Now
GRAYSON
ONE WEEK LATER
Today’s Friday, but it’s not any regular Friday. It’s homecoming game day.
I almost can’t believe this day is here, but it’s not that hard to believe. All of these events we get hyped for come up so fast and breeze right past us.
I have to say basketball has taken over my life, but not in a bad way. I’ve known that I’ve wanted to pursue the sport as my career since I was a kid.
Noah’s dad, Ben, helped teach me how to play. He’d watch college and NBA games with me on TV. He came to my high school games and most of my college games. It’s been hard not having him around, but I know he’s cheering me on from wherever he is.
Ben was more of a father to me than my father ever was. I regret not being able to tell him how grateful I was for everything he did for me. I’ve told Noah this, and he told me that he knows Ben is proud of me.
I’m going to continue to make you proud, Ben. Thank you for everything you did for me.
“Gray, you’re in the zone again,” Noah says, standing in the doorway to my bedroom.
I shake my head, allowing myself to come back to reality. “Of course I was.”
“What’s on your mind?” he asks, making his way over to me and sitting down in my desk chair.
I know talking about his dad isn’t easy for him because the wound is still fresh. I noticed this weeks ago when Xander brought his dad up and Noah shut down, but I have to tell him that his dad has been on my mind lately.
“I was thinking about your dad, and how I wish he was still here with us,” I blurt out.
“There’s a part of me that believes I’m living one of my nightmares, and I can’t find an escape route. I know how much he meant to you. He won’t be here physically anymore, but he’ll always be here in spirit.”
“How are you doing?”
“I’m hanging in there. These past few months have been difficult to say the least. I have to admit that I don’t know if I’d have a shred of my sanity if it wasn’t for my mom, Lizzie, you, Xander, Dani, and Violet.”
“You know I’m here if you ever want to talk about anything, right?”
Noah grins. “That goes both ways, my friend.”
“I know.”
Xander appears in my bedroom. “How are you feeling about the homecoming game today?”
“Oh, good morning to you, too.” My tone is loaded with sarcasm. “I feel great. We’ve been practicing almost every day for the past month.”
Xander and Noah exchange awkward glances at each other as silence consumes the room.
“Okay, what the hell is going on? Is there an elephant in the room or something?” I ask, anger filling up my body.
“Is Violet still going to the game?” Noah asks.
“I asked her last night about it to confirm, and she did. Why?”
“Do you think that’s the best idea?” Xander piggybacks off of Noah.
“I’m not in the mood for this shit right now.”
“We’re not trying to piss you off, man. You told us how she’s a huge distraction for you right now. Look, Violet is one of the best people I know, but I also know how you get around her,” Noah says.
“Correction, it’s got. Past tense. I wouldn’t have invited her to the game if I wasn’t able to handle it. Also, she would’ve come even if I didn’t formally invite her.”
“I don’t know about that. She might have skipped out on it if she knew you weren’t comfortable with her going.”
I slap my hand onto my forehead. “Shit, you’re right. I don’t why I’m assuming that since I haven’t seen or spoken to her for six years. She could’ve changed.”
“Given everything she’s been through, the experience has made her stronger. Be patient with her though. There are some things that you might talk about that could set her off just like they’d set you off,” Noah points out.
“Okay.”
Xander breaks the tension. “What do you want for breakfast?”
I get off my bed and lean against the wall close to my bedroom door. “Are you making it?”
“It’s going to be a team effort, but yeah,” Xander replies.
“I can’t believe this is happening right now.”
Noah scratches the edge of his jawline with his index finger. “Don’t have high expectations. The only thing I know how to cook for breakfast are eggs, and that’s about it. Dani has been trying to teach me how to make pancakes and waffles. I haven’t mastered either of them yet.”
“Eggs would be great,” I say.
Noah stands up from the desk chair, heading towards the door where Xander is standing.
“Thanks guys,” I add.
“We’re going to make bacon, too.” Xander’s lips curve up to form a smile.
“In the oven, right?” I ask.
Xander rolls his eyes. “Yes. We wouldn’t dare to make it in a pan on the stove.”
Before I can say something snarky, Xander leaves my room, and Noah heads out a couple minutes afterwards.
I know they’re only doing this because it’s a special occasion, but it’s a nice change of pace.
I don’t make breakfast every single day.
It does feel like I do though. Cooking is one of my passions, but it can be a lot of work depending on what meal I make.
