They all nodded, knowing exactly what Mr. Goldhirsh was capable of.
“I think Aunt Jess is making those deep-dish pizzas for after the game. She’s bringing them here. Plus Alfred from the Chocolate Place and Tea Total are bringing stuff,” Luke said.
Time-outs most often were for discussing food, but rarely basketball.
“Right, let’s finish this.”
“Go get ’em, Nash!”
Luke smiled at Luna and blew her a kiss. Nash growled at him. Quinn, he noted, had moved to the sideline. Sam had followed her. She didn’t look happy.
“Uncle Luke! Uncle Luke!”
He shot his nieces a smile as they chanted his name.
“It’s like we’re invisible,” Joe said to Dylan.
The game came down to the final play.
“Get under the post and shoot the ball into the hoop when I get it to you,” Luke said to Ted.
“I’ll try.”
Joe blocked a player, Jack did the same, and Newman shadowed Ford. That left Luke to get around Nash, a big grumpy wall before him. But then Luke was big, and he could do grumpy when required. He watched Ted, unmarked jogging down the sideline in caramel shoes.
“Come at me, junior,” Nash taunted him.
He ran, dodged, but Nash came with him. He dodged again and got free.
“Jump, Ted!” he roared. Luke threw the ball high.
They all turned and held their breath. Ted jumped, and even managed to catch the ball. He then looked at it.
“Shoot!” they roared.
He did. It was the ugliest move he’d ever seen. Ungainly and awkward. Luke watched the ball bobble around on the hoop, and then it tipped in.
“Well, fuck me!” someone roared. “Teddy Bear shot a hoop!”
The final whistle blew, and the Ryker boys had won by a basket.