by L A Cotton
“Good.” I folded my arms across my chest and watched as she sent the message.
When she was done her voice squeaked, “You won’t tell Kyle, right?”
“No,” I said. “But I won’t lie either. If he asks me, I’ll tell him the truth.”
“That’s fair, I guess. Gosh, I don’t know what’s going on with me lately.”
“I do.” I nudged her with my shoulder. “You love him.”
“Yeah.” She let out a strangled laugh. “And it’s driving me crazy.”
“Hey, who said it was easy?”
“Oh, this is it.” Laurie clapped her hands together focusing on the screen. “Here they come.”
I watched, waiting to catch a glimpse of Maverick. Hoping to avoid seeing Caitlin. And my eyes slid sideways to my friend again. Maybe I’d been too harsh on her. She loved Kyle. She wouldn’t stray. But she wasn’t wrong.
Love was enough to drive you insane.
Maverick
“This is it...” Coach Callahan started. The locker room was silent, all eyes trained on him. Our mentor. Our leader. “I want you to go out there and play with the heart and strength I know you have. Don’t let them intimidate you. Don’t let them make you think you don’t belong here. You earned it. Every single one of you. Now come on, hands in.”
One by one we joined the circle, the air humming with anticipation. Luke shot me a sly smirk as we put our hands in, shoulder-to-shoulder, teammate-to-teammate. This was it. Our final game. Our last shot at glory.
And I wasn’t walking off that court until we were crowned victorious.
I could feel it in my veins. The thirst. The adrenaline. There was no other feeling like it.
None.
“Okay, Wreckers on three,” Coach’s voice rang out loud and clear and we all counted with him, our voices growing louder with every number until our hoots and hollers filled the room, reverberating off the lockers and benches, walls and ceiling.
“I think I’m going to puke,” Trey announced, and Coach snapped, “Not on my watch, Berrick, out on the court in five.”
The guys started filtering out of the room, but I rushed back to my bag and dug out my cell phone.
“Prince, do we have a problem?”
“No problem, Sir.” I glanced over my shoulder. “I’ll be right out.”
Coach eyed the phone in my hand, readjusting his red and white ball cap. “Make it quick.”
“Yes, Sir.”
I slid my finger over the screen and breathed a sigh of relief when I saw her name.
Lo: I know I’m not there and I know you probably hate me right now, but you’ve got this, Maverick. I’m with Laurie watching the game live... I’m right there with you.
Energy thrummed through me as I texted her back.
Maverick: For real? You’re watching?
Lo: I wouldn’t miss it for the world
Undefined emotion swirled in my chest as my cell bleeped again with another incoming text
Lo: Go Wreckers
I threw my head back with laughter, and fuck, if it didn’t feel good. I’d wanted Lo out there in the crowd, more than anything. But knowing she was watching was the next best thing. I slipped it back inside my bag and took a couple of deep breaths, centering myself and went after my team.
The noise was deafening, the lights blinding. The Golden 1 Centre was at capacity and my eyes searched for our supporters, the sea of red and white easy to spot against the wall of blue and white of our opponents.
“It’s something else, huh?” Luke clapped me on the back as we made our way over to Coach and the rest of the team, adrenaline pumping through me. The cheer squads were already entertaining the crowds but none of that interested me. I was here for one reason and one reason only.
Because basketball was a part of who I was.
I’d always known I had a gift. From the second I picked up a ball, it felt natural; as easy as breathing. But I’d spent so long using the game as an escape to cover up my struggles in class that when I played, I played to prove a point. To show everyone I was good enough.
Good at something.
And it worked. People sat up and paid notice: at my performance, my records on the court. And I hid behind it. Since my father sat in that office and refused to acknowledge what my principal was saying, I used basketball to prove my worth.
But I didn’t need to do that anymore. Because I wasn’t a failure. My learning disability didn’t define me, and it wasn’t going to stop me going after what I wanted. Coach Callahan and Miss Tamson showed me that.
Lo showed me that.
And the future I wanted—the one I’d carved out for myself—was so close I could almost taste it.
~
“Prince, get over here.” Coach Callahan motioned for me to join him and I squeezed Luke’s shoulder leaving him to the celebrations. Things had gotten a little crazy after the final buzzer sounded and the locker room had definitely seen better days, but we were riding the high of victory.
“Yes, Coach?” I ran a hand through my damp hair.
“You did good out there, son, real damn good. I’m proud of you, Maverick.” He grabbed my hand and shook it hard.
“Thank you, Sir.”
“I’ve coached basketball for a long time, kid. Too long. And I like to think I can recognize real talent from a flash in the pan. You’ve got it, Maverick. It’s right there inside you. Don’t let anyone ever tell you different. Work hard and play harder and you could go all the way, son. I truly believe that.”
“I— I don’t know what to say, Sir.”
“Ahh, get over there and enjoy the celebrations. You deserve it.”
I gave him a thankful nod and re-joined my teammates. They cheered as I approached, and Luke and Aaron hooked their arms around my neck, dragging me forward. “Time to honor our captain, Prince.”
“Oh no you don’t—”
Too late. Someone ripped off my shorts, and they shoved me hard into the freezing cold shower jets and I shrieked like a girl, cupping my junk.
