Chapter 16 - MOVE-IN DAY
Michael Carter carried the heavier box.
Tyler noticed.
He didn't say anything.
Mason College's freshman dorm sat four hours from Hawthorne and three hours from home, red brick surrounded by oak trees and parents pretending they weren't counting the minutes until goodbye.
Tyler walked backward toward the entrance.
“You know they have carts.”
Michael adjusted the box against his chest.
“I own a flooring company.”
“You also serve mashed potatoes.”
Michael looked at him.
Tyler smiled.
Michael did too.
Mostly.
They had gotten better at jokes.
Not perfect.
Better.
Inside Tyler's room, his new roommate had already claimed the bed by the window.
Caleb Ross.
Six-foot-six.
Forward.
Chicago.
Caleb's mother stood beside an open suitcase.
His younger sister sat on the floor eating crackers.
Introductions happened quickly.
Basketball always made introductions easy.
“You starting?” Caleb asked.
Tyler laughed.
“Ask Coach.”
“You're the Hawthorne kid.”
Tyler stopped.
“What does that mean?”
Caleb pulled out his phone.
“Man, everybody knows you.”
He showed Tyler a video.
Not basketball.
The Hawthorne cafeteria.
Michael behind the counter.
Tyler beside him carrying trays.
Someone had posted it months earlier with a caption about a star recruit working lunch beside his father.
Two million views.
Tyler stared.
Michael looked over his shoulder.
“Oh.”
Tyler turned.
“You knew?”
“I knew somebody filmed us.”
“And you didn't tell me?”
“You were graduating.”
“That doesn't answer the question.”
Michael shrugged.
“I didn't think it mattered.”
Tyler looked at the comments.
Some praised Michael.
Some mocked him.
Some called Tyler spoiled.
Some called Michael inspiring.
Some had turned his worst day into a motivational quote.
Tyler locked the phone.
Caleb looked uncomfortable.
“My bad.”
“No.”
Tyler handed it back.
“You didn't post it.”
Michael set the box down.
“People are going to have opinions.”
Tyler looked at him.
“I know.”
Michael waited.
A year earlier, Tyler might have asked what he should do.
Delete his accounts.
Respond.
Ignore it.
Transfer.
Something.
Instead he opened another box.
“You want to help me build this shelf?”
Michael smiled.
“No.”
Tyler looked up.
“You literally install floors.”
“Exactly. I know when furniture is cheap.”
Caleb laughed.
The tension broke.
Then Tyler's phone buzzed.
Unknown number.
WELCOME TO MASON.
He opened the message.
WE'D LIKE TO DISCUSS A PAID PARTNERSHIP.
Tyler read the name beneath it.
KELLER PERFORMANCE GROUP.
He looked at Michael.
Michael was helping Caleb's mother move a suitcase.
Tyler almost called him over.
Almost.
Then he remembered.
His choice.
His responsibility.
May you like
He put the phone in his pocket.
And said nothing.
