“Come on, Kitty.”

After my morning class, I head home. Katrina picked up an extra shift at the café and I don’t have to be back at the gym until later, so I’m bored. I find Z shooting hoops in our home gym. Shocker.

I grab a ball from the rack and join him. It’s only a half court so it isn’t like he doesn’t see me, but the only acknowledgment I get is his movement to the left side of the basket giving me the other side.

I don’t usually push Z into talking, but today I need someone to bounce my thoughts off of.

“You think I’m hurting my chances of being drafted if I stay and finish college?”

He doesn’t stop shooting as he answers. “Of being drafted? No. If you stay healthy and your numbers are anywhere close to as good as they are now, someone will pick you up. When we win the tournament this year, there will be a lot of press and that might help you get a better deal, but…”

His words trail off and I mull them over. Z always talks in certainties about us winning. It’s like he’s got God’s ear or maybe he’s just that fucking sure of himself and his ability to carry us to victory. Do I need a better deal? I mean obviously I want a sweet contract, but the dream was always to play in the NBA not sign a multi-million contract.

“Still undecided?”

I nod and take a shot that bounces around the rim and out.

“It’d be pretty sweet if we were both starting our rookie seasons next year.”

“You gonna actually get out next year, maybe date or at least strike up a conversation with a chick?”

He grunts.

“It’s not going to get easier to tell the good ones from the jersey chasers. Might want to consider settling down before you’re a millionaire.”

I’m not even sure that’s why he’s avoided chicks thus far and his face gives nothing away.

He stops shooting and looks me dead on. “That what you’re doing with Katrina?”

Cock my head to the side. “I’d hardly call a couple dates settling down.”

He raises both eyebrows and stares me down with a look that calls bullshit.

“Part of me is ready to give all this up and move on, but the other part feels like I’m taking the shortcut.” Like I’ve always done. Easy, uncomplicated, whatever got me the most satisfaction in the moment. That pretty much sums up my life. Especially my relationships. I’ve worked hard at ball and school, but never with women. Not since Polly. Thinking about Katrina and how much harder everything is for her haunts me. I look for the path of least resistance because of one bend in the road. Okay, it was more like a fucking sinkhole, but the way I let it change me… I let it change me like Polly was my Vesper. And fuck that.