Total pages in book: 113
Estimated words: 106772 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 534(@200wpm)___ 427(@250wpm)___ 356(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 106772 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 534(@200wpm)___ 427(@250wpm)___ 356(@300wpm)
“He can still have the future you guys planned, and he still wants it. Malik is a great student and a strong athlete. I’ve already spoken to a couple of schools that were interested last year, and they’ll be interested this year as well. Malik will go to college, if that’s what he still wants.”
“Not with a kid. He’ll have to pay support.”
“With how athletes are treated these days, he’ll have funds. He also got a part-time job at the diner to start saving money.”
Gordon looked at me. “Did you set that up?”
“I put a feeler out to Lee. He’s always looking for help and is willing to work around Malik’s schedule.”
“How does this affect his status on the team?”
“It doesn’t, Gordon. He’s not in trouble. He wasn’t caught drinking or doing drugs. They’re two young kids who made a mistake. We’ve all been there.”
He shook his head and groaned. “Why didn’t he just listen to me?”
I let out a small laugh. “Did you listen to your father?”
“Nope, not a single word.”
“Me neither. Mine told me not to get married. I did, and look at where that got me.”
Gordon laughed, and then his demeanor shifted back. “As much as it pains me to say this, I hope that’s not next for Malik.”
I put my arm around his shoulders. “Talk to him. Malik is looking for guidance from you. He was afraid to tell you, which is why he invited me over. I’m not here to keep the peace or save him, but here as his coach and your friend.”
We stood there for a moment, staring into the nothingness. “Can you let him know I’ll be in shortly? I . . .” He sighed. “I need some time.”
“Sure will. Thanks again for dinner.”
“You’re welcome.”
Inside, I found Malik at the cleared table, doing his homework. He glanced at me expectantly. I kept my face as stoic as possible. “Give your dad some time,” I told him.
“Is he going to kick me out?”
I shook my head. “I didn’t get that impression, Malik. I think he’s more hurt than anything and scared for you.”
Malik looked out the window, where he could see his father’s silhouette.
“I’m going to go. Call me if you need anything.”
“See you tomorrow, Coach. And thanks.”
“Anytime.”
As I drove home, I thought about Malik and Cutter. Two of my stars going through something life changing, but for different reasons. Both had such bright futures that something like this could send them down the wrong path.
When the Vaughns’ driveway came into view, I slowed and looked down it. Two cars were them, neither them Antonia’s. Don’t ask me how I’d memorized what her car looked like, but the one with Massachusetts plates in the driveway was not hers.
I continued to my house, pulled into my own driveway, and shut my truck off. I counted to three, and then the barking started. After the day I’d had, it was going to be nice to sit on the couch with Scout and think about nothing for a few minutes.
Chapter 24
Weston
I woke to a text from Malik, thanking me for helping him break the news to his father. They’d spoken for most of the evening, and while this was not the path they’d mapped out, they were on board to try and make it work.
Rereading Malik’s text brought me back to the conversation I’d had with Antonia about Miriam and how her parents had kicked her out of the house when she told them she was pregnant. I didn’t know if times were changing or if it was the difference in parenting. One never knew how a parent was going to react to news like that, and I was thankful Gordon had done so with Malik’s best interest in mind.
I dressed in running gear, leashed Scout, and set off down the road. For some reason, I’d had a lot of pent-up energy these past few days, and while I wanted to think it was because of the playoffs and the expectations of the players and parents, I didn’t know if that was it.
Some of it was my lackluster love life, which was solely my fault. Samira had often wanted to set me up with someone, or a mom would flirt heavily during the summer while we were away at a tournament. Neither situation interested me. Dating hadn’t interested me until I’d laid eyes on Antonia.
I laughed at the thought. Of course I’d want to spend time with someone who had a boyfriend. If that wasn’t bad luck, I didn’t know what was. I supposed it was a good thing I hadn’t gotten too deep with my feelings for Antonia, especially since her boyfriend would be around town. Not to mention, he’d likely be at the tournaments over the summer.
Jerome’s voice echoed in my mind: Not anymore, according to Samira, and she knows everything.