Sarah rolls her eyes. “It’s not a problem. It’s loyalty.”
“Respect,” I say, leaning back on my elbows, more relaxed now. “Not a lot of people stick around for that kind of losing streak.”
“I haven’t known a season where the Raptors have done well. I was in my mom’s belly the year after their last playoff run.”
“Ditto,” I say with a smile.
“But that’s why it matters now,” she says. “I finally have a team worth rooting for.”
I nod slowly. “We’ll see.”
“No,” she says, a little firmer now. “Not we’ll see. The Raptors brought Reese and Dax with you because they wanted to change the offense. If you can perform just a fraction of the way you did last season, then we might actually have a chance of ending the season with a winning record.”
“Oh, yeah?” I shift, sitting up a little straighter now. “You watch my games?”
“No, but it’s hard not to hear about your stats on every sports network.” She looks up to the sky, thinking for a second. “Didn’t you throw four thousand yards last season, and get what? Forty touchdowns?”
I look at Taylor, who is completely unfazed by her friend’s stat knowledge, then look back at Sarah. “Give or take,” I say lightly. “That’s college, though. It’s different now.”
“Yeah, maybe—but that’s why I’m excited.” She takes me in. “Wanna see if you can give that same kind of performance with the Raptors too. Hopefully, you’ve got the same fight.”
“Oh, believe me. I’m fighting. I’m always fighting.”
“Good,” Taylor cuts in. “Because if I have to sit through another losing season with her, I’m going to cry right along with Sarah. I can’t do it anymore. I just can’t.”
Sarah bumps her lightly with her shoulder. “Stop it. You’re making me sound obsessed.”
“Making?” Taylor asks, amused. “I wasn’t the one who recognized a tattoo on a random dude’s forearm.” She looks around, her eyes narrowing slightly. “Wait—are you even allowed to be here without security?”
“Okay. I think we’ve spent enough time talking to him,” Sarah says, pushing Taylor slightly. “I think we should let you enjoy the rest of your vacation.”
“Don’t you want a picture? That’s the entire reason we came over here.”
“Yeah, well...” Sarah doesn’t finish the sentence, her cheeks heating.
“Do you want to take a photo?” I ask, almost surprised that I’m offering. “But can you not put it on the internet until I’m playing my first game? Kinda want to keep my location a secret.”
“Your secret is safe with us,” Sarah says.
I lean forward with my elbows on my knees as they kneel on either side of my lounge chair as both girls perch on either side and smile.
Click. Click. Click.
When they’ve finished, Taylor straightens, glancing down at her phone as she scrolls through the pictures.
“Oh, wow,” she says, a little softer now. “These actually turned out really good.”
She turns the screen toward Sarah, who leans in, her shoulder brushing mine briefly.
I nod once. “Glad you got what you needed.”
Taylor lowers her phone, glancing at Sarah before looking back at me. “Thanks for that and letting us bother you on your vacation. I know it means more to Sarah than she’d ever admit.”
“Taylor,” Sarah whispers.
“It’s all good,” I say, waving them off. “Excited to help our team win.”
Taylor clears her throat lightly. “Um, so... I don’t know what your plans are, but we were probably going to grab a drink later. Nothing crazy. Just... around the bar deck.”
