Two days after the showcase, Kendrick sat on the worn steps of his apartment building, the basketball rolling back and forth under his foot. He hadn't been able to get the game out of his head. The way Trenton hogged the ball. The scouts, leave the gym without so much as a second glance. Had he blown his chance? He wasn't sure.
His phone buzzed in his pocket. Kendrick's heart raced as he pulled it out, his breath catching when he saw the name.
Coach Ray.
He answered quickly. "Hello?"
"Is this Kendrick Rivers?" The voice was deep and unmistakable.
"Yes, sir."
There was a long pause on the other end. Kendrick felt like he could hear every sound in the world at that moment, the distant blare of a car horn, kids laughing in the street, his own heartbeat pounding in his ears.
"I saw you at the showcase," Coach Ray finally said. "You've got talent, but you're rough around the edges."
Kendrick swallowed hard. "I know, sir."
Another pause. "I'm starting a summer training program. Think you've got what it takes?"
Kendrick's throat was dry. This was it. The shot he'd been waiting for.
"Yes, Coach," he said, trying to steady his voice. "I won't let you down."
"We'll see," Coach Ray said before hanging up.
Kendrick stared at his phone, the weight of everything sinking in. This was more than just a call. It was a lifeline.
But as he looked up, he saw Trenton standing at the corner, leaning against the streetlight with his arms crossed. The two locked eyes, and Kendrick felt the tension thick in the air.
This wasn't over. Not by a long shot.