It’s loose for a split second before Caleb scoops it up. He passes it to Ethan, who sprints down the court.
“Finish strong!” I shout, trailing behind.
Ethan pulls up just beyond the three-point line, the defender a step too late. The ball leaves his hands, the buzzer sounding just as it arcs through the air.
Time seems to slow as everyone watches. The ball hits the rim, bounces once, twice, and finally drops through the net. The blue team erupts in cheers, and Ethan is mobbed by teammates. I grab him in a headlock, laughing.
“Clutch shot, man!” I say, shaking him playfully.
“You doubted me?” he teases, grinning ear to ear.
“Good game, guys,” I say, clapping Louis on the back as he scowls. “And Louis, better luck next time.”
“Don’t get used to it, Danny,” he replies, but his grin gives him away.
I laugh, heading to the bench to grab my water bottle. The court may just be a gym to some, but to me, it’s home.
∞∞∞
14
ANYA
I am contemplating whether I should text him or not. I mean, there’s no real requirement of me rushing this assignment because there’s too much time left for the submission; it’s just that I haven’t seen him in days. And I can’t believe it. It’s quite embarrassing to admit that I might like his company more than I wish to. I don’t want to sound desperate, but maybe I am?
The words in the message linger on the screen, the cursor blinking patiently as if waiting for me to continue typing. I lean back in my chair, feeling a mix of anticipation and anxiety. But I need to ask him something related to the project, right? That’s the only reason I should contact him.
“Ah, screw it,” I mutter under my breath, and I hit ‘send’.
Let’s meet to discuss the assignment today. I need a good excuse to leave my pile of unfinished Netflix shows.
I wait for what feels like an eternity, watching the screen for any sign of a reply. Just as I start thinking about how eager and desperate I might look, my phone buzzes with a response.
Daniel:
So you want me to be your excuse?
I’ll take that as a compliment.
I can’t help but roll my eyes at his cocky response. Typical Daniel, always having a witty remark ready. But secretly, I feel a little flutter of excitement at the thought of seeing him again.
Daniel:
Sure.
I am sorry I am asking you to do this, but can we meet
at my place? I am too tired from the practice to even move.
My eyebrows furrow in concern.
Are you sure you want to do this?
We can do it later. You can rest.
His response comes almost instantly.
Daniel: