Page 57 of Fast Break
“I know. Can you maybe try and run interference with Coach? I don’t want to be benched.”
“I’ll do my best. Lucky you’re his favourite,” Trey says. “Just do what you can to get here as fast as possible. And Quinn? We’ll do a team collection if you get any traffic fines.”
“I’ll get him there,” Quinn adds, and I can’t help but smile as he picks up the speed again.
I’m still frantic by the time we pull into the parking lot at precisely 7:51 p.m. Quinn shaved off three minutes from the expected arrival time and I want to kiss him for it but I also know I need to hit the court pronto. Quinn pulls up in the first available space and I grab my bag and jump out of the car. I’m about to run for the stadium when Quinn grabs hold of my elbow, stopping me from leaving.
“Wait, JT.”
“I’m running late,” I say, pointing out the obvious.
“I know but you’re not in the right head space for your game,” he says, also pointing out the obvious.
“I know but I don’t have time for that.”
“One more minute isn’t going to matter,” he replies, blocking me in against the car. He takes my sports bag from my shoulder and drops it to the ground. “Close your eyes,” he says. I’m about to protest but one look in his eyes has me giving in. I slump my shoulders and close my eyes. “Now take some deep breaths with me,” he says, demonstrating a long breath in and another breath out. It takes me a while to get my racing heart down to match his breaths, but I eventually manage it.
“Now, centre yourself,” Quinn encourages, his voice soothing and low. “Right here.” He presses his hand to my solar plexus, and I feel him grounding me, getting me into the head space I need for the game. “Good, JT.”
I’m about to open my eyes when I feel his lips on mine, just a quick peck but it brings me back to life and I feel myself smiling—somehow, miraculously, calm and at ease.
“Now get in there and play your best damn game ever, Sterling,” Quinn adds, swatting my ass before he picks up my sports bag for me. I don’t hesitate this time, rushing into the stadium where I feel the eyes of the team pinging between me and Quinn as he walks steadily beside me.
Coach Vizard’s eyes are on me, but I can’t even look at him. I don’t want to undo everything Quinn just did for me in the parking lot as I shuffle up to the team bench. Quinn drops my bag then moves into an empty seat in the stadium.
“Go warm up with your cousin,” Coach grumbles. I don’t give him a chance to say anything else before I’m out on the court, falling into my drill with Trey.
“You alright?” Trey asks as he passes me the ball.
“I am now.” I glance up at Quinn in the stands, his gaze steady on me, grounding me in the way only he can. He calms me, his presence steadies me, and I know that I can put this all behind me and play. Because of him.
Coach is suddenly at my elbow, and I try not to panic even though I know he might be about to bench me for reasons outside of my control. But that’s not what he says as he pulls me to the side.
“Your head in the game, Sterling?” he asks, that laser like focus on me.
“Yes, Coach,” I tell him.
“You good to start or do you need five minutes on the bench?” It takes me a second to realise he’s actually giving this to me as a choice. I feel my lungs loosening that I am in this position with Coach. That he trusts me to know my game and where my head is at.
“I’m good to start,” I assure him. “I want to start.”
“Good. Put whatever it is behind you and make the game your entire focus,” he says. He nods at me and then heads back to the bench.
“Man, only you would get a free pass like that from Coach,” Trey comments as he passes the ball to me. “Little coach’s pet.”
“Sometimes it pays to be the favourite,” I grin at him as Coach calls us all back to the bench. I glance up at Quinn again, exchanging a look with him as he nods at me, and I know everything is going to be alright.
CHAPTER 20
quinn
JT is playing like a man with a point to prove out there on court and I am so proud of him. I’m proud that he was able to put everything behind him tonight and get out there and play like this for his team. He’s scrambling for every loose ball, hitting his shots like he’s got an inbuilt hoop sensor, and just generally destroying the opposition.
I’m still inwardly seething at his parents for letting him down so badly tonight. It’s probably good I don’t have anything to do with them because I doubt I’d be able to hold my tongue and not give them a piece of my mind for the way they treat their son. Like he’s an afterthought instead of the main event.
It took me a long time to get over being abandoned by my father as a ten-year-old kid. I’ve come to accept I only ever had one parent I could rely on, but I also know my mum would never let me down the way JT’s parents have let him down. I’m fucking furious at them.
On the plus side, I really did not mind playing the hero for JT tonight. Maybe I have a bit of a saviour complex. Although I’m pretty sure that’s reserved solely for the boy who is making my heart pound just a little harder as he brings the ball down from defence and puts up the sweetest three pointer.
