“Yes, you have to. You expect me to meet your father. I have never met someone’s parents in a relationship. What if he doesn’t like me?” She frowns.
I grab her chin, pulling her closer to me as I place a soft kiss on her lips. “Well, I do not care if he likes you or not.” I peck her cheek.
“Still.” She huffs and sits down next to me. “Oh!” she exclaims. “What were you saying on the phone? You are quitting basketball?”
“I am not.IfI win the next match, that is.” I run my hand through my hair. “This is killing me, Anya.” I inhale deeply. “All I can do is give my best. It’s his last wish. That’s all he is asking of me.” I rub my eyes.
She holds my hands. “I know.” She looks so concerned; my heart skips a beat. “But—” I put a finger on her lip.
“I know it is wrong. I have thought about it multiple times. I tried to put myself in his shoes, but every time the conclusion was that I could have never asked something like this from my child, but he is too afraid, I think,” I smile. “I am so tempted to break this promise after he is gone, but him not being here is so unacceptable,” My eyes burn with unshed tears. “I would want him to live through this promise, if that’s what he wants.”
I feel this whirlwind of emotions churning inside me. It’slike I’m caught in a tug-of-war between two worlds—one pulsing with the adrenaline of basketball, the thrill of the game, and the other anchored in my dad’s expectations, his hopes for me to take over his business.
Basketball has always been my lifeline. It’s more than just a sport; it’s where I feel most alive, where I can let everything else fade away. The court is my escape, my sanctuary. The roar of the crowd, the bond with my teammates—it’s exhilarating. Every shot I take feels like a piece of my soul being poured into the game.
But then there’s my dad’s voice nagging at me, reminding me of his last wish. I can practically hear him saying, “I want you to have a secure future.” It hits me in the gut every time. He’s only looking out for me, but it’s suffocating. Taking over his business? That feels like a prison sentence. I can’t picture myself in a suit, shuffling papers and making deals. That’s not who I am. I’m a player, not a businessman.
“What is the business?” she asks, curiosity shining in her eyes the way it does when talking about her passion.
“We produce and sell air and water purifiers.”
“Oh,” she says. “that’s nice. I have always loved businesses related to the environment.” She smiles.
“I know. You told me.” I smile weakly.
She cups my face. Her eyes shine, “Captain, talk to me.”
“I just…” I falter. “I don’t want to let him down but…I don’t want to give up basketball either,” I finally admit, my voice shaking a little. “It’s just so hard. I feel like I’m being pulled in two different directions.”
She nods, squeezing my hands tighter. “It’s okay to feel that way. You’re facing a huge decision. It is easier said than done, but I would love to see you on top of this game.”
She kisses my cheek softly. I close my eyes in contentment. “I didn’t learn the rules of this sport for nothing, Daniel,” she whispers in my ear.
“You learned the rules? When? And why?” My eyes widen as I study her.
The tips of her ears turn red. “Yes, this is your life. Of course, I had to get to know it.” Her eyes widen. “I mean, I am not even close to what you know, obviously. I am not learning how to play. I just want to be able to enjoy your games, and I—” I chuckle.
“Thank you, baby.” I rest my forehead against hers. “Thank you.” I peck her nose. “I will make sure to win the next match.” I wink. “Only if you come and cheer for me.”
“Of course I will.” She leans in. “And I will wear your jersey.” She kisses my hair.
I grunt. Imagining her in my jersey is borderline painful to my heart. I wonder how it would feel to look at her with my name printed on her back, with her cheering my name from the stands.
“That’s highly motivating, Firecracker.” I smirk and tuck a strand of her hair behind her ear. “And then I am going to fuck you hard in my jersey until you are screaming my name.” The image of her in jersey, with her lips parted, breathing heavily, and moaning my name, is making me feel a certain way.
“Promise?” She pouts.
I grumble and let my head fall back. “Don’t tease me, baby.” I groan. I grab her hair and pull it lightly as our noses touch, “I promise not to be gentle with you.”
She laughs, pushing me away. “I look forward to that. Your teammates are staring at us,” she says.
“Right.” I look back. They have wide grins plastered on their faces. I know it's not going to be peaceful in the locker room today. “Gotta go. When you leave, let me know, okay?” I stand up and kiss her hair. She nods and gives me a wide smile. I would die just to see that smile.
∞∞∞
36
DANIEL
