“We’re totally having milkshakes for dessert,” Reece decided. “I can’t wait.”
The waitress took their order and served their drinks, leaving them to their own devices while the food was prepared, and Reece, for whatever reason, couldn’t be still.
Half an hour later, their table was loaded with burgers and fries and Reece was the first to take a bite, the secret sauce both sweet and savory, melting on his tongue and making him moan.
“Mm! It’s good!”
“Is it?” Nick asked, leaning in closer as if to smell it. Or bite it. “Can I have a bite?”
“Please!” Reece offered Nick the whole burger, body vibrating and turning red when Nick just took a bite like that, licking secret sauce from his lips as he pulled back. “W-well?”
“It is good,” he said, blue eyes softening right along with Reece’s heart.
“Wanna split then?”
It was small, but Nick smiled and Reece had to clutch his shirt at his chest because he’d desperately needed to see that. He wanted to make Nick smile more, so he intended to keep making him.
* * *
Life was moving too fast for Reece to keep up. Graduation was fast approaching and he hadn’t brought up any plans for his future with his friends yet. It didn’t disappoint Reece that he wasn’t being contacted by the NIL agents like Nick and Declan, they were on a whole other level. But that didn’t mean that Reece didn’t want to keep playing with them. Maybe he couldn’t on a professional level, but college he could do and he spent all of high school making a name for himself.
Late one Thursday afternoon, Reece was sitting on the park’s basketball court with Nick and Declan. They’d played ball for a while and then ended up talking for hours about their futures. All their offers and preferences were on the table, but their university of choice was unanimous.
“Coastal Miami,” they said it in unison, all three of them breaking out in smiles.
“It’s basically home already,” Declan said, rubbing his hands together. “They’ve been dying to get us.”
“You both better promise to keep playing with me.” Reece couldn’t wait for college, for this new chapter in their lives. He hoped to get even closer to Nick.
“We’re always gonna play together,” Nick said and Reece picked at the hem of his shirt, grinning wide. His friends wouldn’t leave him behind, no matter what.
But there was more than college to worry about. Luckily, the basketball scholarship Coastal Miami offered Reece covered everything he’d need for his classes and boarding, but he was thinking about getting a part time job as soon as possible for some spending money. He was going to be starting college after all, and that meant he’d be doing more than grabbing an occasional burger or ice cream.
As if his sisters could read his mind, just days after Reece was mulling over his options, he was swept away for a day of shopping and some unexpected news. They were having fun and trying on different outfits, modeling for each other as if they owned the dressing rooms. It was a nice change of pace and reminded Reece how much he missed doing stuff like this.
“Aw, look at him. I told you we made the right decision,” Natalie cooed.
“Yeah, well, I can’t help worrying,” Phoebe sighed, but she was smiling and seemed proud for some reason.
“What are you talking about? What decision?” Reece narrowed his eyes on them. He should’ve known they were up to something.
Natalie didn’t hesitate to spill the beans, bouncing excitedly on her feet. “We did a thing! A popular modeling agency is hiring so we sent in an application for you. Surprise!”
“You did what?” Reece blinked, dropping the shirt he was holding.
“It was my idea,” Daphne spoke up. She was the responsible and reliable one, the oldest sibling that they all looked up to and asked for advice. The fact that this crazy stunt was hers and not Natalie’s was shocking. “Reece… I know you’re not planning to make a career out of basketball. You have your own reasons for doing so, but I know most of all that your heart belongs to something else. Modeling is your passion. We’ve seen plenty of times how much you light up and how good you are at it. And Imean really good. You’re talented and you love it… and all of us want you to chase your own dream and be happy.”
“Why are you being so extra?” Reece scoffed. He wasn’t planning to cry today. “Who says I’m made out for something like modeling just because I like messing around?”
Daphne just looked at him fondly and gently patted his head. Reece wanted to argue, but instead he ended up hugging her and then got tackled by Natalie and Phoebe.
“There’s more,” Natalie gushed and Reece pulled back to brace himself. “They loved your application and want you for an interview. It’s at three.”
“What?!” He couldn’t possibly do something like that on such short notice. He looked a mess! He didn’t even have anything to wear.
“Don’t make that face. Why do you think we’re making a day of it?” Phoebe said reassuringly. “We’re going to the salon when we leave here. You’re overdue for a cut.”
She wasn’t wrong, his hair had grown long. So long he was wearing it up most of the time. Reece didn’t fight them, just wanting to see what happened, and it ended up being the best decision he could’ve made for himself.
