Chapter 34
Riley
Just before we head back out, Coach puts the lid on her marker that she used to write on the whiteboard.
“We’re making a change as we head back out.
” She looks at me. “Blackwood, you’ll play at left shooting guard for the second half.
Star, you’re on the right side.” Only years of discipline keep me from letting my jaw drop.
“Tamara, you’re under the hoop, left forward. ”
I don’t dare look over at Angeline, who’s just been benched.
I don’t really know what to make of it. I haven’t played right shooting guard at all since we started practice.
I mean, it was my position all throughout high school, but I haven’t played that position with this team.
Nobody questions her advice, and I stand with the rest of the team.
We head back out to shoot around for our halftime warm-up.
I grab a ball, ready to step onto the court and warm up.
“Riley.” Coach Parella waves me over. “The sign of a good player is not just that they can play the position they know to play. It’s that they can adapt, learn to play a new position, master a new move.
” She gives me a meaningful look. “It’s that they can be coached.
You’ve shown me that. Now, show me what you can do as a guard.
” Shock and something stronger than shock rolls through me.
“Thank you,” I finally manage to say.
That stern look she’s known for comes over her face. “Don’t thank me. Go show me I made the right decision.”
“Blackwood,” Brene says, stepping up next to me. “You good in that position?”
I nod. “That’s what I used to play; I’ll be fine. I know the plays.”
She grins. “You’ll find Coach loves to throw everybody for a loop now and then.”
When the refs blow the whistle to start, I run over to join Star and Brene at the other end. “I’m sorry you got moved to the other side,” I apologize to Star.
“Don’t be,” she says with a grin. “Show everybody it’s the right move.
” It takes me exactly two times down at our end for me to get the feel of my old position.
The next time down, Brene passes to me; and I pass it down low to Sasha.
She feeds it to me, and I go right in for a layup and add two points to my total.
“Thanks for the assist,” I call out to Sasha as we head back to the other end.
“Nice shot.”
And then we’re back on defense. They score down low, a three pointer.
I jump out of bounds with the ball and throw it into Brene.
At the other end, the ball circles around to Star, down to Tamara.
Tamara dribbles in but can’t get a clear shot.
She kicks it out to Star, and Star gets it to me.
I take the open shot and watch in satisfaction as it goes right in.
Star grins and high-fives me as we run back for defense.
At the other end, I see the pass coming and intercept it, pushing it ahead of me all the way down the court.
It’s an uncontested layup, and I make it.
At the other end, we keep them out of the middle.
They take a long shot and miss. Sasha comes up with the rebound and kicks it out to Brene.
Star and I race ahead. Brene passes it to me, and I bounce pass it to Star who makes a layup.
At the other end, they try several shots but just can’t get it in.
Tamara rebounds it and sends it out to me.
I dribble down, looking for an opening. I get one at the corner of the free throw line, and I don’t waste the opportunity.
Swish! Nothing but net. And just like that, we’re up by ten points.
The ref blows the whistle and signals timeout for the other team.
Our fans cheer as we head to the bench, and we gather around Coach Parella.
“Good job, girls. Keep the pressure up. Star, take more shots. Tamara, force those long shots; keep them out of the middle.” The refs blow their whistles, signaling the end of the timeout. “Go!”
We head back out to the court. We keep our momentum going right into the fourth quarter.
Star finally finds her rhythm and puts up a three, and I can’t help my grin.
I follow after hers and hit two threes from my side.
We close out the game with the starters on the bench and a win by fifteen points.
We head into the locker room celebrating.
Coach Parella follows us in. “We’ll take that. First game. First win.”
We cheer, and she says a few things. “Good job. Hit the showers and head out. Please look respectable when you leave. And whatever you do, no socks and crocs or socks and sandals. Please.” Her face shows exactly how she feels about that look.
She leaves, and we continue celebrating.
I gather my belongings and head to the shower.
I shower quickly, anxious to see Reid and the rest of my family and friends.
I quickly dress in my black athletic pants and team windbreaker and throw my hair into a wet braid.
I pass Star as she heads into the showers.
“Whoa, somebody’s in a hurry.”
I grin. “Yep.”
She gives me a quick hug. “Sorry, I’m still sweaty.”
“No worries. Great job out there today.”
She grins. “Me? You were the star of the show.”
I shake my head and head towards the exit.
Before I can get there, Angeline comes in the door.
I really don’t want a confrontation with her.
“Good game, Angeline.” She put up at least ten points, I think.
She doesn’t say a word and just walks past me.
I don’t let it bother me; it was a great game.
I’m not going to let her bad attitude bring me down.
I leave the locker room and make my way out.
As soon as I enter the gym, fans cheer. And by fans, I mean my family and friends.
I smile as I walk over to them. “Yeah, Sis, that’s how we Blackwoods do it,” Zane says, punching me lightly in the shoulder.
Evie pushes him away from me, laughing. “Awesome game, Riley.”
Slate fist bumps me. “Good game, Riley.”
And Tessa hugs me tightly. “You were amazing out there!”
My parents are next. My dad smiles. “Good game, Kiddo.” He gives me a big hug, and then my mom pulls me from his arms and into hers.
