Derek showed up to the gym at 6 AM on a Tuesday, and Leo almost didn't recognize him.
He was thinner than Leo remembered. His eyes were hollow. His shoulders were slumped. The arrogance that had once defined him was gone, replaced by something heavier. Shame.
Leo stood at the net, a ball in his hands, his knee aching. He'd been running drills alone, as he did every morning, preparing for practice, preparing for the season, preparing for whatever came next.
Derek walked to the center of the court. He stopped ten feet from Leo. He didn't speak.
“You're not supposed to be here,” Leo said.
“I know.”
“There's a restraining order.”
“I know.”
“Then why are you here?”
Derek's voice cracked. “Because I need to say I'm sorry. To you. To Javier. To the team. And I couldn't do it from a dista
