Chapter 1 – Reece #2
“I’ve never actually played a game but I’ve tossed the ball a few times…”
“Tossed?” Nick repeated with a raised brow.
“Hey, it’s your lucky day then! We’re basically the pros of the neighborhood,” Declan bragged and brushed imaginary dust off his shoulder.
“As long as you’re having fun, you’ll get the hang of it,” Nick assured and bounced the ball a few times. “Come on, I’ll teach you the basics.”
“What about me?” Declan squawked indignantly.
Nick just narrowed his eyes at him and said nothing, but there was a fiery, almost intimidating look in his eyes that Reece found… impressive.
“What? I can teach too!”
“I’m ready to learn,” Reece chimed in, raising a fist in the air. “I bet you’re both great teachers.”
Nick looked back toward him with a gentle smile, and said, “We’ll take care of you.”
Reece felt as if his heart lurched into his throat, heat flooding his face.
He couldn’t stop smiling as his new friends explained the basics, and that it was best to learn as he played.
Shooting wasn’t terrible, but to have to do so while moving, much less with an opponent blocking you…
It was hard to believe how easy Nick and Declan made it look—like effortless fun.
They played for a while and even though it was challenging, it was still really fun and Reece found himself discovering a new fondness for basketball.
When they stopped to take a break, Declan went inside to fetch some drinks and Reece was staring at Nick again, as if it was his new favorite habit. And he noticed a startling detail.
“Oh my God! Your ears are pierced! That’s so cool!”
Nick’s brows shot up and he grabbed his ear as if just remembering. “It’s no big deal.”
“I love it—I want mine pierced too one day.”
“Oh yeah?” Nick balanced the basketball on his finger and started spinning it. “That’d be cute. It doesn’t hurt much either, just a little pinch for a second.”
The response was unexpected. If Reece had warm cheeks before, they were scorching now. “I’m gonna do it.” Sooner than later, he hoped.
Declan came back with some water, tossing a bottle to Nick. “Here you go,” he said and politely held out another bottle to Reece.
“Thank you.” Reece took the bottle gratefully. He didn’t think he’d stopped smiling since he met them. “Can we play again sometime?”
“Is that even a question?” Declan chuckled and patted him on the back. “You’re with us now! Hopefully we go to the same school too. Any idea where you’re registered?”
Nick drank a few gulps of water and then interjected, “he literally just moved in, take it easy.”
“It’s called being friendly.”
Reece twisted the cap off his water, shoulders shaking with laughter. “Seaside Middle,” he said, hoping he’d get to go to the same school as both of them. “Please say you both go there.”
“See what I mean? It’s meant to be,” Declan sighed wistfully. “I had a good feeling about you, Blondie.”
“Oh shut up,” Nick groaned and shoved the other boy. “Always doing the most, I swear.”
“If I didn’t, then you wouldn’t have any friends with that too-cool-for-school attitude,” Declan shot back. “Oh wait. I’m your only friend.”
Nick almost choked on his next sip of water and threw the basketball at Declan, who caught it with a cheeky grin. “Shut up, Dec. Anyway, it looks like you’re stuck with us, Reece.”
“Then you’re stuck with me too,” Reece said and made a mental note to thank his parents for making him move.
That summer was the best and most memorable Reece had experienced yet.
He spent most of his time with his new friends, never going a day without at least one of them.
Declan was a constant since he was next door and Reece had even learned that the other boy’s bedroom window was also visible from Reece’s room.
Some mornings he’d spot Declan at that window with his big crooked grin and an overly enthusiastic wave.
Since Nick lived down the street, most days Reece and Declan were meeting him at the park.
When they weren’t playing basketball, they were on the beach, and when they weren’t on the beach, they were hanging out at Declan’s house.
Reece even talked both his new friends into tagging along on shopping trips with his sisters.
It had only taken a couple weeks for Reece to wish he’d been in Miami his whole life.
Playing basketball with Declan and Nick was exhilarating, but watching them play took Reece’s breath away.
They were both competitive and dedicated, Nick even more than Declan.
Reece admired their strength and tenacity.
Seeing them zooming around each other, always smiling or laughing and teasing each other, made Reece want to take the sport more seriously too.
He wanted to bask in this shared passion with his friends and cherish every moment.
“Teach me basketball,” Reece said to Nick one day at the park. They were sitting next to each other on the court, watching Declan practice his layups.
