“Oh my God! Your ears are pierced! That’s so cool!”
Nick’s brows shot up and he grabbed his ear as if just remembering. “It’s no big deal.”
“I love it—I want mine pierced too one day.”
“Oh yeah?” Nick balanced the basketball on his finger and started spinning it. “That’d be cute. It doesn’t hurt much either, just a little pinch for a second.”
The response was unexpected. If Reece had warm cheeks before, they were scorching now. “I’m gonna do it.” Sooner than later, he hoped.
Declan came back with some water, tossing a bottle to Nick. “Here you go,” he said and politely held out another bottle to Reece.
“Thank you.” Reece took the bottle gratefully. He didn’t think he’d stopped smiling since he met them. “Can we play again sometime?”
“Is that even a question?” Declan chuckled and patted him on the back. “You’re with us now! Hopefully we go to the same school too. Any idea where you’re registered?”
Nick drank a few gulps of water and then interjected, “he literally just moved in, take it easy.”
“It’s called being friendly.”
Reece twisted the cap off his water, shoulders shaking with laughter. “Seaside Middle,” he said, hoping he’d get to go to the same school as both of them. “Please say you both go there.”
“See what I mean? It’s meant to be,” Declan sighed wistfully. “I had a good feeling about you, Blondie.”
“Oh shut up,” Nick groaned and shoved the other boy. “Always doing the most, I swear.”
“If I didn’t, then you wouldn’t have any friends with that too-cool-for-school attitude,” Declan shot back. “Oh wait. I’m your only friend.”
Nick almost choked on his next sip of water and threw the basketball at Declan, who caught it with a cheeky grin. “Shut up, Dec. Anyway, it looks like you’re stuck with us, Reece.”
“Then you’re stuck with me too,” Reece said and made a mental note to thank his parents for making him move.
That summer was the best and most memorable Reece had experienced yet. He spent most of his time with his new friends, never going a day without at least one of them. Declan was a constant since he was next door and Reece had even learned that the other boy’s bedroom window was also visible from Reece’s room. Some mornings he’d spot Declan at that window with his big crooked grin and an overly enthusiastic wave.
Since Nick lived down the street, most days Reece and Declan were meeting him at the park. When they weren’t playing basketball, they were on the beach, and when they weren’t on the beach, they were hanging out at Declan’s house. Reece even talked both his new friends into tagging along on shopping trips with his sisters. It had only taken a couple weeks for Reece to wish he’d been in Miami his whole life.
Playing basketball with Declan and Nick was exhilarating, but watching them play took Reece’s breath away. They were both competitive and dedicated, Nick even more than Declan. Reece admired their strength and tenacity. Seeing them zooming around each other, always smiling or laughing and teasing each other, made Reece want to take the sport more seriously too. He wanted to bask in this shared passion with his friends and cherish every moment.
“Teach me basketball,” Reece said to Nick one day at the park. They were sitting next to each other on the court, watching Declan practice his layups.
“What, you wanna go pro one day too?” Nick grinned at him, his deep blue eyes staring into Reece’s so intently that he had to avert his. “You already know basketball. And you’re good.”
Reece laughed and picked at the hem of his shorts. Nick was always going on about becoming a professional basketball player. Declan too. Maybe Reece wasn’t cut out to go that far, butif it meant he could spend more time with them, he wanted to learn more. “I don’t know about that but I do want to play with you. And maybe even win against you one day.”
Nick whistled, shaking his head with his smile still plastered on his face. “Yikes. We better get to work then.” He stood, his teasing setting Reece’s cheeks aflame.
“Hey!” Reece jumped up and ran after a cackling Nick, who was evading him and dribbling the basketball between his hands skillfully. Paying attention to Nick was easy, but copying the effortless way he carried himself, his ball manipulation, or even his footwork was impossible.
Despite Nick’s teasing, though, he was actually a great teacher. He was patient and thorough, and with Declan’s help, the two of them gave Reece the confidence to do something crazy, something exciting. Reece decided to join the basketball team and play for real alongside his friends. His sisters were blindsided by the announcement when he went home and told his family at dinner.
“Hold on, you’re going to be an athlete? You?” Natalie asked, tucking her dirty-blonde hair behind her ear, wary blue eyes a mirror of Reece’s own.
Phoebe nudged her with a chiding glare. “He can go sporty if he wants to.” Her green eyes had softened and she fiddled with the edges of her brown hair.
“But he’s our fashion boy!” Natalie protested.
Ever since Reece could remember, his sisters loved playing dress-up, but it wasn’t just any normal game. Dress-up in their house was a big deal, a fashion show that they set up and put on for their parents. Fashion had always been Reece’s passion, but adding basketball to the mix only made him happier, it didn’t take away from everything else he loved.
Daphne patted Reece’s head affectionately, smiling warmly. “He’s our basketball fashion boy now. I’m happy for you. I think you’ll have lots of fun.”
