Page 39 of Disarm
He nods slowly, studying me. “You’re off lately. Something on your mind?”
The words are heavy with subtext. He doesn’t know what happened in the locker room, but he’s circling it. Maybe he thinks the coach ripped into me for my missed shot.
I swallow hard, trying to gauge how much truth he can handle.
“Just a lot with classes,” I say. “And the team’s been tense. Therapy’s been?—”
He holds up a hand.
We never talk about therapy.
“Hmm.” He leans against the car, eyes narrowing slightly. “You know, focus is everything, Caleb. Distractions, especially emotional ones, can cost you your edge. And from what I saw tonight, you’re distracted.”
My stomach knots. “Dad?—”
“I’m not criticizing,” he interrupts, even though he is. “I’m just saying, whatever’s pulling your attention off the court, you need to rein it in. You have a real shot this year. Scouts are always looking.”
“Yeah. I know.”Playing professionally isn’t really on the agenda, but to him it is.
He sighs, then places a hand on my shoulder, too firm to feel comforting. “You’re talented, son. Don’t waste it chasing things that could get complicated.”
Complicated.
He doesn’t say who or what he means, but I know.
I know exactly what he’s trying not to say.
“I’m not wasting anything,” I reply, meeting his gaze, shrugging his hand off. “I’m just living my life.”
Trying to, at least. But you wouldn’t know that.
He hesitates. “You’re seeing someone, aren’t you?”
I blink. “Why?”
“Because you smile at your phone more than you talk to me lately,” he says, half teasing, half probing. “And whoever she is… she’s got your head somewhere else.”
She.
There’s a beat of silence. I can hear the hum of the parking lot lights and the muffled chatter from inside the gym. “I gotta go, and I’m sure you want to get back to Celeste. Give her a kiss for me and tell her I miss her.” Changing the subject in hopes that he drops it.
“I will, but you should call her too.” He sighs, then reaches out to pull me into a forced hug. “The next game is an away game, right? I probably won’t be able to make that. Play hard, kid… You’ve got your whole life ahead of you.”
Sure I do.
By the timeI wave Dad off, my phone buzzes in my pocket.
Miguel
How was talking to Dad? I know it can get rough when he “talks” to you about your performance. The game wasn’t great, but it wasn’t only you. Some of your teammates suck ass.
Caleb
Yeah. “Rough” is one word for it.
Coach didn’t yell. Oh, and Anderson kinda found out about us.
Miguel