“You’d better all get the fuck in here,” I hissed acclimatizing to the ice-cold water.
They rushed me. Water spraying. Dicks flapping everywhere. It was crude and rude and too much naked guy skin for my liking, but it was tradition. And I wasn’t about to ruin their fun. They deserved it.
We deserved it.
After we were dried and changed, we headed out to meet our families and friends who had made the journey to support us. Kyle and Mom were the first ones through the gathered crowd.
“You were wonderful, baby.” Mom pulled me into her arms, hiding her tear-stained eyes.
Kyle caught my eye and mouthed, “So emotional”. “Come on, Momma P, share the love.” Kyle untangled her from my arms and handed her off to Gentry who held out his hand for me. “Congratulations, Son.”
“Thanks.”
Summer and Macey appeared, and I locked eyes with my sister. The grudge—the hurt of my betrayal—was still there, written all over her face, but to my surprise she came and wrapped an arm around my waist, hugging me. “I’m proud of you, Maverick.”
“Thanks, and I’m sorry,” I whispered. “But this is something I have to do.”
“I know.” She slipped away and made her excuses, insisting she needed to find the rest of the girls. But I knew Macey and there was a long way to go before she forgave me and Mom.
“You played amazingly,” Summer said around a wide smile, and still riding the high, I yanked her into my arms.
“Thank you. And I’m sorry. For everything. I’ll do better, I promise.”
Surprise shone in her eyes as she pulled away. Summer was pissed with me over Lo, and I didn’t blame her. But there was something about this moment. I felt the shift. Only for my heart to sink when I realized Lo really wasn’t here.
“You know it was too much to ask of her,” Kyle leaned in, keeping his voice low and I swallowed over the lump in my throat.
“I know.”
“Here.” He held out his cell phone, and I scanned the stream of messages. It took a few seconds for my eyes to adjust. For the words to form.
“She…”
“The whole damn game.” Kyle slipped his cell phone back in his pocket, his mouth twisted in a smirk. “She couldn’t be here, but she didn’t want to miss a single thing.”
Lo had sent Kyle text after text: a running commentary of her thoughts and feelings as she watched the game.
“You should call her. Make it right.”
“I’m never going to stop owing you, am I?”
“It’s cool; one day I’ll cash in.” He winked and slung his arm around Summer’s shoulder guiding her back to Mom and Gentry.
“I’ll see you guys at the restaurant, okay?” They nodded, and I slid my hand into my pocket. Celebrations could wait. I had a call to make.
I snuck back into the arena and slipped into one of the benches. It was empty except for a few staff cleaning. An hour ago, it had been crazy. The noise, the announcements, the music. The whole thing was a blur. Now it was peaceful. The calm after the storm.
“Maverick?” Lo’s voice filled the line, and I closed my eyes, soaking up the sound.
“Hey.”
“You won, you did it. Congratulations.”
“God, I miss you.”
She laughed. “You’re supposed to be celebrating. Laurie said there’d probably be a dinner and then a party?”
“I needed to hear your voice.”
“I watched. At one point, Laurie threatened to call the police, I squeezed her hand so tight. It was amazing. You were amazing.”
“I want to take you somewhere.”
“What? Are you drunk? Because you sound a little weird.” The excitement in her voice softened, and I dragged a hand down my face picturing her.
“As soon as we can make it work, I want us to go somewhere. Just the two of us. Okay?”
“Okay,” she murmured. “But are you sure you’re okay? You sound—”
“I’m fine. I just… Fuck, I miss you.”
“You’ll be home tomorrow. It’s okay to enjoy this, Maverick. You deserve to relax and celebrate. I’m so proud of you.”
I didn’t want to celebrate. I just wanted her. But she had a point. The team would be waiting, and they would want to celebrate. Our families and friends too.
“I’ll text you later,” I breathed out not wanting to hang up.
“You’d better, Champ.”
“Keep talking like that and I’ll be catching the first flight out of here.”
Her soft laughter filled the line, and I said goodbye, forcing myself to end the call.
Tomorrow.
Tomorrow, I could hold her. Kiss her. Lose myself in her.
I just had to get through the next few hours.
~
“Speech, speech, speech.” The guys looked at me expectantly. The restaurant was deserted now, and from the looks the staff were throwing in our direction, we’d overstayed our welcome.
“Come on, you guys, we need to get out of—”
“No excuses, Prince,” Luke called, and I shot him a narrowed glare.
“Speech, already,” Trey added, and I stood up, setting our group off in a fit of hoots and hollers. Coach winked, flicking his head toward the middle of our area.
I cleared my throat, nervous energy bouncing in my stomach. “I don’t do this, you should all know that by now. But today was my final day leading this team and what a fucking day it was.”
Tables rattled and feet stamped. The whole place came alive at my words and I rolled back my shoulders, standing a little taller. These guys were my friends—my teammates. They didn’t want an elaborate speech, and that’s what I loved about them. They saw me for my strengths and accepted me for my weaknesses.
“On behalf of the team, I want to thank you, Coach Callahan. Without your guidance and leadership, we wouldn’t be here today.” My throat tightened, and I avoided glancing over to where he sat. “Playing alongside all of you has been a privilege. Even you, Berrick.” I smirked at Trey and he flipped me off. “And I couldn’t think of a better way to see out high school.” I raised my glass in the air. “To us. State Champions of twenty-seventeen.”
I slid back into my seat. Luke grinned at me and I said, “What?”
“You should totally join the debate club at East Bay, public speaking comes so nat—”
“Fucker.” I reached over and yanked him into a headlock, ignoring his pleas. When I’d ruined his perfectly styled hair, I shoved him away and raised an eyebrow, “You were saying?”
Coach stood up. “Okay, listen up. It’s straight back to the hotel and I don’t want any complaints landing on my door tomorrow, got it?”
“Got it, Coach,” we murmured as he went to settle the check.
It was only a short walk back to the hotel and as soon as Coach’s door closed, the guys made their way to Trey’s room. He and Aaron and a couple of the other guys had interconnecting rooms, and it was decided that’s where we’d celebrate or commiserate tonight. When I finally got to their door, the music filtered into the long hallway.
“You might want to keep that down,” I said as I stepped inside.
“Don’t be such a pussy,” Trey called from behind one of the cheerleaders. I scanned the rooms for Macey but there was no sign of my sister. It didn’t surprise me, she’d been quiet over dinner, leaving with the rest of my family.
“Great game, Maverick.”
“Caitlin.” I nodded at her before moving further down the hallway. Show my face and then get the hell out of here, that was the plan.
Caitlin had other ideas. Slipping around me, she cut me off before I could get into the room. I walked backward keeping a safe distance between us. With glassy eyes and a sloppy grin on her face, she looked buzzed. My eyes darted around Trey’s room. A couple of the guys were drinking. But it wasn’t out of control. Not with Coach Callahan down the hall.
“Maybe you should call it a night,” I said, and she frowned.
“But I’ve been waiting for you…” she stepped closer forcing me to back up until I hit the wall and had nowhere else to go. Her fingers glided down my arm as she stared up at me through her lashes with come-fuck-me eyes.
Shit.
“We were good together, Maverick. We can still be good together.”
“Caitlin,” my voice was cold. “This isn’t happening. Not here or anywhere else. Got it?”
Hurt flashed across her face but quickly morphed to anger. “I’m only messing around, Rick, you don’t have to be so serious all the time.”
I looked to my friends for support, but the fuckers were all too busy having fun. So I did the only thing I could think of, shoved past her and got the hell out of there.
Lo
“I’m in here.”
“Hey, Dad.” I bound into the kitchen and threw my bag down on the table.
“That bad, huh?” He looked up from his stack of papers.
“Just another day of ‘your future is bright’ crap.”
He let out a wry laugh. “That’ll be you next year, kiddo.”
Didn’t I know it?
After my meeting with Miss Tamson, I couldn’t get the future out of my mind. The packet she’d given me lay on my desk, taunting me every time I walked into my bedroom, daring me to open it. But I wasn’t ready. I couldn’t explain it or put it into words… I just wasn’t ready to go there.
“Listen, sweetheart, there’s something—” His phone vibrated, and he scanned the screen. “I need to take this.”
“Sure thing, Dad.” I helped myself to some cookies from the cupboard and headed to my room. Seconds later, he appeared around the doorway, deep lines creasing his eyes.
“Everything okay?” I asked, and he flashed me a smile, but it felt forced.
“Yeah, I need to pop out. Stella is—”
“It’s fine. What did you want to tell me?”
Eyes narrowed, he let out
a weary sigh. “Nothing that can’t wait.”
“Sure, okay.”
“I’ll see you later?”
I shrugged. “I’m not sure what I’m doing yet.”
“Okay, I’ll leave some money in the usual place. In case you want to order in or go out.” He seemed distracted, but that made two of us.
Dad went to leave but at the last second, I said, “Say hi to Stella and Beth for me.”
Surprise flashed in his eyes and then a smile split his face. “Sure will, kiddo.”
He looked like he’d won the lottery.
It wasn’t much, not really, but it was a start.
When he was gone, I finished my snack and lay back on my bed, staring up at the ceiling. I’d almost survived my first year at Wicked Bay High. Another two months and it would be over. Then I had a year to decide what to do with the rest of my life. Although, in reality, it was much less time than that. People would expect me to start senior year with a plan.
My phone bleeped pulling me from my thoughts.
Maverick: I’m at your back door
A smile tugged at the corner of my lips and I climbed off the bed to go let him in. “This is unexpected,” I said as the door swung open. His eyes drank me in, the way they always did.
“I missed you.”
“I missed you, too.”
Maverick slipped passed me and I closed the door. “How did you know my dad was out?”
“I didn’t. I was driving by and saw his truck was gone.”
“You were driving by?” I raised an eyebrow and a rumble of laughter built in his chest.
“I hoped he was gone. Guess my luck was in.”
I studied his face. The dark circles around his eyes and lines across his forehead. He was tired. Worn down. It had been a crazy few weeks. The SAT, this thing with his father and Caitlin, not to mention the State Championship game.