Page 86 of Fast Break
“Show off,” I murmur.
“Lucky I like you for other reasons,” he says in a low voice while his siblings square off at the other end of our makeshift court.
“Lucky indeed,” I agree as Abbie passes the ball to me and JT instantly gets it off me.
“No fair,” Benji calls indignantly while I roll my eyes. “JT has to play one handed. That’s the rule at my cousin’s house.”
“Okay okay,” JT agrees, holding his hands up placatingly but I can see the smile on his face.
I honestly never thought I would enjoy doing anything with a ball, but I find myself actually having fun and laughing a hell of a lot as JT’s two younger siblings and I team up to try to outscore my little basketball star. But there’s nothing we can do even with JT outnumbered and playing with his dominant hand behind his back.
When we finally break, I look up to see JT’s parents’ eyes focused on me and all my nerves flood back into my gut. They’re here because of me and I really, really need them to like me. JT is not aware of our scrutiny as he sidles up next to me, arm trailing over my shoulders as he whispers some dirty words in my ear. When I don’t respond, he looks up and notices all the attention on us. He immediately drops his touch.
Mum calls out when lunch is ready, and we all return to the house to sit around the dining table. JT takes the seat next to me, his knee brushing up against mine. He has always been quite tactile with me, but I guess I never really noticed until now where he’s trying to hold himself back. Our natural state is constantly touching so it feels strange to be all formal like this with him.
The conversation is still slightly stilted but not anywhere near as awkward as when the Sterlings first arrived. And any time there is an awkward lull, Gran is always there to fill it with some sweet quip or anecdote.
“So, Quinn,” David suddenly begins, the first time he’s addressed me directly. “What are your plans for after school?”
“The plan is for university,” I tell him.
“Quinn has applied for law school,” JT cuts in loyally. “He’ll easily get in too.”
“Law school?” David repeats, eyebrow raised in a way I hope might be impressed.
“Yep. Quinn is the smartest person in our whole year,” JT adds.
“Thank you, Jethro,” I say to him, holding his eye as he shrugs a sweet smile.
“You call him Jethro?” Penelope asks.
“Sometimes,” I chuff. “When he’s good.” JT hides his laugh with a swift knock of his foot against mine and I know exactly where his mind has gone.
“I’m so glad,” Penelope sighs. “Nobody but me and his father call him by his real name. It’s always been such a disappointment.”
“That’s because you gave me four syllables and a double barrel to boot,” JT eyerolls. “Nobody has the patience for all of that.”
“JT does have a nice ring to it too,” Gran adds, and I shoot her a smile.
“We’ve long since given up correcting his name,” Penelope sighs. “We just go with it now.”
“Well kind of,” JT adds. “You never call me by my nickname.”
“And I probably never will,” she adds with a small smile.
“We were very proud of JT getting scouted into the Eastern Greys,” Mum cuts in and I know why. She wants JT to be celebrated for his achievements too which I know he doesn’t get at home.
“Yes. That was good news,” Penelope agrees as she cuts into her salad.
“His school coach thinks he could make it to the big leagues,” I add, my turn to brag about my boyfriend. He smiles at me, biting down on that lower lip.
“I never actually thought it was possible to make a career out of basketball,” Penelope chuffs.
“Kids these days make a career out of anything,” Gran adds. “Even taking pictures of themselves.”
“That is true,” David agrees with a nod.
“Don’t start talking about the good old days now,” JT cuts in.
