Harrison’s eyes narrowed, voice dropping to a hiss. “What are you gonna do, man, swing? Go ahead—catch a suspension and lose that number one status over a guy who’s already done. Be my guest.”
Nick stepped closer, forearm pressing into Harrison’s chest, voice deathly quiet as he leaned in. “I’m not gonna swing. That would be too easy. I’m just here to let you know exactly what’s gonna happen. Every time we see you again, I’m gonna be right there. Every screen is gonna be harder. Every box-out will hurt. You didn’t just fracture his ankle, you took away something he loved and I’ll never forget that shit.”
“You’re crazy,” Harrison said, voice wavering.
“I might be,” Nick replied and let his arm fall. “You fuck with Reece again and you’ll find out. Run on to your bus now before I forget how much I like my standing.”
Fighting him wasn’t the answer, but Nick could be a nightmare for Harrison on the court.
After having words with Harrison, Nick met his friends for dinner at a local spot on the strip across from the beach. The seat next to Reece was open and waiting for him. Declan and Alex were across the table, drinks and appetizers already served.
“I’m starving,” Nick said, helping himself to a roll. “What did I miss?”
“What about what we missed?” Reece huffed, smacking Nick on the thigh. “Where’d you go?”
“Nowhere special.” Nick took a bite of his roll and grabbed the menu to look at it even though he knew he was getting a burger. “But I’m here now.”
“Dec and Alex have been flirting this whole time you abandoned me.” Reece was leaning into him and playfully tugging at his shorts.
Even more than usual, Nick was too aware of him, the casual touch causing too intense a reaction from his body. It made him want to pull away even though he didn’t want to hurt Reece’s feelings. “You’re lucky that’s all they were doing. Relationship shit.”
It hadn’t taken their friends long to make their relationship official, though it was no secret they’d been hooking up since freshman year. For a while, Nick wondered if he and Reece could be like them—a part of him had even anticipated it. But ever since Reece got hurt, Nick looked at things differently. His stupid dream of having Reece by his side forever didn’t seem achievable anymore. Reece’s ankle had taken too hard a hit. Recovery was happening but slowly, and he was too far from being able to hope to play competitively again.
Reece’s first game post-injury was at the park, just him, Declan, and Nick. Like old times. He’d lost so much speed and strength, while the others had continued to improve, and the discomfort in his ankle was impossible to ignore.
“I think it’s best if I leave the team,” Reece said and even though there were tears in his eyes, it was Nick and Declan he was trying to placate.
They both dropped their mouths open to protest but the gentle shake of Reece’s head had them keeping quiet.
“Don’t argue. I’ve been thinking about it a lot. Things have changed now. I don’t want to waste my time on the bench when I can focus on my modeling instead. And I know my body… I won’t be able to compete alongside you two anymore. I’m lucky just to be able to play around like we did today.”
“Don’t say that,” Declan said, sniffling.
Nick nodded with a deep frown. “Yeah, we need you.”
“You need me cheering you on, that’s all. And I will. Always.”
Already set to go pro, Nick could only imagine moving away and leaving Reece behind. Declan would have Alex. But Nick and Reece, they’d both be alone. Nick’s work would lead him into constant travels and Reece’s would be rooted in Miami. Nothing would turn out like he’d hoped.
Because every time Nick held on too tight to someone precious, he lost them. Reece would be better kept at arm’s length.
5
Chapter 5 - Reece
Leaving the team wasn’t easy, especially knowing it didn’t only affect him—and seeing firsthand how it affected his friends only made things more difficult. Instead of being closer than ever their senior year, Nick had been putting distance between them. Pinning the blame on all the pressure he was enduring with his status helped Reece deal with the distance, but he was far from happy about it.
He missed Nick. He missed all his friends. He missed basketball with them. All the silly memories he had from their time in the locker rooms. All the training. All the naps Alex enforced that kept them all on their game. Reece had many fond memories, but he wanted to keep making new memories too.
What he did have were ball days with his friends every Thursday, a routine they established after Reece left the team. It was the most he got to play with them anymore, and more than he could hope for—he knew well how busy they were and didn’twant them pushing themselves simply to keep him entertained, but Reece had clung to those moments all the same, knowing their time was limited even if he didn’t know how limited exactly.
Graduation came too soon. Reece filled the void of basketball with his modeling and fashion. He made new friends, visited his sisters, and never missed a chance to cheer on the Mess wherever they played. It wasn’t the same Coastal Miami life Reece had come to know and love, but it was still an experience and he hated for it all to be over.
And yet here he was, dancing the night away in celebration of their graduation. Declan might’ve been hosting, but it was Reece who’d planned the party and simply informed Declan that his apartment would be the location. It was easy math. Declan had the nicest place. And he was the only one not living in the campus dorms. It was crazy to think they’d all be moving again in the coming weeks.
Everything about the night was perfect. The food, courtesy of Declan. The music, courtesy of Nick’s playlist. And most of all, the company. Reece had been lost in the buzz of it all, wondering if they might ever have another night like this, or if their time really was numbered. These thoughts had his eyes drifting to Nick for the thousandth time of the night. He was at the end of the kitchen table, taunting Declan.
The two of them were in the middle of an arm wrestling match that had been ongoing long enough for Reece to note every flexing muscle in both of their strong arms. They were both six and a half feet of pure muscle, though Declan was thicker these days. They’d worked so hard to get here, but it was easy for Reece to remember them when they were younger. Softer even.
