Chapter Two
Nola
Somewhere between finishing dinner cooked by Clay, but before dessert, Nolan Williams arrived without a plus one.
The absence was so jarring it caused enough discourse for everyone to forget to talk about my final game.
Since his impulsive decision to skip college and go straight to the league, Nolan was always described as unpredictable and unstoppable.
His caramel skin, bright smile, and sparkly eyes made the media overlook his aggressive behavior, but he was public enemy number one for opposing teams. Nolan Williams without anyone on his arm was a rarity; for as long as I’d been cognizant, my dad was a lover boy.
Last year his ex from my high school days resurfaced, and they seemed just as happy before their demise.
Guess that’s no longer a thing again. It wasn’t often that both someone from the winning and losing team were in the same room in my house, so my dad really did me a solid there—now I got to breathe without pressure on me.
By the time nine o’clock rolled around, Olive was asleep on the couch while my family started a round of spades.
Allison and I sat out the first round because in our household, everyone was the most aggressive and competitive for the first game.
By the time the second game started the wine was flowing, and my mom and Rashida were more chill and less cutthroat.
No matter how much I dreaded coming home this break, it was moments like this that make me feel so grateful for the family my parents created.
I watched Clay and Nolan work together as a team, across the table from each other, in a way that other blended families pray for.
The man the world knew on the court was so much different than the dad I got off of it.
His nearly seven-foot frame and light skin came off as intimidating but it was really all just for show. The cocky grin, however, was not.
“How ya doing, Nolly?” My Aunt Allison checked in as she poured us another glass of wine. “Any prospects for me to judge?”
I’ve never brought a girl home to my family and odds are I never would.
A problem my one and only ex-girlfriend had, a professional soccer player who also got drafted the same year I did.
They’d have to be virtually unstoppable- beautiful, smart, and probably affiliated with sports in some type of way.
But absolutely not basketball—I was not going to shit where I ate.
“Oh, no. Just because you’re fresh off an engagement from the Jaguars doesn’t mean you need to bring that energy over here.” I took a large sip. I knew Perry better than I did Da Costa, given the famous parents of it all, but even my heart fluttered when I saw their announcement on socials.
“Come on! We both know you’re going to end up calling us for advice anyway, might as well stop delaying the inevitable.”
There goes that damn phrase again. I took a big gulp. “I promise you’ll be the first to know.”
“Listen. Ra and I are going to be in Miami for the foreseeable future. Come and stay with us, it’ll be a nice break. Have some family time, maybe meet a nice girl, maybe we’ll be spontaneous and try to surf!”
“So y’all can poach me from the Violets?” I laughed. “I’m good.”
It was clear that with another ring on her finger, Rashida was imminently close to announcing her retirement.
What I didn’t see coming was that last year, her and Allison were part of a small group bidding to reactivate the Miami Waves team that got disbanded in 2004.
Given my aunt’s South Florida roots, I shouldn’t have been surprised at the move.
Also, if there was anyone who could own and lead a franchise to success it was my Olympic-winning aunts.
Damn they were goals.
“Fine. At least come for the beach; Olive might be coming down for spring break, too.”
“A thirteen year old doing Miami spring break…” I winced. Though I never felt like Olive’s second mom, my older sister alarm bells were going off. “She doesn’t want to stay home?”
Allison shook her head before finishing her glass of wine, the spades table was eerily quiet which meant we were no where close to starting game two.
“Your mom is going to be in the thick of her interviews. Not much going on here anyway.” She shrugged.
Olivia Young getting fielded for new head coach positions was nothing new—everyone with good sense wanted her.
But what I started to piece together from her prolonged silence was that she might have been wanting to make a move to coaching in the league.
And blame it on my genes or the environment I was raised in, but I was excited for the opportunity to go against my mom.
The Violets were looking for a new head coach now that our coach, Pat, was retiring, but there had to be a nepotism rule about coaching and the players. The Young’s on the same team would and could literally never happen.
“Maybe I’ll join y’all before practice starts up consistently again,” I answered.
There were few things I got jealous over, and the fact that Brittney got to have my extended family with her full time in Jersey was one of them.
“I miss y’all…like, a lot.” I slouched against the countertop to meet Allison’s tiny frame and rested my head on her shoulder.
Even if she was the most nosey, blunt one out of my aunts, she would always be someone I trusted with my life.
“And now that we’re both nice and toasty, let’s talk about how you gave Brittney that turn over.” Allison laughed, disrupting my comfortable spot on her shoulder. “She told me what she said.”
“And suddenly I’m so sleepy. I might just go close my eyes with Olive.
” I scurried away at another conversation concerning my rival.
I grinded my teeth at the idea of Brittney basking in my moment of weakness.
As if her voice was on the wireless speakers set up throughout the house, I heard her again.
You’re pretty when your mouth’s shut.
There was no way Brittney actually told Allison what I said because that would come with 8 years of a backstory I didn’t feel like telling anyone, let alone her.
At least, my side of it. A backstory that involved a kiss and then me proceeding to ruin any semblance of friendship I could’ve had with Brittney Lee.