Our Hearts as One

Johan: Part 25

"That's two games in a row. I'm losing my touch. Or I'm just getting old."

"You're not getting old Dad."

"Oh you're just obligated to say that."

I laughed. "I am not."

Jack sighed and stood up. "One more round. If I lose this I'm done." He said but he had a smile dancing around his face.

"Don't be a sore loser." I said dribbling the basketball. I lined up for a shot and took it. The ball would have sunken in with nothing but net if Jack hadn't intercepted it. I switched to defense and tried to stop him from scoring the shot.

"Gotta be faster than that Johan--" he was saying as I snagged the ball back. Before he could move to take it back I had taken a free throw shot and the ball sunk in. "That's it! I'm done!" He sighed and promptly collapsed on the bench. I slapped away a mosquito and smiled at him.

"You're good Dad. I'm just better." That didn't make him feel better but he laughed and patted my back.

"You have talent son. Why didn't you ever join the school basketball team?"

I sipped from my water bottle and answered cautiously. "I guess I just never really thought about it." That was a bold faced lie. I always wanted to join the Northwell Basketball team but I was too intimidated because of my nerd status. Pretty pathetic excuse now that I looked back on it but it was enough to terrify me before.

"Well you definitely should for your senior year." He said. Jack looked up at the sky. It's dark. We should get home."

"Oh come on. A couple more games." I said.

"These muscles are getting old. I can't go running around anymore."

"Tantas excusas." I taunted. I was about to pull Jack to his feet when I heard a voice.

"So much running! I...can't...take...another...step." someone panted.

"Oh come on! It was only two miles!" A familiar voice chided.

"So...far..." The person that the voice belonged to stepped into the light. It was Geoffrey from the beach and the familiar voice was none other than Ted. Geoffrey went to collapse on a bench but Ted pulled him up.

"When your heart rate is up you have to cool down before you sit. Walk around, do some stretches, but don't sit until it lowers.....where's Landon?"

"Right here!" He called breathing heavily and running so slow he was almost jogging in place. "God you're worse than coach!"

I observed the three from my bench. Jack and I were deeper in the shade of a tree so Ted didn't see us. Ted was sweating but his breathing was relatively normal where as Landon and Geoffrey were about to collapse.

"All right now do some pushups!"

"Do you not realize I have the upper body strength of a dead fish?" Landon asked. I could definitely relate.

"No back talk! Run another mile!" Ted yelled.
Geoffrey and Landon gave him the dirtiest look and started running again. Ted laughed and walked over to a bench and took a towel and water bottle out of a red bag. I looked over at Jack.

"I'll pack up here." He said and gave me a smile. I got up and walked over to where Ted was standing. I went up behind him and put my hand on his arm. Ted jumped about ten inches in the air and ripped his arm away. He spun around.

"Hey." I said quietly, my hand still in the air from where his arm was.

Ted smiled and gently put his arm back under my hand and brought his hand up to the side of my face. He ran his thumb across my cheek. "Hey." He leaned down going to kiss me but I wrapped my arms around his neck and hugged him instead.