Page 15 of Shot Taker

The playoffs. I’m trying not to think that far ahead because if everything goes to plan, I won’t be in a Kodiaks uniform, but the excited rumble through the room makes it impossible to ignore.

Harlan promised to get me out, but for the time being, I’m still here, surrounded by guys who want to win in this city—for this city.

A hand goes up.Rookie. “We can get through them. They’ll be playing catch-up the entire night.”

Miles hollers and fist-bumps Rookie.

“Wade,” Coach barks, and all heads turn toward me. “You’ve played Utah plenty. Got any input?”

“I can get past their guards. Center’s a step slow.”

“What about for the rest of the team?”

I pause. “That’s above my paygrade.”

Later, on my way out of the room, Coach grabs me. “I need you to step up. You’re used to seeing the game for you, but the next evolution is you seeing it for all of them.”

I cock my head. “Next evolution of my game is holding the MVP trophy at finals.”

He swears. “You don’t get there without four other guys. This game isn’t only about stars, Wade. Someone has to take responsibility for this team.”

“That’s your job, old man.”

“What about when I’m gone?”

I scoff. “You’re gonna outlive us all in this league.”

After banging out the routine, my muscles are straining and my lungs burning. I grab a towel and wipe down, watching Rookie do lunges across the gym.

I’m never gonna be the leader Coach wants. I’m too focused on my own game.

But in the young guy working his ass off on the other side of the floor, I see a piece of myself.

“Your handle’s not gonna work against him,” I tell Rookie gruffly, naming one of the guards on the opposing team. “He’ll pick your pocket all night long. Best you can do is try to switch onto the four or five.”

His brows rise, his breath straining as he repeats the movement. “You don’t think I can take him?”

Doesn’t matter what I think, what matters is what Rookie thinks. What he’s committed to doing.

And there’s uncertainty in his eyes.

I might not know how to fix things with Nova, but this, I can fix.

“I bet you five large you can’t take him,” I say.

Rookie grins against the effort. “I’ll prove it to you.”

* * *

NOVA

There is no better companion for painting than Lizzo. She’s the best friend you never knew you needed cheering you on.

While she's been blasting from my headphones, I’ve painted the skyline twice. It’s the part of the wall that will be the grandest but also the most straightforward. The individual components are inanimate—buildings don’t have souls until they’re filled with people—while the other pieces of the mural will be more challenging to get right. It’s not enough that the brushstrokes are accurate. They have to feel alive.

Bumping into Clay at Chloe’s party had my emotions running high.

I still get hot thinking about how he slipped his huge hand over my thigh as if my body was his to command.

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