Page 186 of ClickBack

“Who are they sending out?”

He gives me the names. The four men I sat with at Jawn are staying. I ask about the option year, and he confirms that nothing in the trade changes it. We can discuss an extension once this is finished.

“You got what you wanted,” he says.

“You did your job.”

“Beautifully. I hope you mention that when I send the invoice.”

I laugh. I have spent months asking him what the problem is, who needs to move, why a conversation that sounded promising yesterday has gone nowhere today. Now he is telling me to pack for a physical, and I want him to say the first part again.

“They got it done.”

“They did. Toronto put a real offer on the table. San Antonio had to improve theirs. Philly finally had something they could agree to.”

I look at Giselle. She has turned around now, the pen still in her hand.

“Thank you,” I tell him.

Cam leaves the joke alone. “Congratulations, Jarrett. I’ll send the travel details.”

I hang up. For a moment I stand there with the phone against my leg.

“Well?” Giselle asks.

“I’m going to play with my brother.”

She smiles before I finish saying it. I start smiling because she is, and then I can’t stop.

“Come here.”

She sets the pen down before I get to her. I lift her against me, and she laughs into my shoulder, telling me to put her down while doing nothing to help me do it.

“You wanted this,” she says.

“Yeah.”

“Then let me look at you.”

I set her on the floor. She keeps both hands on my arms, studying me like there might be something she wants to remember.

“There,” she says. “That’s better.”

“What was wrong with me before?”

“You were trying to receive good news responsibly.”

“I’m very responsible.”

“Occasionally.”

She steps back and brings her hands up around a basketball that isn’t there. I recognize the shot before she releases it.

“You really doing this?”

She leaves her wrist hanging toward me. I catch the imaginary rebound.

“Short.”