Page 108 of Disarm
Practice that afternoonfeels off from the start. My legs are sluggish and my head feels like it’s full of static. I miss an easy layup in warm-ups and hear Coach swear under his breath.
“Shake it off, Burton,” he calls. “You’re not in Reno anymore.”
Locking in, my focus narrows to that space where it’s just me, the ball, and the rim.
For a few drills, it works.
Then we scrimmage.
Halfway through, I lose my man on a backdoor cut. The ball goes over my head before I can react. Easy layup. Coach blows the whistle so hard I flinch.
“Burton!” he snaps. “You asleep out here? What the hell was that?”
Heat flashes up my neck.
“Sorry, Coach,” I say, chest heaving. “I spaced.”
“Don’t.” He glares. “Not when it counts.”
My own brain chimes in: You’re gonna blow this. You’re wasting everyone’s time.
I grind through the rest of practice powered by muscle memory and shame. By the time Coach finally blows the last whistle, my shirt is soaked and my lungs are burning.
“Film review tomorrow,” he says, voice echoing in the gym. “Get your heads on straight. Especially you, Burton. You’re better than that.”
I nod, swallowing the rock in my throat.
In the locker room, the guys talk trash and rehash plays, but it washes over me like elevator music. I shower fast, pull on joggers and Miguel’s hoodie again, and shove my stuff into my bag with shaking hands.
My phone buzzes.
Miguel
Outside.
My heart does that annoying stutter thing.
I zip the bag and go.
He’s parked in the usual spot, leaning against the truck in the fading light. Backwards hat, black hoodie, work boots. Arms crossed. He looks the complete opposite of whatever the fuck I am right now.
The second he sees me, his face softens.
“Hey, baby,” he says. “How was practice?”
I make a face. “I didn’t have to run sprints, so not complete shit.”
He arches a brow. I know that look.
Translation: Try again, baby.
I sigh. “My head was… not great. I messed up a few times. Coach yelled. End of story.”
Miguel pushes off the truck and steps closer, hand brushing the side of my neck, thumb grazing my jaw.
Please kiss me.
Make it all go away.
