Page 35 of ClickBack

When I came into the league, Cam and Sterling were two Black men sitting on the other side of a table asking what I wanted to keep when everybody stopped applauding. Other people had asked what I wanted to buy. Cam took my answer about basketball seriously. Sterling made me explain the rest. I chose them partly because they kept asking after I ran out of easy answers.

They’ve done right by me. This morning I treated one of them like a problem I could mute.

“Tell me what you need,” I say.

“An honest order of preference. Toronto is serious. San Antonio has to improve its package. I can push both, but you can’t keep saying wherever while meaning somewhere very specific.”

“I want to win.”

“Everybody tells me that.”

“And I want to play. I’m not interested in being the veteran they bring out to explain losing to young guys who get all the minutes.”

“Good. What else?”

I look toward the bedroom. Giselle’s toothbrush is still at the sink. I noticed it after she left, then noticed myself noticing. It would be foolish to put a woman I met yesterday into a conversation about where to spend the next year. It would also be dishonest to pretend Philadelphia contains nothing I still want.

“I’m not ready to answer everything today.”

“Then answer what you can.”

“Keep Toronto open. Find out how serious San Antonio is. No promises.”

“I can work with that.”

“I’m going to Von’s game tomorrow.”

“All right.”

“I’m going for him. No meetings.”

“Understood. Let me handle the flight.”

We settle the remaining details. Before he hangs up, Cam makes me repeat when I will call him next. I give him the time.

“On your phone,” he says.

“Goodbye, Cam.”

Graves has opened the proposal to the page I marked. “This the part where you own it but can’t do anything with it?”

“That’s the part.”

“Expensive way to get a tour.”

I take the packet from him. “Sterling’s coming over.”

“Good. I’m going to make sure we have rooms.”

“Hotel. Not Von’s.”

“Already looking.”

He knows my father is staying there. He also knows when to let an instruction stand without asking me to dress it up as something else.

I sit down and call my brother. He doesn’t answer, which serves me right. I leave him a message saying I’ll be in tomorrow, then add a text so he can find the information without listening to me clear my throat.

Me: Coming tomorrow. Call when you’re free.