Page 88 of Off the Rim
I grin at her question, doing my best to avoid Ashton's excited smirk next to me. "It's a great feeling to have accomplished a record like that, but it wasn't just me out on that court. I had help with every point. To set a record like that with my teammates, especially Ashton, who must hold a record for the most assists after that game, it means a lot."
"It's clear you two have developed a strong connection on the court this season. Ashton, after everything the team has been through this season, how important has that bond with Marcus been during these high-pressure moments?"
Ash chuckles, and I hold back a short laugh. She's good, I'll give her that. She managed to ask a question about our relationship without actually asking a question about our relationship, probably knowing she'd get shut down by CVU's media coordinator, who is standing just behind the reporter in case she needs to cut us off. She rolls her eyes, but gestures for Ash to go ahead. She trusts that he can handle it.
"It's everything. On and off the court, it comes down to trust."
"With the eligibility deadline just weeks away, a lot of people are speculating on why you haven't declared your intent to enter the NBA draft. Do you care to make a statement about that?"
He looks down at me, and I shrug. This is his thing, this moment, and his decision. I'll support him, no matter what.
"There will be an official press statement released tomorrow, but I've decided not to enter the draft. I've been weighing my options, and I've decided to go a different direction with my future. But I'll be front and center supporting my boyfriend, both on draft night and every single game."
The reporter looks stunned. It gives us exactly the window we need to thank her for her time and jog off the court to meet the rest of our team in the locker room.
CHAPTER 40
ASHTON
"With the third pick in this year's NBA draft, the Charlotte Hornets select Marcus Vell from Cumberland Valley University."
The arena explodes with applause and cheers. Marcus immediately looks at me, eyes wide, and I bite my lip to keep from tackling him to the ground and covering his entire body with kisses, and maybe humping his leg for good measure.
We stand, and I pull him in for a tight hug. "You fucking did it, baby."
Eventually, I have to let go and let his mom slip in, but I keep an arm on his shoulder. She's bawling, tears streaming down her face, shoulders shaking. She pulls back, holding his arms. "Your dad would have been so proud."
Marcus' cousin Sean is next, squeezing him so hard his eyes bulge a little. Sean is even beefier than Marcus is, but a little shorter and with reddish hair. His boyfriend Carl is with him. Marcus' aunt couldn't make it since she's recovering from some kind of brain surgery.
Greg pats Marc on the shoulder, and Coach Burke shakes his hand so enthusiastically I think he might yank it off. He already told Marcus that if he ever wants to consider coaching, there'll be a job for him at CVU, but he's proud as punch to have a top draft pick to brag about.
Marcus gets shuffled off to the stage to shake hands with the commissioner. He's handed a teal and purple cap, which he puts on. It makes his ears stick out adorably. I think I'm grinning bigger than he is as he poses for a photo with the commissioner, then presented with a teal jersey with a purple number twenty. He’s led away backstage, and an usher comes to escort us to the press room.
"This wasn't something you wanted to do?" Carl, the cousin's boyfriend, asks as we're led down a hallway. I've noticed Carl is a lot chattier than Marcus or Sean, and we got along great when we all met for dinner and drinks last night.
"Nah, I've got some different things on the horizon. Plus, this way I can follow Marcus all around the country and annoy the shit out of him for the rest of my life."
Carl snorts. "I think I like you."
"Don't tell Sean, he might break up with you." I laugh, but I'm a little bit serious. Sean is not my biggest fan. I had the pleasure of meeting him one of the many times I've tagged along when Marcus visited his mom's house, and he was immediately the opposite of impressed. He mostly glares at me.
"Meh. He's alright," Marcus' mom says, putting her arm around my waist and hugging me. She's barely five foot eight in her heels, so I have to bend pretty far down to kiss the top of her head. Sean might not like me, but Julie has come around to teamAshton. We've done a few shifts at a soup kitchen together, and she lets me help cook even though I'm terrible. I've never met someone as warm and open as she is, and she's become a bit of a stand-in therapist because she's so easy to talk to.
Sean grunts.
We're led into the back of a room filled with reporters and cameras. This is Marc's moment, and we're meant to be quietly supportive from the back, but apparently the press was waiting to see if I'd be here to support Marcus like I said I would. I smile and wave, opening my jacket to reveal the Charlotte Hornet's t-shirt I wore. It was an optimistic wardrobe choice, but I had high hopes.
"What if he got picked by Washington?" Sean asks under his breath.
"It was a possibility, but I encouraged Marc to talk with an agent, and they helped facilitate some pre-draft meetings where he was able to express his interest in playing for the Hornets. Charlotte wanted him just as much, and there were rumors that Washington was going to choose Brandon Sera. Atlanta would have been the other possibility." Checking to make sure no one else is looking, I pull my collar down to reveal a white t-shirt with red and yellow letters. "I was hopeful, but I was prepared."
Sean gives me the closest thing to an appreciative nod that I'm ever likely to get from him, then moves farther down to take some pictures on his phone for his mother.
The door opens, and Marcus steps in, wearing his new jersey. Camera's flash and there's some applause, but everyone gets to business quickly.
"Marcus, how does it feel to hear your name called and officially become part of the Hornets’ family?"
Marcus leans forward to speak into the skinny microphone on the desk in front of him. "It feels surreal," he says, and gets some chuckles.
