Page 471 of Ruthless Court

Someone forgets to buy toilet paper.

Kane leaves socks everywhere.

I still complain about his music.

He still steals my Twizzlers.

Except Twizzlers have competition now.

Cracker Jack.

It started at a baseball game Noah dragged us to.

Sweet.

Salty.

Prize inside.

Superior engineering.

I now keep boxes in Kane's room.

He calls it my second addiction.

I call it nutritional diversification.

Kane stayed.

That surprised everyone.

After our first year together, people assumed he'd declare.

Then the projections climbed higher.

He still stayed.

One more year, he told reporters.

One more year, he told his parents.

One more year, he told me.

But one night, when it was only us, he gave me the real answer.

“I want to be ready for the life, not just the league.”

He wanted another year with his degree.

Another year with Coach.

Another year learning how to lead instead of merely being the best player on the floor.

Another year being Kane before somebody put millions of dollars around his name and expected him to remain sane.

He grew.

Not into someone different.