It’s why I’m getting a minor in nutrition.
Noah’s mom, Laura, told me when I was younger that she could’ve seen me go to culinary school. The dream was always Sunset Cove University regardless of what path I decided to follow.
I didn’t choose basketball.
It chose me.
I’m so happy that the homecoming game isn’t until this evening because it gives me most of the day to relax. Relaxation has become a foreign concept to me. I’m always going with barely any time to simply take a breath. Basketball practice and college classes consume basically all of my time.
On the flip side, I haven’t been a party person since my senior year of high school. The fact that the guys on the team convinced me to go to the after party tonight is a miracle on their part. This party will only commence if we win the game.
We’re playing against Pinecrest University, a school for gifted athletes. Their basketball team is one of the best in the nation.
I could’ve tried to apply there, but I preferred being able to take courses that weren’t all related to basketball. Also, I wanted to stay in Sunset Cove, and I had no reason to leave.
When I took a tour of the Sunset Cove University campus with Noah, Xander and our mothers, I felt right at home. That’s when I knew there was no other choice. I had to attend SCU. No questions asked.
After I stop zoning out, I get out of bed and complete my usual morning routine in my bathroom.
I dunk my head under the faucet to wet my hair.
When I see droplets fall, I grab a fine-tooth comb and guide it through my hair to tame the stragglers.
I take a towel and dry my hair, so I’m not dripping water all throughout the apartment.
“Breakfast is ready,” Noah says.
Walking out of the bathroom, I end up in the main area of my bedroom.
Xander runs in. “He’s proud of himself.”
“Oh, shut up, we both know that you’re the one who’s proud of yourself. All you did was make the toast.” Noah glares at Xander for a brief moment. “I can tell you one thing. Dani would be proud of me.”
“Congratulations! You know, you better be careful. When a boyfriend obsesses over his girlfriend too much, he starts to lose sight of who he is.” Xander’s voice is full of pure sarcasm.
“When you finally get a girlfriend, you’ll understand why I act like the way I’ve been acting.”
I change the subject. “It’s refreshing seeing you two argue. It’s usually you observing Xander and I fighting with each other.”
“No, it’s usually me trying to break you guys up from hitting each other.”
“You make it sound like we fight all the time. That, my friend, is not the truth. That is a lie.”
“I beg to differ,” Noah says.
“So, breakfast…?” I smile wide, showing off my teeth.
Xander points his index finger at Noah. “See, you brought all this crap up, and now we forgot why we originally came in here.”
“I’m telling you right now, Alexander Torres, all you’re going to have for breakfast is toast if you keep this shit up.”
Xander shrugs his shoulders. “Oh, what a shame that would be.”
“Xander!” Noah’s voice gets deeper.
Xander disappears into the kitchen, leaving Noah and I alone.
“Did he drink soda this morning?” I ask.
“Probably. Don’t ask me what he ate for dessert after dinner last night.”
“I’m not. I seriously don’t want to know. Man, if I could eat all that and burn all those calories, I’d be eating candy and ice cream every day.”
“You and me both.”
I change the subject. “Do you think I should’ve gone to Pinecrest University instead of SCU?”
Noah blinks his eyes a couple of times. “It doesn’t matter what I think.
I remember when we toured both campuses.
You didn’t look like you were comfortable at Pinecrest. It was obvious to me that you didn’t feel like you belonged there.
Although, I do remember you hitting it off with the captain of their basketball team.
Here, on the other hand, your shoulders relaxed and you could breathe. Why are you asking me this?”
“When I tried out for the Stingrays back in my freshman year, I remember Coach Taylor telling me he was surprised that I didn’t end up at Pinecrest.” I walk out of my room with Noah following suit.
“Well, I think Coach has realized he’s incredibly lucky to have you on his team.” He sits down on one of the chairs at the kitchen table with a plate of eggs, bacon, and toast staring at him.
Xander started chowing down on his breakfast without us.
I sit down on the chair that has a view of our concrete wall. “There’s something else. When I was cooking with your mom a few years back, she told me how I could’ve gone to culinary school.”
“She’s not wrong. You’ve had this gift for cooking since we were kids. You could’ve flourished in culinary school, but basketball is your first love. Cooking is your second.”
“Violet is my first love,” I correct him.
Why did I just say that?
And the room becomes consumed with chewing sounds and a touch of silence.
“I’m curious. Why didn’t you go to Pinecrest or culinary school?” Xander asks as he finishes swallowing a piece of toast.
