He looked over.
“What?”
“You're allowed not to know what basketball at twelve means for basketball at eighteen.”
Cameron rolled his eyes.
“That's a mom answer.”
“Yes.”
“Dad has numbers.”
“Your father loves numbers when they support whatever he already believes.”
Cameron smiled despite himself.
Nia immediately regretted using Devin as a joke.
“Sorry.”
“For what?”
“That was unfair to your dad.”
Cameron stared.
“You can say Dad is wrong.”
“Yes.”
“But I don't need to make him stupid.”
Cameron nodded.
That distinction would become important in their family.
Devin attended the first rehabilitation appointment.
He asked too many questions.
How fast could Cameron return?
Could he shoot without running?
Could he work upper body?
Could he attend practice?
Could he use a stationary bike?
Finally the physical therapist looked at him.
“Is Cameron asking these questions?”
Devin stopped.
Cameron stared at his shoes.
“No.”
The therapist nodded.
“Then let's ask Cameron what he wants to know.”
Devin sat back.
It was such a small correction.
Nia watched it hit him like a larger one.
Cameron asked:
“When can I play with my friends again?”
Not:
When can I train?
Not:
When can I get recruited?
Friends.
Devin looked toward the wall.
Afterward, in the parking lot, Nia said:
“We need to talk.”
Devin laughed bitterly.
“I know.”
“Not here.”
“Therapist?”
She stared.
He shrugged.
“Marcus called me.”
“What?”
“He said if I'm going to keep helping with the team, he wants me out of private player decisions involving Cameron until we sort this.”
Nia stopped.
“You help with the team?”
Devin looked confused.
“You know I volunteer.”
“I thought scorebook and rides.”
“I run drills sometimes.”
Nia stared.
That was more than she knew.
“How often?”
“Thursday practices.”
“Since when?”
“December.”
It was March.
Nia closed her eyes.
“Why do I keep discovering things?”
Devin became defensive.
“This isn't a secret.”
“It was not communicated.”
“Different.”
“Not enough.”
He exhaled.
“You're right.”
She looked at him.
That was new.
Devin continued.
“Marcus said the same thing.”
“What else did Marcus say?”
“That Cameron told Eli I would be disappointed if he sat.”
Nia watched his face.
“Were you?”
Devin looked toward the parking lot.
“Yes.”
Specific.
No excuse.
“Yes.”
Nia waited.
“I wasn't disappointed he was hurt.”
“I was disappointed he might lose his starting spot.”
“And I made those feel like the same thing.”