Chapter 32
CLAY
Two months later
I pull up at the end of Harlan and Mari’s driveway, staring down the paved path to the house.
“What’re we waiting for?” Miles asks, leaning across me from the passenger seat.
“Timing is everything,” Jay calls from the back.
Brooke snorts next to him. “It’s a wonder you guys win a single basketball game. You’d rather sit around talking.”
I shake off the nostalgia and turn up the lane. Nova comes down the steps of the house.
“What, no drainpipe?” I comment, shifting out to meet her.
“Not today.” She tilts her face up, and I drop a kiss on her lips. “Harlan and Mari say hi. Emily’s not feeling great, so they’re going to pass today.”
“Alright. Ryan’s going to meet us there. Since he bought his BMW with his new contract, he won’t get in a car that isn’t his.”
“Ryan?”
“Rookie,” Miles explains. “He sunk the shot that got us to finals. We figured it was time to call him by his name.”
We both turn to look at the passenger door of my car.
Miles looks out the window, lifting his palms. “What?”
“Nova’s shotgun,” I say, my arm around her waist.
“So, you get what you want because you’re a champion?” Miles demands.
“That’s right.”
“One problem.” His face splits into a wide, cocky grin. “I’m a champion too.”
I can’t help smiling. It still sounds good six weeks after winning it all.
“Clay’s a two-time champion,” Brooke says from the back.
“You just want to cuddle with me.”
“Oh God, don’t.”
But Miles is already out of the seat and rounding to the back to slide in next to Brooke.
“When was the last time you were at Red Rocks?” Nova asks under her breath as she fastens her seatbelt.
The other three are still arguing in the back.
“I think you know.”
“Remind me.”
I put the car in gear then thread my fingers through hers. “It was our first date.”
“That was a date?!” Her blue eyes widen.
“What would you call it?”
“You sulked.”
“It worked.”
“Because I kissed you.”
“I kissed you better.” I flip her palm and press my lips to it.
Nothing as fun as rendering my girl speechless.
The guys in the back are joking about something Rookie posted on social.
“You never miss the sneaking around?” she asks me.
“Say the word and I’ll steal you away and do very bad things to you just out of sight.”
When we get to Red Rocks and park, Rookie’s already there, getting out of his bright-purple car. “Hey, assholes.”
Miles hollers, “What’s wrong with your car?”
“It’s a custom color.”
“Looks like you ran over Barney the Dinosaur,” Jay crows.
Rookie shakes him off.
“What? You give him a name and he gets touchy.”
Chloe gets out of Rookie’s passenger seat, and Jay’s laughter dies.
Fans in Kodiaks hats wave. “You guys are amazing! Go champs.”
“Can we get pics?” one of them asks.
We head over and take selfies with our fans before making our way to the VIP section.
This is the first off-season things have felt right. I’m talking with our coaching staff about my role going forward, making sure I can keep my body on track while mentoring some of the junior guys.
James got props for Coach’s going-away present. I told him I wouldn’t tell so long as he made a generous donation to the Kodiak Foundation.
Plus, word is the rings for this team are going to be insane. If there’s one thing he can be counted on, it’s buying stuff for himself.
Coach is easing into his retirement. He still coaches at Kodiak Camp and tells stories.
I still work out with him once a week to give Todd the day off.
We’ll have a new rookie next year. Plus trades happening over the summer.
Including Kyle, whose contract was up. Last I heard, he hadn’t yet resigned and instead got dragged to court for not paying child support.
Harlan and I talk when Nova and Mari hang out. Wouldn’t say we’re tight, but we understand each other. He’s mellower with a kid to distract him.
“I can’t believe you got us these tickets,” Brooke says to Nova.
“Rae sent them over as soon as I messaged to tell her we were planning to go.”
“Little Queen loves the champs!” Miles declares, flexing both arms.
Nova snorts. “We’re friends.”
My girl’s been creating all kinds of epic art lately, and she’s in demand from musicians, Hollywood, and more. I’m so fucking proud of her, but I knew she could do it the whole time.
We moved back in together this month, after the season died down, because I wanted to focus on us for a bit.
“Little Queen wouldn’t answer your DMs,” Brooke says.
“Bet accepted.” Miles pulls out his phone and starts typing, and Brooke laughs.
We find our seats and grab drinks before the show starts.
The vibe is incredible. A wild landscape, thousands of fans. It’s the best of both nature and humanity at once.
More than anything, I’m relaxed for the first time in forever. None of this would’ve happened if Nova hadn’t come into my life. Hadn’t helped me see what was real and the limitations I’d put on myself.
Midway through the show, Jay looks over and nods. I nod back.
“This what you wanted?” he asks.
“Yeah.”
I grab Nova’s hips and shift her in front of me, wrapping my arms around her as she sways to the music.
I’m so fucking grateful for her, every day.
I love waking up next to her, making her coffee in the morning, making her sweat at night.
Thanks to her, I know what it means to be about more than basketball. I’m not ready to retire, but when I am, I’ll face it with her at my side.
I’ve been looking at some houses and want one with a next-level art studio for her, plus plenty of room to display her finished work. I’ve found something near Harlan and Mari’s. Not so close we’ll trip over each other, but close enough she could bike or walk over to see Emily.
For the summer, I’m planning to enjoy my girl and the downtime and my friends. I’ll give her everything, and we’ll do it all together.
Next year, my Kodiaks will try to run it back and win again.
We’ll be defending champs this time. The bull’s-eye is on our backs, and everyone—including LA and Boston—will be gunning to take us down.
As the show wraps after a couple encores and we head out, I hear noises in the dark beyond the parking lot. Howls, rustling.
Rookie jumps. “The fuck is that?”
“You scared?” Miles teases. “Maybe your purple-dino car will save you.”
I scan our friends before my gaze lands on Nova. Her expression softens with shared understanding.
“They’re a family. They’re going to protect their own,” Nova says, smiling.
I drag her against my side, tucking her under my arm as the crew of us heads toward our vehicles in the dark.
So will I.