Book IV of the UNC Series
Carter Blake has a bone-deep hatred for the world-and especially for the people in it. All he wants is to keep his head down, focus on school and basketball, and avoid the mess of human connection. After enduring years of...
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Practice is brutal, as Coach Collins has us running drills and endurance training for the upcoming tournament. He's not concerned about our regular season performance since we've won every game so far. However, securing a tournament win is crucial, as it guarantees us an automatic playoff spot.
Sweat beads across my forehead, sliding down my temples and drenching my back. I've long forgone my shirt, as the facility's air conditioning does little to soothe my sweltering skin. My pale skin is otherwise red and flushed, overheating from all the exertion. My calves' muscles strain as I push through the last of the beep test, failing to make it to the other side of the court before I hear the beep go off.
I ram into the wall, collapsing as I fall back onto the floor, trying to catch my breath. I hear two pairs of feet trying to reach the other side. However, considering I hear the beep again before their footfalls make it to the other side, followed by a similar sound of collision with the wall, the last two players didn't make it to the other side in time.
Another beep goes off across the court through the overhead speakers before Coach turns it off, his booming voice reverberating around the room seconds later. With a groan, I sit up, rest my arms over my bent knees, and strain my overworked lungs, tasting metallic when I do.
"Alright, great practice, Bobcats. Don't forget our next practice is on Thursday, and our game against Indiana is this Saturday; you need to be at the airport by 9 am. Do not miss that flight, or this endurance training will look like light work."
I duck my head between my legs. This Friday and Saturday will be a stressful start to my weekend. Inez has me fighting at The Den on Friday night. If I want to make it to the Pittsburgh airport by nine a.m. on Saturday, I need to be up by six to get ready and leave to travel the hour to the airport.
With a groan, I stand as Coach dismisses us from practice. I wince as I limp towards the changing rooms. My legs are sore, not just from practice, which is usually tolerable, but because in the last match, Inez had me fight in, the guy tried to take out my legs early in hopes of catching me off balance. My entire left thigh is bruised. It didn't help that he socked me good in the jaw, enough for Ryan to notice three days later.
I hated lying to her, but it was something I needed to do. Guilt pinches within my chest when I'm reminded of her words from a few days ago. It's true that I'm the one pushing her way and that I may have been misinterpreting what she's not saying intentionally. Still, bile rises in my throat whenever I think of Inez getting close to my niece or nephew.
It was one thing when I thought he could ruin Carsen's career, but now that a baby is involved—a baby who did nothing wrong and had no say in what my mother chose to do—I couldn't knowingly get them involved.
I close my eyes for a brief second, putting the thought of Ryan and my brother to the back of my mind. I just need to get to the locker room, change and then I can head home to rest my leg. Thankfully, classes are over for the year, resuming in the new year after the holidays.
