Page 72 of Tamed (The Courtside King Duology 1)

“Just leaving now.”

“What? Already? I thought your practice started at two.”

“It did. And now it’s five. We’ve been practicing for three hours straight.”

A grunt came through the line. “That’s not enough. Round one starts in four days.”

“We’ll be ready. Don’t worry. We’ve been busting our butts.”

“You need to be busting them more. This is your last year, Breck. Your last chance. Stop being so nonchalant.”

Breck clenched his jaw. “We practice twenty-plus hours a week. With games on top of that. We’ll be—"

“Sorry. That’s what you’ll be,” his dad snapped. “When you lose. When your big-headed asses get booted out of the playoffs.”

Breck ground his molars. “Thanks for that amazing vote of confidence.”

His dad went silent. “I just don’t want you getting complacent. Just want you focused.”

“I am.”

“Good. And speaking of which, what’s going on with your girlfriend?”

Breck frowned, heading into the parking lot. “Uh… I don’t have a girlfriend, Dad.”

“Perfect. They’re pure distraction.”

Ugh.

“Whatever,” he grunted.

“I’m serious. You’re better off without one, at least until after the championship game.”

Breck glared and shook his head, his old man at it again, running every facet of his life.

Silence lingered.

His dad sighed. “Listen, I’m not saying you have to abstain. Just don’t form any attachments. And if you have to have a girl on your arm for appearance’s sake, make sure she’s clean-cut, Breck. Sophisticated. Classy. You have an image to uphold. Don’t give the media any ammunition. All it takes is one bad decision and they’ll drag you through the mud. Be smart. That’s all. No unnecessary risks. Until you get signed, you are the poster child for social perfection.”

Breck exhaled, shoulders sagging.

“Breck.”

“I got it,” he grated. “I understand.”

“Good. Just trying to help you succeed.”

“Right,” Breck muttered, coming to a stop at his car.

His dad’s message had come through loud and clear.

Play it safe. Keep his nose clean. Nothing controversial.

In other words, any drive-by’s past Kai’s dojang were officially canceled.

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