Chapter 71 – After the Win

The buzzer had barely stopped echoing before the gym erupted in a storm of noise—cheers, stomps, claps, laughter.

Students rushed the court. The Wolves were going to the finals.

Ryan stood at center court, breathing hard, sweat dripping from his forehead, a dazed smile on his face. Ben rushed over and threw an arm around his shoulder, yelling something that got lost in the chaos, but Ryan just nodded and laughed.

They did it.

Coach Daniels pulled the team together in a tight huddle. "You boys earned this," he said, voice loud enough to carry over the noise. "You played with heart, you played together, and you fought until the last second. Finals—here we come!"

The team roared, fists in the air.

Later that Evening – Outside the Gym

People slowly filtered out. Parents hugged their kids, teachers offered congratulations, and classmates took selfies with the players.

Sarah stood near the gym doors with Jack, her eyes searching through the crowd until she spotted Ryan, still talking with Ben and a few other players. She smiled, proud and maybe a little overwhelmed.

"He played out of his mind," Jack said beside her.

Sarah nodded. "He did."

Jack glanced at her. "You okay?"

She hesitated, then exhaled. "I'm fine. Just… this whole day. It's a lot."

Not far from them, Richard Morgan stood near the bleachers, clapping as kids walked by. He wasn't trying to be noticed. But Ryan noticed him.

Ryan had seen him around town, and had heard from Sarah once—casually—that she and Richard had dated back in high school. That was all he knew.

And yet… something had always felt off. Or familiar. He wasn't sure which.

Ryan walked over slowly.

Richard looked up, surprised. "Ryan, right?"

Ryan nodded. "Yeah. Good game, huh?"

Richard smiled. "It was more than that. You were electric out there."

Ryan gave a small shrug, rubbing the back of his neck. "Thanks. We've been working hard."

"You and Ben make quite a duo," Richard added. "I haven't seen teamwork like that in a long time."

Ryan chuckled. "Yeah, he's kind of like my second brain out there."

There was a pause. Not uncomfortable, just… weighted.

"You planning to play after high school?" Richard asked.

Ryan shrugged. "I don't know. One step at a time, I guess."

Richard nodded, smiling gently. "Smart answer."

Ryan looked at him for a moment. There was a strange feeling in his chest—nothing bad. Just unfamiliar.

"I've seen you at a few games," Ryan said. "You just like basketball or…?"

Richard hesitated. "I've always liked the game. And I like watching good kids play it right."

Ryan nodded, not pushing further. "Well… thanks for coming."

Richard smiled. "I'll be at the final."

Ryan gave him a short nod, then turned and jogged back toward his teammates. Richard watched him go, expression unreadable.

From a distance, Sarah had seen the interaction. Her stomach twisted slightly, but she said nothing.

Jack leaned in. "That looked civil."

Sarah's voice was quiet. "Yeah."

Jack looked at her. "You ever gonna tell him?"

She didn't answer.

Later That Night – Back in Rosehill

The streets buzzed with life. Horns honked. Someone drove past with Wolves flags hanging from their windows. The whole town felt lit up.

At the café, Sarah flipped the "Open for Celebration" sign, and within minutes, the place filled with people—friends, parents, classmates, even some teachers. Savannah and Ryan worked behind the counter, passing out cupcakes and sodas like pros.

Anna walked in with Evelyn, smiling at Ryan. He smiled back—something softer than usual. They were finding a rhythm again, and it felt good.

Ben and Jack sat near the front window, laughing, talking basketball. Mrs. Harper and Mr. James shared coffee and quiet conversation in the corner.

The café buzzed with warmth. Unity. Joy.

And outside, beneath the stars, Ryan stepped out for air. He leaned against the wall, looking up at the sky, still in his jersey, the roar of the game still echoing in his head.

The final was coming.

But for now—he let himself smile.

He was exactly where he was supposed to be.