Muscle Memory

Chapter 2

NATHAN

The roar of the crowd still echoed in my ears as I stepped off the court, the adrenaline from the game pulsing through my veins. We'd just wrapped up a solid win at home, and the energy in the Staples Center—or rather, Crypto.com Arena, as they called it now—was electric. Nights like these, where everything clicked, reminded me why I loved this game so much.

I glanced up at the scoreboard one last time, the final numbers flashing in my mind as I headed back to the locker room. It wasn't just a win; it was a statement. And damn, did it feel good.

"Scott!" A voice called out, pulling me from my thoughts. I turned to see Austin Reaves jogging over, a grin plastered on his face. The kid had a lot of talent, and tonight he'd shown just why he was one of the Lakers' rising stars.

"Hell of a game, man," Austin said, clapping me on the back. "You were on fire out there."

"Thanks, Reaves," I replied, returning the grin. "You weren't too bad yourself."

He chuckled, shaking his head. "You know what this means, right?"

I raised an eyebrow, already knowing where this was going. "What?"

"We're hitting the town tonight, man. The whole team. We've gotta celebrate this win," he declared, the excitement in his voice infectious. "No excuses."

I hesitated for a moment, thinking about how much I'd rather just head home, take a long shower, and crash for the night. But the truth was, it had been a while since I'd gone out with the guys, and after a game like this, maybe I owed it to myself to let loose a little.

"Alright, I'm in," I finally agreed, and Austin's grin widened.

"That's what I'm talking about," he said, already turning to rally the rest of the team. "I'll text you the details once we figure out where we're going."

As I made my way to my locker, I could feel my phone buzzing in my bag. Pulling it out, I saw a text thread with my half-brother, Lucas, lighting up the screen.

Lucas: In LA for the weekend. Peyton dragged me to one of Haley's shows. Man, she's still got it.

I smiled, shaking my head. Haley James, the girl with the voice that could stop time. I hadn't seen her in... well, a long time. Not since that night we'd both agreed to forget. But the memories lingered, no matter how much I tried to bury them.

I started typing a reply when another message came through.

Lucas: Celebrating her show and bday tonight. Brooke's dragging us to some club, not sure which one yet.

That piqued my interest. Lucas was in town, and he hadn't bothered to mention it before now? Typical. I quickly typed back.

Me: In LA, and you don't even tell me? Some brother you are. What club?

It didn't take long for his response to come through.

Lucas: Brooke says we're hitting up Nightingale. You in town?

Nightingale. It wasn't exactly my usual spot, but it wasn't half bad. I could suggest it to the guys and make it a team thing.

Me: Yeah, just wrapped up a game. I'll meet you there.

I locked my phone and tossed it back in my locker, the idea of running into Lucas — and potentially Haley — turning over in my mind. It would be good to see Lucas, maybe clear the air on a few things. And as for Haley... well, I'd cross that bridge when I got there.

Before I could think too much about it, I felt another buzz in my hand. This time, it wasn't a text—it was a call. And not one I particularly wanted to take.

"Dad," I muttered under my breath as I saw the name flash on the screen. I hesitated for a moment, debating whether to answer, but I knew that if I didn't, he'd just keep calling.

With a sigh, I swiped to accept the call and brought the phone to my ear. "Hey, Dad."

"Nice game, Nathan," Dan Scott's voice crackled through the line, full of that familiar mix of pride and expectation. "You really showed them what you're made of tonight."

"Thanks," I replied, keeping my voice neutral. The thing with my dad was, you never really knew what was coming next. Sometimes he'd be the supportive father, and other times... well, he'd remind me why I'd worked so hard to prove myself, to everyone, but especially to him.

"So what's the plan? You heading home to get some rest, or are you going out?" he asked, and I could practically hear the gears turning in his mind.

"Going out with the team," I said, already bracing myself for whatever lecture was coming. But instead, Dan surprised me.

"Good. You've earned it. Just remember, Nathan, you've got to keep your eye on the prize. Don't get distracted by all the noise."

I clenched my jaw, resisting the urge to roll my eyes. "Yeah, I know."

"Alright then," Dan said, the brief pause at the end of his sentence indicating he might have more to say but was holding back. "Enjoy your night. We'll talk later."

"Yeah. Later," I replied, ending the call and tossing my phone back in my bag with a little more force than necessary.

By the time I'd finished getting out of my uniform and into the shower, the locker room was buzzing with energy. The guys were hyped after the win, and I could hear them already making plans for the night. The hot water helped wash away the tension from my call with my dad, but it couldn't completely clear my mind. Seeing Lucas tonight would be... interesting. Especially if Brooke had anything to do with it.

As I got dressed, I kept it simple — dark jeans, a fitted black shirt, and a leather jacket that was more functional than stylish but did the job. I grabbed my watch and slid it on, checking the time as I caught a glance at my reflection in the mirror. I looked the part, but there was something in my eyes — something I hadn't seen in a while. Maybe it was the thought of running into Haley, or maybe it was just the weight of everything else I'd been dealing with lately. Either way, tonight wasn't going to be just another night out.

As I grabbed my phone from my locker, I saw another text pop up—this one from Clay Evans, my agent and one of the few people I trusted in this business.

Clay: Nice win tonight. Heard you're heading out with the team. Need me to join?

I quickly texted back.

Me: Yeah, meet us in the locker room in 5. We're hitting Nightingale.

A few minutes later, Clay strolled in, looking as sharp as ever. He gave me a nod of approval, his eyes glinting with that usual mix of confidence and calculation. "Ready to go?"

"Yeah," I said, trying to match his energy. "Let's do this."

As we made our way out of the locker room, the rest of the guys trailing behind us, I couldn't help but think about how different tonight might turn out. Lucas was out there somewhere, probably laughing it up with Brooke and Peyton, and Haley... well, who knew what she was up to these days.

But one thing was for sure: tonight, the past and present were about to collide, and I had no idea what that was going to mean for any of us.