back. “Thanks for coming through and spending Christmas with me and the fam.”
“I had fun. Thanks for having me. I’m gonna dream about your mom’s lasagna for a while.”
His smile stretches into a yawn.
“Ready to sleep?”
“Got a few more minutes in me,” he says, settling into the couch.
“I’ve been meaning to ask, do you find it hard to sleep after an evening game too?”
“Fo-sho. Sometimes I don’t get to sleep until the sun is up.”
I nod. “Same.”
“I’m big on power naps. I try to sleep when I can.”
I hardly ever nap if I can help it. Less chance of a nightmare.
“My turn,” he says. “What’s surprised you most about being in the NBA?”
I think about it. Practices are more intense, and it’s different playing against All-Stars, but I kinda expected that. “Honestly, the travel, man. Forty-one away games. Managing jet lag, time zones, and temperatures. It’s grueling.”
He grins. “It takes some getting used to. Sleep as much as you can. It’s the quickest way to recover. Do you meditate?”
I shrug. “I’ve tried. It never sticks.”
“I use an app and try to commit to a ten to fifteen-minute meditation a few times daily. It makes a difference.” He picks up his phone and a minute later, my phone vibrates with a text with an invite to join his family account.
