Raise The Bar

chapter eleven

~ Before last chapter ~

- Adrian -

"Castillo, I need to speak with you," Coach demands. I nod at him as I lay my gym bag down and open my locker.

"He looks mad pissed today," Devontae tells me. "Ever since we walked in he's looked all frustrated and shit."

Crap.

Either he has some telepathic sixth sense and he knows I'm getting serious with a girl or he knows JJ and I stole a Redbull from his mini-fridge.

"I've got the school newspaper calling me for a quote and details on the 'Adrian and Albert' story. You know I don't take too much time in your personal lives because they're yours but this is about your image, and when people start thinking my star player is a hothead it makes you seem short-tempered and untrustworthy. If this is about the young lady from the other day, I hope you tell me if it's serious."

Part of me wants to straight out deny anything between me and Genevieve. Lying seems like the best option since what happened a few years ago.

I remember my freshman year Ryan Elderman, our team's point guard, and Iris Canner were dating and Coach benched him the rest of the season.

It wasn't his fault, Elderman wasn't as good as he was at the beginning of his career and he was missing easy shots, leaving practice early which was rare because most days he didn't even show up, and he publicly called out Coach for being a 'drill sergeant,' who was putting his lost dreams on our shoulders.

Ever since he busted his knee four years into his career, he became a Coach, and he always preferred a college team over the NBA. I like to think we're a lot closer than the other team members especially because he's seen at my worst as well as my best.

"It better not fuck with your head, you're a good player, the best I've ever coached. Tell me you can be both without it ruining us."

For the first time since, ever, Coach is allowing an actual relationship.

I give him a firm nod, hopefully discontinuing any reservations he had, "I can do it, Coach, I promise."

"Then get your ass back out on the court." I leave the room and head back to the court grabbing a basketball.

"We have weight testing tomorrow," Devontae tells Luke as he munches on a chocolate croissant.

"I've gained three pounds in the past few months, does my ass look fat?" He bites on his croissant so his hand is free and pulls up his tank top so we can see his butt through his shorts.

"Damn man you have a nice ass," Jamal says. Kenny would be incredibly jealous if he were here right now.

"Thanks, man," Luke says beaming at his comment.

"Take the croissant out of your mouth and focus Beckham." It's 4 am I don't know how he's even thinking about food.

He takes it from his mouth and whines, "But Coach?" Luke rolls his eyes and unfortunately has to throw it away because there's nowhere but the floor to put it down.

________

The day is spent in practice, breakfast, more gym, then laps at the pool.

"We should get burgers for lunch," Luke is always thinking about food.

"Double cheeseburgers, and large fries. I want a milkshake too," food sounds so good right now.

"I've already ordered your lunches, keep swimming." Coach directs us.

We finish up then go to the hot tub till we do some stretches and drills. "Whoever finishes last buys us dinner," Luke challenges.