“Do you have a problem?” I asked the group in general.
“Maybe we do,” a junior answered. “You show up here, and suddenly you’re the one who gets to make the winning shot just because you’re the coach’s nephew.”
This guy couldn’t be serious. “Yeah, so you think it was favoritism that gave me game time, not that Coach wanted us to win?” I asked, and Liam started to laugh.
Liam tried to diffuse the situation. “Seriously, guys, lay off. Just be happy we won, and we still have a chance to make the playoffs.”
The annoying kid turned around in his seat, but not without mumbling, “At least if we have to be stuck with the Calloways again, one of them is hot.”
“Is that punk seriously talking about my sister that way with me here?” I asked Liam angrily. Complaining about my playing time was one thing, but talking about my sister that way was off limits.
“Just let it go, Kevin. They shouldn’t be talking about her that way, but I get it,” Liam said.
“You what?” I hoped Liam wasn’t actually defending the kid.
“I just mean that your sister isn’t a kid anymore. Guys are going to notice her, including guys on this team.”
“Easy for you to say.” I tried to calm down.
“I care about her too, but I think that it just goes with the territory of having a little sister, you know?”
I didn’t have a chance to respond. Suddenly, Brian, the point guard, pulled off his earphones and turned around to look at us. “Are you guys talking about Charlotte?”
“Yeah.” I wondered why Brian was suddenly joining the conversation.
“Liam introduced me to her in gym the other day. She seems pretty cool.”
“Yeah, she can be.” I was a little surprised that he chose to describe her as cool.
“It also looked like you taught her how to shoot,” he said casually.
“Yeah, Charlotte could be good at sports; she just doesn’t like to be on teams or something.” I wasn’t sure where the conversation was going.
“Well, she’s in good shape.” He must have noticed the look of confusion on my face because he added, “I mean, she looks like she probably works out or something.”
“Not really, I think it’s just good genes.” I hoped he was just wondering why she wasn’t on the girls team.
“Oh, makes sense. Anyway, I invited her to the party I’m having Friday night, and she said she’d come.”
“She said she would come to your party?” I was sure Brian could hear the surprise in my voice.
“Yeah, her and a friend.”
Wow, Charlotte was actually doing well. I had been really nervous for her. I hadn’t talked to her much in the last two days, but I wondered why a senior wanted my sister at his party. I made a mental note to ask Liam later.
“Great, it’ll be a little weird to be at the same party as my sister, but it’s fine.”
Things had really changed around here. Liam had always been my friend, but he hadn’t been exactly what I would call athletic. I wasn’t complaining. It was great being on the team together, but it felt different. And what about Charlotte? I knew at some point I was going to have to deal with her and boys, but I had thought I would have more time.
As everyone filed off the bus, I signaled for Liam to stay back with me. “So, are there any guys I need to kill if they go near my sister?”
“Well, I would be wary of Brian. He’s cool and all, but I think he kind of likes to go for the younger girls.” Liam must have seen the look of concern on my face, because he continued, “Yeah, but I doubt he’ll try anything anytime soon, and I’ll watch out, too.”
“Thanks, I can use whatever help I can get.” And it seemed I might need more help than I had thought.
“Well, I don’t have any little sisters to watch out for, so I might as well help look after yours.” He paused, then added, “Oh, and I almost forgot, there’s also that James kid.”
“James?”
“Yeah, the one who took Charlotte to the library yesterday? I don’t know much about him, but he seemed a little too excited about studying.” Evidently, Liam assumed I knew something about a guy taking Charlotte to the library. Monty had only told me she had gotten a ride home from a classmate.
“Good to know. Any chance you could point him out to me tomorrow?”
“Yeah, not a problem.”
I felt a little better after talking to Liam; at least I knew to watch out for Brian, and I had a heads up on James, whoever he was. I was glad I had a few months to help get Charlotte settled before I took off, but I was suddenly realizing that my sister having a social life might be a double-edged sword.
Chapter Six
Charlotte
“So, are you still planning to go to Brian’s party tonight?” Monty asked, as he joined me on the bench next to the fountain in the garden. Monty had already disconnected the water for the season, but I reconnected it, wanting to hear the relaxing sound of running water. I had always loved the garden and, even in November, it still seemed to be partially in bloom.
“I think I may go,” I said distractedly.
“Only go if it’s what you want to do. I know Kevin was giving you a hard time about trying to be social, but whether you go to parties or not isn’t important. And if you do go, be careful. They’re all pretty good kids, but most of them are older than you, and you just never know.”
“Yes, Dad,” I said, drawing out the word Dad.
“Hey, I’m just trying to look out for you. I feel bad that I haven’t been around enough since you got here. I feel like we haven’t talked much.” He looked concerned.
I tried to reassure him. “I’m fine, Monty. And I’m used to minimal adult supervision. Dad was usually working, and I understand how busy basketball season is. Plus, I’m almost sixteen, not a little kid anymore.”
“But you do know that you’re more important than my team, right? If you need me, I’m here.”
“I know. Please don’t worry about me, I’m fine.” I smiled to get my point across.
“If you say so, but let’s just try to talk more in the future, okay?” He looked at me for agreement.
“We’ll talk more, I promise,” I assured him before changing the subject. “So, do you think Kevin will drive me to the party tonight?”
In gym, Anna had told me she was getting a ride with a junior and checked to make sure I didn’t need to be picked up. I decided that I would take my chances with Kevin. That way, if he didn’t want to drive me, I had a good excuse not to go.