Page 81 of Game Changer

“I never minded being on the road. She hated it. Hated leaving friends, leaving places. Our parents were really kind people, and they cared about us, but Mari had a harder time with the change than I did. Now that we’re grown, Mari’s found an anchor—in her work and this place and Harlan. Me? I’m a balloon floating around not sure how to find the ground.”

I sigh in his arms.

“My mom used to sing this song, 'Home.' It was the only time Mari would curl up next to Mom, that it seemed like they understood one another. I have a recording of her singing it. I’m trying to find it for the wedding.”

“I’m sure she’ll love it.”

I nod, swallowing as my fingers twist together and unlace.

“I have some friends, but she’s my family. The one who has to love me no matter what, who knows I’ll always love her.” I take a shallow breath. “When my parents died, they were on vacation in Costa Rica. Mari was busy working, but I was in my first year of art school. I was supposed to go with them but flaked at the last minute and bailed because of things I wanted to do at school. I told them to take this plane tour for me, and they did. Only the weather was bad, and they crashed.”

Guilt and grief rise up, consuming me until my lungs burn and my ribs threaten to crack.

“Their deaths weren’t your fault,” he murmurs.

“I should have been with them,” I insist. “I should have been on that plane.”

Clay takes my face in his hands and swipes at my cheeks, at the tears I didn’t notice before now.

“I’m fucking glad you weren’t,” he whispers against my lips.

His expression makes the guilt in my chest ease, replacing it with a feeling of warmth and hope.

“You are?” I blink up at him. It’s the first time someone’s said that to me, and it means the world.

“Fuck yes. For starters”—he pulls back an inch—“no one would’ve been on that commercial flight last month to tell me I should consider a career in basketball. And you see how well that worked out.”

My eyes squeeze shut. “Stop it—”

His laugher rumbles through me, and he pulls me tight until we’re both rocking with it.

“Wanna watch a movie?”

“Yes.”

He turns on the TV and flicks to an On Demand channel with every film known to man before handing me the remote.

“Anything I want?”

“Anything.”

I chooseThe Princess Bride, which has an ill-fated wedding through no fault of the wedding party.

Before I fall asleep in Clay’s arms, I decide the events of today were almost worth it because they gave me this moment.

21

NOVA

The next day, I’m at the stadium and working on a different set of drawings that have nothing to do with my sister’s wedding.

Harlan said I could come and go as I wanted, and security made it easy. So, it wasn’t difficult to plan my visit to match with the Kodiaks' on-court practice while Mari’s at work.

Down on the court, the guys are in practice jerseys, running drills. I never before appreciated how tightly scripted the game is. Every act of aggression on the court, every defensive play, is planned and rehearsed over and over.

Right now, the coaches hold tablets, talking amongst themselves. The head coach watches intently, arms crossed as Clay brings the ball up the court, guarded closely by the rookie.

Clay spins away, beating the rookie by a full second. There’s a moment’s hesitation when he shifts his weight.

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