“I didn’t go to Pinecrest because I wanted the flexibility of having classes that weren’t all centered around my sport.
” I shove a forkful of eggs into my mouth.
“As for culinary school, I never saw it as a possibility, nor did I believe it was the right path for me. I have dreams of making it into the NBA. I don’t have dreams of opening my own restaurant. ”
“So, if the opportunity came to you with owning your own restaurant, you wouldn’t go for it?” Xander presses me.
“I don’t see that in the cards for me, but life has a way of taking us down paths we don’t expect. That’s why I’m not saying it could never happen.”
“You’re a double threat, bro. You can play basketball and cook a great meal. That’s rare. I know Noah said that basketball is your first love, but don’t leave your love for cooking behind.” Xander bites off a piece of crispy bacon.
“I appreciate the concern, and I promise cooking is not something I will push completely to the side. It’s how I decompress after basketball practices and games.”
Noah waves his hands in front of our faces. “Alright, let’s finish eating before everything turns ice cold.”
I didn’t realize Xander is so passionate about my love for cooking. We’ve never talked about it in depth like this before. It’s interesting how he believes I could’ve been a success if I went to culinary school.
SCU and Pinecrest were my options. And I followed my heart. It led me here, and I don’t regret it.
My friends are here.
The former love of my life is here.
My future is here.
This is where I’m meant to be.
I’ve been lying on the couch and rotting away for the past hour. It feels so good. I don’t remember the last time I was able to do this.
“Are you going to be lying on the couch like this until game time?” Xander asks, grinning.
“Maybe.”
Xander sits down on the ottoman, facing me. “I’m sorry I blew up at you earlier. I talked to Noah, too. What I said to him was fucked up.”
“What the hell is going on with you?” I slowly sit up.
A streak of sunlight reflects off his warm, olive skin.
“You know how happy I am for Noah and Dani, but there’s a part of me that believes I’ll be alone for the rest of my life.
It sounds stupid, I know. I’m jealous of my best friend because he’s in a happy relationship. I want to have what he has so badly.”
“Is there a tiny part of me that feels the way you do? Yes. I can tell you one thing though. You have to start putting yourself out there. Also, stop being so dramatic. You’re in your twenties. You have plenty of time to find a girlfriend.”
“I’m twenty-three. I have two semesters left of college, and then I graduate. I haven’t had a girlfriend since high school, and that relationship only lasted a couple of months. What if this doesn’t happen for me?”
“You sound like you’re having a mid-life crisis, and you’re not even close to the age to have one. Dude, you’re going to find someone. You’re one of the best people I know. You’re kind, smart, caring, and you can be funny sometimes.”
“Thanks, man.” He gets up from the ottoman and pats me on the shoulder with the palm of his hand. “It’s going to happen for you, too.”
“We’ll see about that one.”
“The former love of your life has come back into your life. That doesn’t happen that often to a lot of people. The universe is giving you a second chance. Don’t screw it up.”
“Okay,” I breathe out through a chuckle.
“I don’t know why you think this is funny.”
I don’t think any of this is funny.
“Violet has been in my life for a week now. Coach Taylor said no distractions. Don’t start with me about this. I just want to focus on playing a good game today.”
“Alright, fine. I’ll let you and the couch get reacquainted.”
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” He walks out of the living room and disappears into the corridor where our bedrooms are.
Why does he choose today out of all days to start with me about Violet?
Today needs to be about basketball, and that’s it. I can’t afford to get distracted by the vicious cycle of thoughts that run rampant inside my brain. Once they start, they don’t end.
Romance is one of those things that has been pushed to the side for me, mostly because I’ve been focusing on school and my career.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Xander thinks about romance more than I do. He’s a hopeful romantic.
A hopeful romantic believes in the possibility of a genuine and fulfilling relationship, while a hopeless romantic believes in the idealistic view of love and often pushes reality to the side. He knows that someone is out there, and he won’t give up on finding her.
I’m definitely not a hopeless romantic or a hopeful romantic. I’d place myself somewhere in the middle. I knew about hopeless romantics, but hopeful romantics is something I learned about from Violet.
Violet is the literal embodiment of a hopeless romantic. She always was. You’d think the opposite because she loves her romance books, but she’s someone who lives in reality and in an alternate universe at the same time.
Snap out of it, man.
Ugh, wake me up when it’s game time.