“He should know, right?”
JC’s head shot up, and he glared at George, momentarily forgetting that he’d shared his dad’s addiction with his friend.
“That was twenty-eight years ago, but I guess the fear of it happening again never goes away. Thank God for my mom. Dad wanted her more than he wanted the painkillers. But in his case, everyone knew about it, so it was easier to get help. It’s not like that with Austin. He cut off his mom’s access to his doctors and medical reports, so no one knows what drugs he’s taking.”
JC had overheard his dad talking to Uncle David about finding a back door to access Austin’s medical records. Uncle David had no qualms about venturing into the gray zone and had taught JC just about everything he knew about the dark web. Although now, JC was pretty sure his knowledge far exceeded his uncle’s.
“Is the pain only in his foot or everywhere he was injured?” George asked.
“I don’t know, but it hasn’t stopped him from working out every day. Dad had a training facility built on the ranch in Colorado with a regulation-size basketball court and an Olympic-size pool. Then he hired a full-time trainer, massage therapist, physical therapist, nutritionist, and coach to work with Austin. I heard he asked his agent to get him a tryout this summer.”
“Is he ready?”
“He won’t know for sure until he gets out there and performs under pressure. He’s trying out a new shoe with straps that wrap around his ankle and lift the toe portion of the shoe about six inches off the ground. Now he doesn’t have to hike his hip with every step. The raised toe box allows him to clear his gait.”
“What about his dad? Is he helping out?”
“If anyone understands what Austin is going through, it’s Chris Dalton since an injury forced him to retire early. He goes out to the ranch several times a month to work out with Austin. I just hope Chris isn’t encouraging him to believe in the impossible.”
“You don’t think he’ll have a comeback?”
“I’m not a doctor, but based on the extent of his injuries, I don’t see it happening. But I also know Austin well enough to know he’ll never quit trying, and he’s building himself up for a huge disappointment.”
“If I lost everything, I’d fight just as hard as Austin to get it all back,” George said.
“Me too,” JC said. “But right now, Austin has tunnel vision and can’t see anything except getting back to where he was before the accident. What he did was stupid. He wasn’t supposed to be riding a motorcycle. It violated his contract and nearly killed him.”
“I bet he feels guilty.”
“I’m sure he does, and to be honest, I would, too,” JC said softly, admitting it as much to himself as to George.
“He needs to find something else as important as playing basketball,” George said.
“To him, there’s nothing more important.”
The Uber driver pulled to the curb in front of the Williams house on Channing Street, and JC was suddenly a freshman in college again, looking forward to pizza and beer with good friends. He climbed out on one side of the vehicle, George the other.
“You know, we should have walked. I didn’t run yesterday or today and probably won’t tomorrow either.”
George slammed his door. “We would have been late, and you know how Ensley gets.”
JC walked behind the vehicle and joined George on the sidewalk. “She cussed me out once when I showed up an hour late with carryout. I didn’t know I was supposed to be there at a certain time.”
“Sounds like her. She gets something in her mind and won’t let it go.”
JC followed George up the walk to the white, three-story house. “She should be six feet tall to match her temper.”
“Not five foot two and eyes of blue.”
“Ouch!” JC cringed. “She hates that song. Besides, in her case, there’s a high ratio of mind to mass.” He eyeballed the house again as they continued their approach up the walkway with a glance at the upstairs window. The only room on the second floor with a light on was the one she used while she lived there. Suddenly the thought of seeing her again sent a shiver of anticipation coursing through him.
“Mom yelled at me once for criticizing Ensley’s temper,” George said. “I won’t make that mistake again. My parents are overly protective of her.”
“Mom’s always sending text messages to go see my cousins or call them. I try but fail miserably. Mom still thinks I’m sixteen.”
“I bet you text Emily,” George said, elbowing JC in the ribs.
“Well, that’s a given, but man, she’s busier than I am.”
“One of these days, something is going to happen between you two, and I plan to be the best man.”
“That won’t happen. Not with Em. She’s like my sister. Sort of like Ensley is to you.”
“If you say so, but don’t forget I’ve seen you two together, and there’s so much chemistry between you, sparks go off.”
“I told you several years ago that nothing is going on between us.”
“Shit, man. Yeah, you’ve told me, but I’ve never believed it.” George punched in the keypad code, then grasped the large bronze knob and pushed.
“I know you haven’t.” JC followed George into the foyer and closed the door behind them.
“Are your parents still pressuring you to work for your family’s businesses?”
“We argue about the business every time we talk. It’s gotten so bad that when I see my dad’s number pop up on my phone, I cringe and let the call go to voice mail.”
George shot JC a hard look. “But you and your dad used to be so close. I can’t imagine you being on the outs with him.”
JC thought back to the last chewing-out he got for not showing up at a family gathering. “I’m not the only one. All my cousins over eighteen get the same pressure. My aunts and uncles think Dad is a god, but the cousins