“Great game, Riley.”
I pull away from them. “Thank you for coming to watch.”
“Great game,” Reid’s parents tell me.
I give each of them a hug. “Thank you for coming.”
And then, I finally find my mate. Reid stands a few feet away, a smile on his face. I walk over to him and right into his arms. He wraps those long, strong arms around me. “Good game, Sweetheart.” I pull back so I can look up at him. “I knew she’d put you at your sweet spot.”
I poke his chest with my finger. “You didn’t know that; I didn’t even know she’d change my position.”
He just smiles. “And twenty-seven points? Your first game?” He just shakes his head. “I knew you’d be amazing.”
I can’t contain my smile. “Thanks for coming to watch.”
He takes my hand in his. “I wouldn’t have missed it.”
I lean into him. “And tomorrow night, we’ll be here for your game.”
“Let’s go celebrate Riley’s win,” Zane says to our group. “Pizza at Ronnie’s?”
Everybody gives their agreement. Reid wraps an arm around me as we walk. “Ride with me?”
I smile up at him. “Of course.”
It’s a crazy night of laughter and good food and fellowship. The parents sit at a table, and the rest of us are at another table. My sides hurt from laughing so hard. Throughout the entire evening, Reid stays next to me, making it the best night ever.
The next night we gather, once again, to watch Reid’s first game of the season.
His team is explosive and so fun to watch.
When Reid dunks right above our heads at the end of the first half, I scream my heart out.
He’s so fun to watch; they all are. Reid, Caden, Adam, Jay, and Ex have been playing together since their freshman year, and there are several really good juniors that play with them as well.
I expect them to go to the NCAA championship this year and maybe go all the way.
If I’d known how things were going to go, I would have spent more time savoring our first games.
Reid leaves for a set of away games right after that, and before he gets back, I leave for mine.
It goes that way for the next few weeks.
We can’t really seem to catch a break. We call and text as often as we can, but I’m buried beneath my school load and basketball.
The stress feels like it’s catching up to me, and I wonder how I’m going to make this work all season long.
Now, it’s the first week in December, and I’m counting down the days until Christmas break.
Our last day of class is December twelfth , but we have a game the thirteenth, the seventeenth, and the twentieth.
Then we will get the week off for Christmas and then be back to play our game on the twenty-eighth and get right back into it.
I know the break won’t be long, but I’m so looking forward to it.
I grab my bag when I hear a knock at my door. “Ready?” Stephanie asks when I open it.
“Yes. Ashley are you coming with?”
My roommate is in the bathroom, finishing her makeup. “No, go without me. I have to cram for a test this morning.”
“Good luck on your test,” I call out. I slip my phone in my pocket and follow Stephanie out into the hallway.
Stephanie, Ashley, and I have been trying to meet for coffee in the morning at least once every week or every other week.
My schedule has been so crazy, and I rarely get to eat lunch with them.
So, we made this change, and it’s been good.
I check behind the counter, but Evie’s not working today.
Stephanie and I both order a coffee and find an empty table near the back.
“Man, I swear it gets busier every time we come,” Stephanie says.
I laugh. “Yeah. It really does. I feel like it’s been forever since we did this. How are you?”
Stephanie takes a sip of her hot coffee. “I think it’s seriously been like two weeks again.”
I groan. “Sorry. That’s my fault.”
She waves off my apology. “You can’t help it.” She looks around the shop. “Isn’t this so cute? I love when they decorate for Christmas.”
I take a moment to look around. “It really is. I can’t believe we’re staring down Christmas break.”
Stephanie grins. “Isn’t it wonderful? Well, wonderful and terrifying because exams are coming.”
“Shh,” I scold. “Don’t mention that bad word in here; this is a sacred place.”
She laughs and takes another sip before eyeing me over the top of her cup. “How are you doing? You feel like you’re able to keep up with everything?”
My answer is immediate. “No, not in the least. But I’m doing my best.”
She gives me a sympathetic look. “Ashley says you’re rarely in the room.”
“Yeah, it’s been a crazy few weeks.”
“Are you getting enough sleep? You look like you have dark circles under your eyes.”
I grimace. “I probably do. I’ve just been so busy and stressed out. The more stressed out I get, the more I have a hard time sleeping at night.” I shrug and smile. “College life, right?”
She lifts her coffee cup and knocks it into mine. “Right. If I can ever do anything to make your load lighter, please let me know.”
“This right here—having coffee with me? That’s what I need.”
I don’t tell her that I’ve had a hard time sleeping at night and that my stomach hurts almost all the time.
I really thought I was prepared for college life, but the joke’s on me, I guess.
I’m not nearly as strong as I thought I was.
A lot of what I’m dealing with is from stress; I know that.
But it’s hard to know how to change. Besides all the stress for my classes and getting my work done and turned in on time on top of traveling, there’s the added stress from our pack.
We’re all on high alert, just waiting for the next attack.
Zane, Reid, and Slate get pulled in almost daily to search a new site or deal with some new problem.
And when it’s quiet at night, and it’s just me alone with my thoughts, I can’t stop thinking about the black roses and wondering what’s coming next.