Chapter 34
Chapter Thirty-Four
NASH
For the first time stepping out onto the home court, I can feel the energy emanating from the stands. The United Care Center is absolutely buzzing, and it’s everything I dreamed it would be.
The bass is thumping in my chest as we line up at the outline of the court, waving as the crowd cheers.
This is what we’ve been missing the whole time.
Other stadiums we’ve been to have felt full, cheering for the other team.
It’s more than just home court advantage.
It’s seeing the pride you take in your city returned to you by its people.
I soak it all in as we go down the line taking turns throwing our ball into the boisterous crowd.
Some seem to be targeting a particular fan, others just launching it and seeing where it lands.
I nearly drop mine when I look for Wyatt to throw it to him, and I see him shirtless with a huge N on his chest. I throw my ball, beaming it at him.
Wyatt barely has time to catch it and bobbles it a bit before finally securing it.
My eyes go down the row once, and then again trying to make sense of the word.
I can see the looks on their faces when they realize they’re not in the right places.
There’s some shuffling in the stands, and finally they’re in the right order.
They whip their shirts in circles over their heads as they yell.
I laugh when I see Colin say something to him that makes Wyatt smile.
Probably something like, “That’s why you play defense. ”
When the referee blows his whistle, we all move to our starting spots.
I can’t hear the announcer’s commentary, but I can guess what they’re saying, “The Moons are the top blocking team in the league, finding success setting the pins and patrolling the middle.” They would be right.
Daly is six-foot-four. She makes her sidestep to either the opposite or the outside look easy.
My heart is beating fast, normal for me since a brown sugar espresso is part of my pregame routine, but my overall nerves are closer to the surface tonight than usual. It feels like the stakes are higher than they’ve been all year.
I put—not all, but most of—my eggs in tonight’s basket.
I called in so many favors to get the entire Hurricanes team here.
I’ve asked Wyatt for so much lately, and all I’ve been giving him in return is Texas lessons, my friendship, and a singular kiss, which feels measly in comparison to what this sort of attention could do for the Moons.
Between Wyatt and his teammates, and the fans that are here of their own accord… we need to put on a show.
Those thoughts continue floating around in my mind as we settle in for the first set.