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“I sold it to cover Coach’s ceremony and chip in for his retirement. Figured it was kind of poetic.”
I’m laughing and crying at once. “You did say it was only ever good for pawning or smashing drywall.”
“You sold your ring?” Jay demands.
“Your championship ring?” Rookie shrieks, appalled.
Clay jerks his chin at his friends, sweat shining on his forehead.
Miles descends, wrapping a sweaty arm around each of them.
“Let’s get the man a new one.”
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.”
