Guys Read: The Sports Pages Read Online Free

doesn’t really matter.” Jake looked around the garage at the gleaming cars and really believed it.
    Instead of going through the house, they headed straight for the pool, where the smoke from grilling steaks floated up from the outdoor cook station, making their mouths water. They changed into bathing suits in the pool house—Bobby used an extra of Jake’s—and dove in. They splashed over to the waterfall and let the water pound their heads, laughing as it sent them plummeting down.
    At the basketball hoop near the shallow end, they began a game of one-on-one. Jake had an outside shot, but the rebounds and the inside game all belonged to Bobby. After a missed three-pointer, Jake and Bobby both dove for the ball. Jake got his hands on it first, but Bobby tore it loose like a pit bull on a bone, swinging elbows and hair until Jake felt a sharp pain in his nose and let go.
    â€œHa!” Bobby turned and dunked one home.
    Jake stood holding his nose. He held up his hand for Bobby to see the wash of blood.
    â€œDude, I’m sorry. Wow. Man. Did I do that?”
    â€œNo, I threw my face into your elbow to teach you a lesson. Of course you did it!”
    â€œYeah. Man. Sorry.”
    Jake turned away, sulking. Bobby put a hand on his back.
    â€œCome on, dude. You know I love you.”
    â€œThat’s weird.”
    â€œDon’t go soft on me. You know what I mean.”
    They both laughed. Jake’s nose shut down, and they didn’t get out until Jake’s mom called to them from the screened-in porch above. They dried off quickly and raced up the steps past Rosalita with the platter of steaks, nearly knocking her down. She scolded them in Spanish.
    They sat at the table with eager looks. Jake’s mom greeted them and sat sipping a glass of white wine and looking nervously into the kitchen until Jake’s dad swept out onto the deck, loosened his tie, and tossed his suit coat over the back of his chair. Jake’s father was a big man, but in the last year, he’d grown thin. His hair had gone gray, and the lines on his face had deepened. Things were always quieter when Jake’s dad was around, but the tight skin around his jaw and the way he gnawed at his steak made everyone even more uncomfortable.
    Even Bobby picked up on the dark mood, and he excused himself before Rosalita brought out the apple pie. Bobby never missed dessert. Jake’s father followed Bobby with his eyes until Jake’s friend disappeared around the corner of the house near the garage.
    Jake’s father cleared his throat. He took Jake’s mother’s hand in his own, but directed his eyes at Jake.
    â€œI’m going to meet this head-on, Jake, and I want you to as well. We’ve got problems. Serious problems. With money.”
    Jake smiled and looked from one parent to the other for signs of a joke. His father never talked about money. Money was something they always had, and lots of it.
    â€œMy company is … the bank … we’re closing up. We’re going to have to move.”
    Jake nearly gagged. He shook his head. “Not now. Not this season.”
    His father took a deep breath. “We’ll try to find a place in the district so you won’t have to change schools this year, but after that, I can’t make any promises. I’m going to have to start over, and I don’t know if this is the right place to do it.”
    In his mind, Jake could see the wrought iron gates you had to drive through to enter Immaculate Heart, the winding road up through the trees, and the clock tower atop the main building. It was the next chapter in his life. They all knew that. It had to be. They were a state powerhouse, and Coach Commisso was known for grooming players into Division I–caliber stars.
    â€œBut wherever we live, next year I’ll be going to IH anyway, right?” The words sounded dream-like and hollow to Jake, even though he was certain