“Oh, dope, even better.”
Henry went quiet, clearing his throat one too many times, and making my stomach queasy.Phlegm was disgusting.
“It’s Olivia.” He admitted, his hands interlaced on the desk. His mouth set in a grim line.
“I don’t know an Olivia.” I pondered, hoping maybe there was someone along the way I couldn’t remember.
“You do, Nola.”
Wait.
“Olivia…as in…my mom?”
What the fuck?
“Correct.”
“I mean, yeah she’s talented, we know that,” I started.
Talented was an understatement. My mom’s resume was stacked; of course she was a hot commodity for open coaching positions.
She’s literally half the reason my basketball IQ was off the charts. It’s almost like I saw the court and I analyzed long before the ball was in my hand. Olivia Young would absolutely get the Violets another championship in this new generation.
“But there has to be a rule or something about family playing or working together.”
“That’s the thing. We needed to consult the commissioner on this.”
The commissioner of the league was also my mom’s best friend…who was also my godmom. My jaw clenched at the way this was quickly becoming a family reunion.
“And what did Evie say?”
“It may be in the team’s best interest if we didn’t renew your contract.” Henry finally confessed.
Maybe I was a self-absorbed bitch because I ignored the tears brimming in Henry’s eyes, my own eyes seeing red.
“Yeah, right. Over my dead body.” I scoffed.
“Nola, listen—”
“No Henry. Let me get this straight. You’ve made the decision to hiremy momover keeping me here? The rookie who got you a ring? Is this because I didn’t bring it home in October? YouknowI can do better; I know I can do better!”
“Nola, this isn’t about you.” At the sound of my aunt’s voice, I whipped my head around to see Evie Jones standing in the doorway. Ten years retired from playing, and she was still as intimidating as if she was still in her prime. Her slightly-graying red hair had been cut into a severe bob since I was a teenager, and her power suit of the night was cobalt blue. I missed herat Thanksgiving this year, but suddenly her absence made a lot more sense. “The league and the Violets need to avoid any…potential scandals, mistreatments, lawsuits—you name it.”
“Henry, you brought back up?” I rose up, suddenly feeling claustrophobic and trapped. “Who’s next, Olivia?!” I yelled, and though I didn’t mean to, I really couldn’t help it. The Violets had Young versus Young for tonight’s primetime game, and I knew I was severely outmatched.
I never thought I would leave Chicago. I’d never thought that Chicago wouldwantto give me up. And yet they were picking the better of the two.
I felt like Cesar getting stabbed by Brutus.
“Nola, this was not a simple decision, and we felt like Evie’s presence could help with any questions. This is business, not personal.”
“Fuck business! I don’t have questions, Henry, I have a demand. Don’t pick my mom, keepme.Let’s keep this good thing going.” I was out of breath, and my body was running hotter than normal. I sat down, my body jittery. “I can get us another ring. I can get usthreemore.”
And that was just my humble opinion.
“Nola, this has nothing to do with your skillset at all. This is about legacy. We need someone who’s going to change this organization around, someone who knows how to get their hands dirty and do what’s needed. Yes, we need a star player but we need a star coach first.” Henry slumped his shoulders like this was causing him more anguish than anticipated. Honestly, I was glad I was making him work for it.
I might be the cockiest player on the team, but I was far from the most dramatic or hot-headed. Between feeling like I had Chicago on my shoulders and constantly fighting the comparisons to my parents, I knew I had to behave. I didn’t need media training because I was media trained the second I cameout of Olivia Young’s womb and placed into Nolan William’s arms.
