Page 95 of Taking Sides

“How much longer are you going to do that?” I ask with a small laugh. I’m sprawled out on the couch, staring at my phone after a long practice.

“What? She is your girlfriend, right?”

“You know she is.” Though I’m regretting telling him now.

“I do, but I love hearing it.” His smile is as wide as I’ve ever seen it. “I’m just so happy for you. I can’t believe you asked her. That’s huge.”

“Thanks, man.” It is sort of huge. “I think I blacked out during it, so I’m not sure how proud of me you should be.”

His grin is lopsided as he plops down on the opposite side of the couch from me. “Is she coming over tonight?”

“No, they had an away game.”

“Did they win?”

I shake my head. “JV lost again.”

“Damn.”

“Yeah.” I drop my gaze to my phone again. I’ve been staring at an empty note for the better part of an hour.

“Consoling her with dick pics, again?”

“What?” I laugh and shoot him a “please tell me that isn’t how you console chicks” look. “No. I’m working on my speech for this weekend.”

“Speech?” he asks, then his eyes widen. “You’re going to the retirement ceremony for your old coach?”

“Yeah.”

“When did you decide that?”

“When I was in Houston,” I admit. “Talking with Whitney made me realize how much I want to be there for Coach Carson. He did a lot for me, and in return, I can do this one thing for him. Maybe.”

“Well, fuck, you’re having a banner month.” An expression crosses his features that I can’t immediately place. “I can’t believe you didn’t say anything. Did I get replaced? Are you not going to tell me things now? Did Whitney bump me out of BFF status?”

“I’m sorry.” I fight a laugh. He looks so serious, I don’t want to hurt his feelings. “It’s been busy. We haven’t had time to talk in a few days, but you know you’re still my best friend. Always.”

“Busy with your new girlfriend.” He sighs dramatically, then finally breaks out into a smile. “So, tell me about this speech. What do you have so far?”

“Big fat nothing.” Not a single word. “I can’t focus because I just keep thinking what a terrible idea this is. How am I going to stand up there and give a speech?”

“Picture them naked?”

“No.” I scrunch up my face at the prospect and shake my head. I tried that once on a date, and it did not improve the situation. The only thing worse than sitting across from someone with no idea what to say is doing so with an erection.

“Okay.” He sits forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “You need a speech. Something you can get through so fast, your brain doesn’t have time to panic.”

I’m also not sure that’s possible, but I don’t stop him. He has that look of deep concentration on his face.

“Short and concise. There’s no time quota, right?”

“No, but I think speech implies a certain length.”

“Eh.” He waves off my concern. “Other people’s constraints are not your concern.”

I laugh. “It must be nice to go through life with that motto.”

He grins wider. “Okay, let’s hear your ideas.”