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like that.
    God, if he did, I’d smack him. That’d be ridiculous.
    No, my decision to play basketball or not can’t rest on my time spent with Justin.
    It has to be about me and the ball.
    My heart thumps against my ribcage and I know. With that feeling, my choice is made. I pull out my phone and call him. Adrenaline floods my system; suddenly I’m ready to run five miles.
    “Hey, Lady,” he greets me and my stomach flutters. God, I love his smooth, husky voice.
    “Hey, what are you up to?”
    “Studying. You?”
    “Well, I was wondering if you could call Alex and head over?”
    “Why?”
    “It’s time to show Coach T that I don’t give up.”

Chapter Four

     
    Justin
     
    “Gawd, why are you so nervous? You know she’ll make it.” Lucy’s friend Laura tosses me the gym towel from my bag. I’m still sweating, despite the fact guys’ tryouts ended an hour ago. “What’s with the pacing? I’ve never seen you like this before. Wait, you’re not worried about your own spot, are you?”
    There’s no need to be conceited, so I pretend she didn’t ask. She knows I owned tryouts. “It’s not that. It’s just,” I gaze back at the East Gym’s door, knowing Lucy’s in there with Coach T, a total ass, waiting to find out if he’ll give her a second chance. Honestly, he should be the one begging her to return. Lucy told me how he looked the other way her freshman year, but only after I swore not to tell my coach. Every time I see his fat face, it takes all my restraint to not throw a punch.
    Thankfully, I know Lucy has the balls to shove her skills in his face. But, does she have the strength? Just talking about the man made her hands shake. And the memories that gym must hold? Crap. She’s in there dealing with all that while I’m stuck out here, just waiting.
    “She’ll be fine, Justin. Really. Sit down.” She yanks my arm, dragging me over to the lunch table to rejoin Luke, Alex, and Jake. Laura wraps her arms around Luke, giving him a hug while we wait for the boys’ list to be posted. Luke pats her arm. He didn’t have the greatest tryout—chickened on the chance for an easy drive—but he made every outside shot. With that in his pocket, plus his attitude and grades, he’s golden.
    “Don’t worry man, you’re good.”
    “Yeah, you’re good, Luke,” Alex repeats. He’s pacing back and forth. The kid cannot keep still when he’s nervous. Then again, I’m already to the other end of the table, I guess neither can I. I haven’t been this nervous in a long time.
    Alex meets me at the end of the table. “How’d I do?” he says under his breath. “I mean, really, Justin. Do I have hope here?”
    He beams up at me and I know what he sees. I’m totally his older brother, way more than a cousin. I’m his Jackson. I imagine what Jackson would have said to me and say just that. “You killed it.” I clap him on the shoulder, watching the relief flood his face.
    Thankfully, it wasn’t a lie. Alex is actually better at ball than I was at his age. Way better. Hell, I bet they will start him on junior varsity as a freshman. At that point, I’d only made the sophomore team. But there’s no way I’m telling him that. He’s got to learn how the process feels.
    “Thanks.” Alex clasps my hand, pulling me in for a quick man-hug. Jake’s sitting down, head between his palms. He never does well under pressure and this tryout was no exception. I made sure to show the coaches my belief in Jake’s potential. When I fed him, he bit and the ball would swish. But anyone else, even Alex, would leave him throwing up bricks. Too many bricks.
    I bite my tongue. Dear God, let him at least make the freshman team. He and Alex are best friends. The wedge that’d create would royally suck. Jake knows Alex is better, that doesn’t seem to matter to him. But to not be part of the team? That’d hurt a ton.
    A banging on the lockers bordering the cafeteria is the signal our roster is up. Alex’s face