April first. Tuesday. Iron Vault Arena.
The opponent: the Brontic Bay Krakens—dead last in the East, one of the weakest teams in the league this season.
Courtside in the VIP section, Chloe was back in her No. 0 jersey. Beside her sat her father, Steven Palmer—late sixties, balding, in that same blue checkered button-down. The paperwork was still grinding along, but the owner-in-waiting hadn't tucked himself away in a suite like last time. He'd planted himself right back in the front row at floor level.
"This is better," Palmer said, rubbing his hands together, watching the players warm up, talking at his daughter. "Close up. You can actually see it. That suite—pane of glass in front of you, might as well be watching it on TV."
Chloe smiled and said nothing. Her old man had the exact same affliction as that No. 0 down on the floor.
9:30. Tip-off.
Roarers' starting five: Ryan, Darius, Kamara, Sloan, Omar.
