Chapter 14 - One Courtside Seat Stayed Empty
The offer was from Seattle.
Not Los Angeles.
Not one of Marcus's dream markets.
A good team.
Strong roster.
A younger coach.
A real chance to contend for another championship before my legs stopped forgiving me.
Dana did not pressure me.
She gave me the basketball facts.
What the team would receive.
What Seattle wanted.
What would happen to my contract.
Then she said:
“You have until tomorrow afternoon to tell me whether you want me to keep discussing it.”
Not decide the trade.
Decide whether the conversation stayed alive.
I thanked her.
Hung up.
Did not call Marcus.
That felt strange.
I called Nora.
“I have a real offer.”
She went quiet.
“Okay.”
“Seattle.”
Another pause.
“What do you want?”
The question irritated me.
Then I realized it shouldn't.
“I don't know.”
“Okay.”
“That's it?”
“What do you want me to do?”
I laughed softly.
“I don't know that either.”
“Progress.”
“Don't say that.”
She laughed.
Small.
Real.
That night we had another home game.
I asked Ethan if he wanted his courtside seat.
“No.”
No explanation.
My old instinct would have asked why.
Instead:
“Okay.”
He came to the arena anyway.
Sat in the family lounge.
Watched part of warmups.
Played a racing game with another player's daughter.
Before introductions, I walked over.
“You leaving?”
“Maybe third quarter.”
“School tomorrow.”
“I know.”
“Mom picking you up?”
“Yes.”
We had all checked directly.
Useful.
He looked toward the floor.
“Raines back?”
“Not courtside.”
Security had reassigned him while completing review and retraining.
Ethan nodded.
“Okay.”
I waited.
He didn't ask for more.
Neither did I.
Nora appeared behind him.
She had come separately.
Not wearing my jersey.
She hadn't worn one in years.
I used to take that personally.
Now I noticed she was here.
“Good luck,” she said.
“Thanks.”
Ethan added:
“Don't make the face.”
I stared.
He demonstrated my scouting expression again.
Nora burst out laughing.
I pointed at both of them.
“This is harassment.”
Ethan grinned.
The horn sounded.
I went to work.
We lost by four.
I played well.
Not brilliantly.
Afterward I showered, did media, and walked past the players' parking entrance.
The Mercer Hotel was seven minutes away.
Home was twenty-three.
I drove twenty-three.
Nobody had sent an envelope.
Nobody had threatened to leave.
No emergency waited.
Nora was asleep on the couch with the television on.
Ethan's school bag sat by the stairs.
I turned off the TV.
She woke.
“What time?”
“Almost midnight.”
“You could've stayed at the hotel.”
“I know.”
She studied me.
I didn't add anything.
She moved her feet so I could sit.
We watched the silent television for a minute.
Then I said:
“Seattle's real.”
“I figured.”
“How?”
“You've been staring at your phone like it owes you money.”
I smiled.
She didn't ask me to stay.
Didn't ask me to go.
“Would you move?” I asked.
She stared at the black TV screen.
“With you?”
“Yes.”
“I don't know.”
Honest.
“What about Ethan?”
“Ask him.”
I nodded.
Then my phone rang.
Dana.
I answered.
“Hey.”
Her voice was tight.
“Small change.”
“What?”
“Seattle improved the offer.”
I looked at Nora.
“How much?”
“Enough that ownership wants an answer tomorrow morning instead of afternoon.”
I checked the clock.
11:58 p.m.
“What kind of answer?”
“Whether you're willing to meet with them.”
I looked toward the staircase.
Then at Nora.
For two weeks, everyone else had been telling somebody what I wanted.
May you like
Now the decision was actually mine.
And for the first time, staying silent would be a decision too.