“What, you wanna go pro one day too?” Nick grinned at him, his deep blue eyes staring into Reece’s so intently that he had to avert his. “You already know basketball. And you’re good.”
Reece laughed and picked at the hem of his shorts.
Nick was always going on about becoming a professional basketball player.
Declan too. Maybe Reece wasn’t cut out to go that far, but if it meant he could spend more time with them, he wanted to learn more.
“I don’t know about that but I do want to play with you.
And maybe even win against you one day.”
Nick whistled, shaking his head with his smile still plastered on his face. “Yikes. We better get to work then.” He stood, his teasing setting Reece’s cheeks aflame.
“Hey!” Reece jumped up and ran after a cackling Nick, who was evading him and dribbling the basketball between his hands skillfully. Paying attention to Nick was easy, but copying the effortless way he carried himself, his ball manipulation, or even his footwork was impossible.
Despite Nick’s teasing, though, he was actually a great teacher.
He was patient and thorough, and with Declan’s help, the two of them gave Reece the confidence to do something crazy, something exciting.
Reece decided to join the basketball team and play for real alongside his friends.
His sisters were blindsided by the announcement when he went home and told his family at dinner.
“Hold on, you’re going to be an athlete? You?” Natalie asked, tucking her dirty-blonde hair behind her ear, wary blue eyes a mirror of Reece’s own.
Phoebe nudged her with a chiding glare. “He can go sporty if he wants to.” Her green eyes had softened and she fiddled with the edges of her brown hair.
“But he’s our fashion boy!” Natalie protested.
Ever since Reece could remember, his sisters loved playing dress-up, but it wasn’t just any normal game.
Dress-up in their house was a big deal, a fashion show that they set up and put on for their parents.
Fashion had always been Reece’s passion, but adding basketball to the mix only made him happier, it didn’t take away from everything else he loved.
Daphne patted Reece’s head affectionately, smiling warmly. “He’s our basketball fashion boy now. I’m happy for you. I think you’ll have lots of fun.”
“I think so too.” He knew it must’ve been a surprise but he was confident moving into this new chapter of his life because it meant he got to be with his friends.
“Well then, we’ve got a lot of stuff to do,” his dad, Anthony, said, crossing his arms over his chest. “Matching jerseys. Face paint. We have to show everyone that the Keys family doesn’t mess around. Heck, I’ll even practice basketball with you.”
“Honey, you have no business on a basketball court.” His mom quickly intervened. “Leave that to Reece’s friends.”
“What? I’ve tossed a ball around back in the day,” his dad weakly protested with a frown.
Vivian shook her head and looked at her husband sympathetically. “Anthony, I love you, but you’ve got absolutely no athletic ability.”
Reece and his sisters laughed while their dad merely shrugged it off in good humor.
In order to get ready for tryouts, Reece was in Declan’s backyard every day after school and sometimes they went to the park.
Nick made sure to focus on developing Reece’s strengths and covering his weaknesses.
While anyone could play basketball, it was no secret that he would have a lot of challenges as an inexperienced player, but Nick pointed out that he was a quick learner.
He would be able to hold his own and going against more experienced players like Nick and Declan helped him grow rapidly.
Despite all the preparation and lessons, Reece couldn’t stop himself from feeling anxious when the day for tryouts finally arrived.
“Stop looking so nervous,” Nick said when they were in the gym awaiting the coach’s instructions. He squeezed Reece’s shoulder. “You learned from the best, remember.”
Then he winked at Reece and his face erupted with warmth.
“Don’t take all the credit, Nick,” Declan said, throwing an arm around Nick’s shoulder, the two of them elbowing each other and laughing as they wrestled around.
“I still have a lot to learn,” Reece said, distracting them, “but if I can keep playing with you guys, I’ll catch up to you in no time!”
And he almost did. After making the team and experiencing his first season of basketball during his final year of middle school, Reece felt more confident in his playing.
He wasn’t on their level, not even close, but he wasn’t being left behind either.
He found his own strengths and weaknesses and studied theirs constantly.
Nick was already known as a monster scorer, dominating every game with record-breaking shots.
Declan was their powerhouse center who was already viral for his dunkshots.
People were always talking about them and Reece knew he was lucky to have them dedicating so much time to helping him better his game.
Playing with them all the time was his greatest asset.
They were bigger and stronger and fast—but Reece was faster.
He got faster every day and it made him near invincible by their sides, right where he hoped to be forever.
That feeling only intensified the closer Reece got to them, Nick especially.