Chapter 13
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
maddox
Away games never affect my performance. The crowd’s boos and taunts don’t faze me. They fuel me, and I always get a sense of satisfaction beating them in their own city.
We’re playing in Houston tonight against my old teammates. They’re familiar with my style, which gives them an advantage. The way they're able to predict some of my moves is making things challenging for me.
I’m off my game tonight. We’re in the fourth quarter with two minutes left on the clock.
I typically average thirty points per game, but tonight I only scored fifteen—which is better than scoring nothing at all, but to me, this is an embarrassment.
I’m supposed to be their star player, but I’ve played like shit tonight.
My mind is elsewhere, causing several turnovers and missed shots.
I can’t lose focus and let my team down any more than I already have. I need to put my personal issues aside and accept the fact that what I had with Annalise is meant to stay in the past.
The Phoenixes are leading by seven, but we still have a chance to take home the win. Their point guard, Stephen Cooke, attempts a two-pointer, but the ball bounces off the rim. Darius grabs the rebound and passes it to Elijah. We sprint down the court, the adrenaline kicking in.
Elijah tries to shoot from the three-point line, but he’s surrounded by defenders. He spins around and launches the ball in the air. I leap up, slamming it into the basket.
Desperate to prevent us from catching up, Houston goes for another three but misses again.
I dribble the ball down the court, my heart racing as I navigate past defenders.
I spot Andrés open near the three-point line and pass the ball to him.
He shoots it with ease and it swishes through the net. Now we’re only trailing by two points.
The Phoenixes make a sloppy pass, and the ball bounces right into Chandler’s hands. Groans and curses ripple through the crowd, and I can’t help the smile on my face.
Chandler passes the ball to me as the clock ticks down the final seconds. I can play it safe and go for a layup, which would tie the game and force us into overtime, or I can take a gamble and go for a three.
Seven seconds…
Six…
Five…
I launch the ball from the three-point line, feeling a surge of anticipation as it soars through the air. It hits the backboard before sinking into the net right before the buzzer sounds.
Angry Phoenix fans shout at us. Several of them yell, “Fuck you, Kamado, you traitor!”
Andrés pats me on the back. “Glad you finally decided to wake the fuck up.”
There’s nothing quite like the feeling of walking into the locker room for practice after an away win. The atmosphere makes me determined to work harder after my shitty performance last night. I may have scored the game-winning basket, but that doesn’t excuse the rest of the game.
I drop my bag on the bench and open up my locker before Elijah taps me on the arm and kicks his head to the side, signaling for me to move in closer.
“What’s up? Are you about to profess your undying love for me or something?” I tease.
He doesn’t laugh, a serious look settling on his face. “Don’t cause a scene,” he says, keeping his voice low. “But I just saw Lucas Hilton walk out of the general manager’s office.”
My blood runs cold. Lucas Hilton is my nemesis and the bane of my existence. Everyone in high school thought he was a nice guy, but I saw him for who he really is—a conniving snake who tried to go after Annalise when we were together.
She would always brush it off and tell me I was being dramatic, and that Lucas was just being friendly. But I knew what his true intentions were.
“What the fuck is he doing here? Isn’t he in the G League?”
“I’ve been hearing rumors about how we’re trying to get a new sixth man. Simmons’s knee has been acting up a lot lately. I don’t think he fully healed from his injury last season.”
“Thompson must have lost his marbles. There are so many other great players out there. Why him?” I ask.
“It could have something to do with the budget. I mean, look how much you and I make,” he says.
“I need to find out what’s going on.” Turning on my heel, I march out of the locker room.
“Dude! I told you not to make a scene,” he whisper-yells before he shakes his head and jogs after me.
Burning rage crawls through my spine as I see Lucas standing in the hall, chatting with the Dragon’s general manager, Gary Thompson, and our coach, Zachary Watson.
“What the fuck are you doing here, Hilton?”
Lucas’s head whips around. A sardonic smile spreads across his face when he sees me. “Is that how you greet an old friend?” he asks, his tone laced with mockery.
“We have never been friends.” My fists clench at my side. I want to punch him in the face and wipe that smug look off of it.
Coach glares at me. “Kamado, go change and get ready for practice. I’ll talk to you and the team later.”
Lucas grins. “Oh, I don’t mind sharing the news with him now. I just signed a deal. I’m going to be part of the San Francisco Dragons.”
“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me,” I mutter under my breath.
When I graduated high school, I thought I was finally free of him. Now, at the peak of my career, he’s returned. And his timing couldn’t be worse, with Annalise being back in town.
“So, how much did your dad have to pay to get you into the NBA?” I snicker.
“Show some respect, Kamado,” Gary says, while narrowing his eyes at me. “Lucas has worked his ass off and has been proving himself in the G League. He has a lot of potential and will be a great asset to the team.”
“Wow, you really haven’t changed since high school, huh? You’re still a bully,” Lucas sneers.
Heat surges inside of me. He always tried to give me a bad rap by starting rumors and playing the victim. I may be an asshole to him, but it was always warranted.
I try to charge toward him but Elijah holds me back. “Bro, calm down before you do something stupid,” he whispers. “You’re a professional basketball player now. Don’t let this fucker get to you.”
When it comes to Lucas, I have a tendency of losing my temper.
Elijah has always been my voice of reason.
In high school, I got into a fight with Lucas once, which caused me to get suspended.
There were countless times where I almost beat him up again, but Elijah prevented me from doing so.
Otherwise, I probably would’ve been expelled.
