Chapter 174 Lilian Baker

Chapter 174 Lilian Baker
The first thing I noticed when Lewis led me toward the basketball court was how empty the bleachers were.

I stopped walking, then I looked left., then right.

No students. No noisy crowd. No random people sitting around waiting for practice to begin.

Just the court, a few chairs near the sidelines, several basketballs scattered around, and a handful of players moving around in their training clothes.

I looked at Lewis.

"Where is everyone?"

He turned to me.

"Who?"

"The students."

He shrugged. "They're not supposed to be here."

"What?"

He laughed. "Practice isn't open to everyone."

I pointed toward the empty bleachers.

"So why did you invite me?"

"Because you're not everyone."

I rolled my eyes.

"That's not an answer."

"It is."

"No, it isn't."

I looked around again. "Are you sure your coach won't complain?"

"He won't."

"What about your team?"

"What about them?"

"Won't they think it's strange that you're bringing your girlfriend to a private practice?"

Lewis smiled. "They're excited to meet you."

"Really?"

"Really."

"All of them?"

"Most of them."

"That's not reassuring."

He laughed.

"Lily, relax."

"I am relaxed."

"You've been looking around like you're about to escape."

"I haven't."

"You have."

I sighed. "Fine."

He squeezed my hand. "Don't be scared."

"I'm not scared."

"You are."

"I'm just..." I searched for the right word. "Uncertain."

"About what?"

"Everything."

He smiled. "Well, you're here now. So you're stuck with us."

"That's exactly what I'm worried about."

We continued toward the court. The closer we got, the more familiar some of the faces became. Then I saw someone I hadn't expected.

"Nate."

He turned at the sound of his name. Then his eyes landed on me. For one second, I wondered if I had made a mistake coming here.

Nate had always been the kind of person who knew exactly what to say to make a situation more complicated. And after everything that had happened recently, the last thing I needed was him running his mouth in front of Lewis's teammates.

I looked at Lewis, he didn't seem bothered.

As Nate walked toward us, I prepared myself for whatever he was going to say.

I expected a comment, a sarcastic statement. Maybe another question about my choices or something that could make things awkward.

Instead, he simply smiled.

"Hey, Lily."

"Hi."

"How are you?"

Did he just ask that?

Maybe I was overthinking it.

"I'm fine," I replied.

He nodded.

"Good."

Then he looked at Lewis.

“Hope you're good?"

"I'm fine,” Lewis answered casually.

Nate looked back at me. "How's your mum?"

The question surprised me.

"She's fine."

"Good," he said with a smile. "I've been meaning to check."

"Thanks."

He nodded again. "I hope I'll see you guys more often."

There was something about his polite questions that made me suspicious of him. The last time we spoke, it was an argument. So acting all nice was something I didn't even expect at all.

Nate gave us one last smile before walking back toward the other players.

I watched him go. Then I let out a long breath.

Lewis looked at me.

“Are you okay?" he asked.

I shook my head.

"He was being too nice."

Lewis laughed. "You're suspicious of someone being nice?"

“When it comes to Nate, I would suspect anything," I said.

He shook his head.

"Relax."

I looked toward Nate again. He was talking to one of the players. He glanced in my direction and our eyes met.

He smiled. I smiled back politely. But deep down, I knew exactly what he was doing.

He wasn't being nice. He was reminding me that he knew things. And Nate was the kind of person who never did anything without a reason.

Before I could think about it any further, a whistle sounded.

As the team began gathering, the coach walked onto the court. He looked too serious.

Lewis squeezed my hand. "I'll see you after practice."

"Okay."

As he walked toward the team, I stepped back.

The coach nodded at me.

"You must be Lily."

"Yes, I am Lily."

He studied me for a moment.

"Welcome."

"Thank you."

"Stay here."

I nodded.

I watched as the team began warming up.

Lewis immediately became focused. The playful boy who had been teasing me all morning disappeared.

I smiled without realizing it.

I was beginning to understand why he loved basketball so much.

The coach stood beside me with his arms folded.

For a few minutes, he said nothing. Then he spoke.

"You're important to him."

"Excuse me?"

"Lewis."

He nodded toward the court.

"You're his girlfriend."

I hesitated.

"Yes."

He looked at me carefully.

"Then you should understand something."

I straightened.

"Lewis has a lot expected of him," he continued.

"I know."

"His family expects a lot. His teammates expect a lot. And he expects a lot from himself."

I nodded.

"That's why I'm telling you this," his tone became more serious. "Don't become a distraction."

My smile disappeared.

"I wouldn't."

"I'm not accusing you, I'm warning you."

"About what?"

He looked toward Lewis.

"He's working toward something important. And basketball is important to him more than you realize."

I looked at Lewis again. He was running drills with the team. It wasn't just a sport to him, basketball was everything.

The coach turned toward me. "If you know you're not going to be a good influence, then leave him now."

My eyebrows rose as his words landed on me.

"Leave him?"

"Before things become complicated."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing.

"With all due respect, coach..."

I stopped myself because I didn't even know his name. And at this point, I didn't even care about his name.

I took a breath.

"I don't think it's fair to decide I'm a bad influence without knowing me."

"I'm not deciding anything."

"You're telling me to leave him."

"I'm telling you to think carefully."

"I am thinking carefully."

"Are you?"

His question irritated me.

I looked toward Lewis again. He had just made a successful shot.

His teammates cheered him and that alone put a smile on my face despite the nonsense his coach was saying.

"He's happy,” I said quietly. "And that's what matters."

"Sometimes happiness can become a distraction," the coach said.

I turned back to him.

"Maybe,” I shrugged casually. “But so can pressure."

He frowned slightly. "What do you mean?"

I shook my head. "Nothing."

I wasn't going to argue with him.

Not here.

Not during Lewis's practice.

I didn't want to be the reason he had to worry about anything.

The coach seemed satisfied that I had stopped arguing.

He turned back toward the court.

I did the same.

Lewis was moving quickly between two players.

He looked completely focused.

Then he glanced toward me, our eyes met and he smiled.

I smiled back.

For a second, everything felt okay.

Maybe I was overthinking. Maybe Nate wasn't planning anything. Maybe the coach was simply protective. Maybe I really could fit into Lewis's world without ruining anything.

I took a small breath.

Suddenly, a loud cry erupted from the court.

"STOP!"

My heart jumped as I turned toward the sound.

Lewis was no longer smiling. In fact, he was no longer standing.