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Stallion Basketball Great is Off the Market
It captures me swinging her around, and the smile on her face sends goosebumps through my veins. She was happy. Jasper wasn’t. Even though the video is spliced together, there’s a spot where he’s gritting his teeth while looking at me. It shows me watching her with the binoculars but also working out.
The wife of the owner of the Crown Jewel Horse Farm ends the segment with, “This is just part one of the story. She’s won Dane’s heart, but will Elizabeth Scott win enough points to go to the next competition? Find out more on the BIG STORY at eleven.”
Elizabeth. Why is everyone calling her Elizabeth? The camera crew has to hear me calling her Lettie. But that’s the least of my worries. When my dad finds out, which won’t be long, he’ll be pissed. Not that I’m dating Lettie, but that I blew off practice and maybe missed classes and will miss being announced today at the Stallions football game.
I better enjoy the time I have left. But I can’t because my phone beeps with message after message.
Nick: You’re so sweet.
Asshole.
Mom: Call me. God, I hope your dad doesn’t know.
Mac: Guess you won’t be at the football game tomorrow, watching me make Stallion history with the most receptions in three seasons. Wish Lettie luck.
Brooke: You two are the absolute cutest. Can’t wait to hear all about it. I’ll be watching on the telly.
The other fifty messages are about the same.
Must be love, or Coach is going to go off!
I’m not worried about Coach Cappitano, but I hate that he’s going to take it out on the whole team. Make an example of me and remove me from my position as captain. If he does that, my dad will absolutely flip the fuck out.
“Hey, Mom.”
“Sweetie, what are you thinking?” she asks, her voice laced with concern.
Does she not approve of Lettie? “About me dating Lettie?”
“No, of course not. I’m surprised it didn’t happen earlier. But missing practice… Dane, this doesn’t look good.”
Soaking in her words, I’m aware she’s talking about my dad and the NBA thinking I’m immature. “I’m happy for the first time ever. That’s not true, but I feel complete. We’ve been dancing around our feelings, and it finally came to fruition at the fundraiser. I would have told you, but we didn’t nail down being a couple until right before she left. We didn’t want to tell our families until we were sure.”
“I had my suspicions. In fact, I hope I gave Lettie a little nudge at the spa. I just want to make sure you continue to take your responsibilities seriously. Basketball has to come first and sponsorships second. They depend on you for marketing their businesses. Dane, I have faith in you that you can handle all of it, including Lettie. That girl loves you, so she’ll want what’s best for you.”
“Thanks, Mom. Leaving without asking Coach wasn’t a good decision. He would have changed practice to help me out. It was impulsive because I want to support Lettie like she has me all these years. I messaged Coach, and I’ll have to buy my teammates steak dinners for all the laps and suicides they’ll have to run because of me. But Lettie’s worth it.”
“She is. Be careful. Give her a hug for me.”
“Love you. I’m turning off my phone, just tell Dad I’ll talk to him when I get back. It’s my turn to cheer on Lettie.”
When we hang up, I leave Coach a voicemail asking him not to use my actions against my teammates, then I call Lettie and leave her a message too.
“I love you. You can do this.” Then I turn my ringer off, and anyone who calls will get “Please leave a message,” in my best Australian accent.
The Show Jumping portion of the competition begins in an hour, so I race down to the event space, show the wristband Lettie gave me, and they escort me to a seat on the first row. More than likely, I won’t need the binoculars, but I keep them hanging around my neck.
Leafing through a program I bought in the lobby, I stop on the section, Get to Know the Competitors. There are seventy-five people competing for points that will help them reach the Olympic Trials. However, only the top twenty have a profile picture and write up.
Elizabeth Scott – Age 22,
Senior at the University of Kentucky
Major: Statistics.
Hometown: Huntsburg, Kentucky
