Chapter 24: The European Escape “Well, well, well,” Dev Malik said, a sly grin spreading across his face. “Look what the cat dragged in.” I stared at him, a mix of shock and disbelief swirling inside me. Dev Malik. My former teammate. The same dude Coach Harper kicked off the team for bad attitude and worse decisions. "Dev?" I managed, my voice cracking slightly. What the hell was he doing here? Of all the people… He leaned back in his chair, the picture of casual amusement. He had filled out since high school, the lanky frame now possessing a solid, almost imposing presence. He wore a tailored suit and the gold watch on his wrist probably cost more than my car. “In the flesh, Feder. Or should I say, ‘Feder, the Flipper’?” I clenched my jaw. I didn’t need his sarcasm right now. “What do you want, Dev?” “Straight to the point, as always. I like it.” He chuckled. “I’ve been following your career, Jim. Or, at least, what’s *left* of it. The Duke commitment, the insane highlights…and, of course,” he gestured vaguely, “the…incident.” The memory of the café, Valeria, and the table flip slammed into me, a wave of nausea washing over me again. I crossed my arms, trying to project an air of indifference I definitely wasn't feeling. “What’s your point, Malik?” He steepled his fingers, his eyes glinting with something I couldn’t quite place. Pity? Amusement? Maybe a little bit of both. “My point is, you’re in a bit of a pickle, Jimmy. Assault charges, a trashed reputation…Duke might be having second thoughts right about now. Am I wrong?” I didn't respond, just glared at him. He wasn't wrong. “Look, I’m not here to kick you while you’re down,” he continued, his tone shifting slightly. “Although, I won't deny I'm slightly amused by the chaos you have been involved in, it's entertaining as fuck. I’m in town for a business deal, some real estate stuff, but I saw the news and couldn’t resist paying a visit. Turns out, jail isn't such a bad place, considering it allowed us to reunite.” “Get to it, Dev.” I was in no mood for games. He finally dropped the smirk. “Alright, here it is. I’m in a position to offer you a way out, Jim. A clean slate.” I raised an eyebrow, skeptical. “A way out? What are you talking about?” “Europe, Jim. Professional basketball. Ever thought about it?” Europe? My head spun. The NBA was my dream. Duke was supposed to be my stepping stone. Europe wasn’t even on my radar. “I have connections, Jim. Good ones. I can get you a spot on a team in Spain, Italy, maybe even Germany. Good money, solid competition, and a hell of a lot less drama than you’re dealing with right now.” I scoffed. “Europe? I’m going to Duke, Dev. Or I was…” “Was being the operative word there, pal. Let’s be realistic. You think Duke’s gonna want you now? After all this? And even if they do, you think the NBA scouts are gonna be lining up after you have a record of getting locked up for assault, and all the stuff that has been going on? You would be lucky to get a g-league spot with your current reputation.” He had a point. A depressing, gut-wrenching point, but a point nonetheless. My NBA dreams were slipping away faster than I could dribble down the court. “This isn’t some charity case, Jim,” Dev continued, reading my expression. “You’ve got the talent. Raw talent. I always knew that, even back in high school when you were stealing my spotlight. I think you can make a real name for yourself over there. Plus, let’s be honest, getting away from all this bullshit is probably the best thing for you right now.” He leaned forward, his voice low and persuasive. “Think about it, Jim. No media scrutiny, no Valeria drama, no pressure from scouts, and most importantly, NO DUKE. Just basketball. Just you, the ball, and the court. What do you say?” I ran a hand through my hair, the weight of his offer pressing down on me. Europe. It was a complete 180 from everything I had ever planned, everything I had ever wanted. It was running away. Quitting. But was it? Was it really so bad to consider it? I thought about my family. My mom, who would lose her mind if I moved across the Atlantic. My dad, who always dreamed of watching me play in the NBA. Greg, who would never let me live it down if I ran away. Keithie, who looked up to me. Becky, who would miss my stupid nicknames and weird voices. And then there was Demitra. I had screwed up. But I knew I had a shot with her, and leaving would remove any chances with her. But what was I even staying for? A ruined reputation? A potential prison sentence? A mountain of anger and regret? Dev watched me, his expression unreadable. He wasn’t pushing, wasn’t pressuring. He was simply laying out the cards on the table, leaving the decision entirely up to me. “What’s the catch, Dev?” I asked finally, my voice hoarse. “There’s always a catch.” He smiled, a genuine, almost friendly smile. “No catch, Jim. Just a chance. A chance to start over. A chance to prove yourself. A chance to finally shut me up since I know it hurt you when I said I don't think you can make it to the NBA, after all the shit you are involved in, I’m just giving you a chance to be a star.” “And what do you get out of it?” “Let’s just say I enjoy helping out a friend in need.” He paused, his eyes glinting again. “And maybe, just maybe, I wouldn’t mind seeing you succeed. Proving all those doubters wrong. Including myself.” I looked at him, really looked at him. I saw something there, something beyond the old rivalry, beyond the years of animosity. I saw a glimmer of…respect? Maybe Dev Malik wasn’t the same self-centered asshole I remembered from high school. Maybe he had actually changed. Or maybe he was just a really good liar. Either way, he was offering me a lifeline. A way out of this mess. A chance to salvage my career, my future. But it would mean leaving everything behind. My family, my friends, my life. I closed my eyes, trying to block out the noise, the pressure, the confusion. I needed to think. I needed to weigh the pros and cons. I needed to make a decision. A decision that would change the course of my life forever. “I…”