I can’t let him get under my skin. Unlike high school, I have a hell of a lot more to lose now if I lash out.
Clapping Lucas on the back, I plaster a smile on my face. “I’m just messing with you, man. I’m beyond thrilled to have you on the team. Welcome to the Dragons.”
I extend my hand and he takes it. I smirk when my grip tightens, causing him to wince.
“I’m ecstatic to be here. It’s going to be a great season,” he says.
Great? More like a clusterfuck. He’s going to ruin our team’s dynamic.
Asami gnaws on her fingernails while she stares at her phone. Okāsan invited us over for dinner and now here we are, watching my sister refresh her email every ten seconds. She’s waiting to see if the results for her boards—which she took a couple weeks back—are in yet.
“Anything yet?” I ask.
“No, not yet. I don’t know what’s taking so long. I thought the results would be in this morning. I’ve been a nervous wreck all day.”
“Just eat, Asami. Your udon is gonna get cold. Check later,” Okāsan says, placing her hand on top of Asami’s.
“Sorry, Okāsan. I’m just so nervous” She sets down her phone. “If I don’t pass, I’m gonna have to wait another six months to retake it.”
“You’re going to pass it. You’re my daughter,” Otōsan says, smiling at her.
There is no denying that Asami is his favorite child. He’s always praised her for everything, no matter how small. Me, on the other hand? I don’t get so much as a pat on the back for my achievements.
Asami takes a spoonful of udon then grabs her phone again.
“You really couldn’t wait a whole ten seconds?” I ask.
“Kuso kurae,” Asami snaps.
“Guess I’ll just eat your udon, since I’m already done with mine.” I reach for her bowl and she swats my hand away.
“Oh my gosh, the results are in!” Her knee bounces under the table and, with trembling hands, she clicks on the results.
I close my eyes, silently praying that she passes. Even though I have a funny way of showing it, I do love my sister. She’s been busting her ass in medical school for the last few years, and it would make me incredibly happy to see her succeed.
“I passed.” Her mouth falls open and she places her hands on her head. “I PASSED! AHHH!” She squeals, leaping from the chair and bouncing up and down. “You are now looking at San Francisco’s newest dermatologist—Dr. Asami Kamado.”
“That’s amazing, onee-chan!” I say, beaming. “I’m addressing you as Dr. Baka from now on.”
“Shut up.” She chuckles, shaking her head.
Okāsan wraps her arms around Asami, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. “This makes me so happy. You’re going to be the best dermatologist in the nation.”
“Now I can tell everyone we have a doctor in the family. I’m so proud of you, Asami,” Otōsan says, his eyes gleaming.
My father has never once uttered those words to me. Despite all of my achievements, in his eyes, I’m still a failure. I thought he would start respecting my career once I got drafted into the NBA, but I was wrong.
He still hasn’t come to any of my games. At every home game I look to the crowd, hoping he’ll show up, but he never does. Nothing I ever do is good enough for him. All I’ve ever wanted was for him to accept me.
“Is your fiancé almost off work? You should tell him the news and invite him over. There’s still plenty of udon left,” Okāsan says.
“I texted him earlier, and he said he had to stay late to finish working on a case,” Asami answers. “He doesn’t know when he’ll be home.”
Hotaru Tsukino—Asami’s fiancé—works at a major corporate law firm, and recently got promoted to junior partner. He’s an arrogant prick who doesn’t deserve my sister, but my parents seem to like him—especially my dad.
“I’m so glad my future son-in-law is someone who is worthy of you,” he says.
“I don’t know. I kinda thought she would end up with Steven—the guy who claimed the multiverse is real and that he’s from Earth 119,” I say, adding a smirk. “I think attending a wedding there would’ve been dope.”
Asami rolls her eyes. “I need to start finalizing my guest list soon, before we send out save the dates. Have you thought about who you’re going to bring as your plus-one?”
I shrug. “I’m not bringing anyone—I already told you. My date for the wedding will be a bottle of champagne.”
“Ugh, come on,” she groans, slapping her hand on the table. “There has to be someone you want to bring.”
“I know someone who he could bring.” Okāsan waggles her brows suggestively.
Asami crosses her arms. “It’s not Mrs. Tanaka’s daughter Hina, is it? She’s so stuck up. I can’t stand her.
“No, not her,” Okāsan replies. “I would never let that gold digger anywhere near my son.” She reaches for my hand, giving it a squeeze. “You should ask Annalise, Masashi.”
I shoot her a look, and she just chuckles.
“Wait—Annalise is in Cali?” Asami asks. “I thought she was living in New York.”
“No, she’s back now. As a matter of fact…” Okasan looks at me, a smile hovering her lips. “I saw her the other week. She was over at Masashi’s place.”
“Wait, what?” Asami sits up straight, her eyes widening. “Why didn’t you tell me y’all were back together?”
“Because we’re not,” I reply, my tone firm.
“Yet…” Okāsan nudges me in the side with her elbow.
“My wedding will be the perfect place to rekindle your love.” A wide smile blooms on Asami’s face.
I groan, shaking my head. “Why do you two insist on meddling in my love life? There’s nothing to rekindle. I’m not gonna ask her to go with me. Annalise made it very clear that she wants nothing to do with me.”
“That’s not true.” Okāsan shakes her head. “I know deep down she still loves you too. Keep fighting for her and remind her why you two belong together, Masashi.”
I let out a heavy sigh. I don’t know if I have the strength to fight again. Trying to win Annalise back will be a losing battle.