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A ball sticks to my throat, and I have a hard time swallowing it down.
“Elijah, your dad was saying how you had to defer your college education and that you had been signed up for a couple of sports leadership and basketball training classes.”
Elijah nods, his brows knitted together.
“Now, look,” I continue. “I’m not claiming to be any good. But I played in high school in Highlands Ranch and, well—” I’m nervous. It was pompous of me to have thought this was a good idea.
Elijah is chewing on the inside of his lip, and he’s passing the ball back and forth in his hands.
I continue on. “I wondered if you could meet me here, maybe Tuesday and Thursday nights? I can run some drills and you can bring a couple of friends if you want. And Saturday mornings, you’re welcome to join my team. We mostly just play against my brother and whoever he can scrounge up, but it’s fun. Might be better than nothing since you can’t take those classes right now.”
“Why?”
He doesn’t want pity and he really doesn’t want to be a charity case. But an apology from me wouldn’t hurt.
“I wanted to apologize for how I handled your dad’s case at the beginning. I was letting my own biases cloud my judgement. Elijah, I guess I know how some of this feels, sort of, to have a parent struggle.” I release a hot, fast breath. “Besides, the more your skills improve, the more likely it is we can beat my older brother on Saturday mornings. So really, this is selfish of me.”
I don’t think I imagine the slight flicker of a smile on Elijah’s face before the scowl returns.
“Let’s see if you can beat me,” Elijah says. “I’m at least ten years younger than you, so that accounts for something.”
“Ten? How old do you think I am?” I stroke the five o’clock shadow I work hard to keep at the perfect length. I’ve never even seen a grey hair in there. “I’d say you’re no more than eight years younger. You’re eighteen, right?”
“Still,” Elijah starts dribbling between his legs in a figure eight pattern, never taking his eyes off mine. “I’m in my prime and you’re on a downhill slope. So, we’ll see.”
I can’t stop the huge grin that splits my face. “Bring it.”
And he does. For the next hour and a half, Elijah’s basketball skills reduce me to a sweating, air-sucking mess. I’m not used to playing against someone with as much endurance as he has. Man, my friends from the team are totally out of shape. And, okay, so am I. Maybe I really should cut back on those thick hot chocolates Charlotte makes.
We finish right as the rec center announces over the PA system that they’re closing in fifteen minutes.
“Your dad wasn’t kidding,” I say, out of breath. “I think I’ve learned more from you than you have from me.”
Elijah acquiesces. “You’re a better ball handler than I am, I’ll give you that. But you have a funny shot. That thing is just . . . ugly.” He laughs and then, in between dribbles as we head down the hall, he gives me a shove.
“Me? I was thinking the same thing about yours. I’ve got to cure you of that disgusting form.”
“We’ll see,” Elijah says, and by now, his smile lights up his whole face.
“So? Thursday night? After your custodial shift?” I ask him after I finish sucking up what feels like a gallon of water from the drinking fountain.
“I’ll try.” He doesn’t meet my gaze when he tells me thanks.
The wind bites into me, even through my coat as I walk to my car in the rec center parking lot. The snow is pelting my windshield on my drive home, and I wonder if I’m going to make it without sliding off the road. I hope Elijah makes it safely home in his compact sedan.
Chapter 33
Aria
I arrive home to my apartment and strip off my protective gear, hanging the dripping mess of gloves, hat, and double puff coat in my bathroom to dry out. It’s near blizzard conditions out there, which I both love and hate. I love the snow, and I hate the hazards it can cause.
Once I’m in my snowman-print, long underwear-style pajamas, I make myself a cup of hot cocoa and retire to my room.
Yes. I’m in my bedroom in the hopes of hearing Theo next door. If he’s there, I’ll knock on the wall.
I miss him.
The gifts that the members of the committee and I spent hours buying tonight are safely stowed in a secure, private location. We have to keep the thousands of dollars’ worth of food, toys, clothing, gift cards, and household items safe. But I had to laugh when we pulled into the maze of storage units across from Shorty’s.
