Page 13 of A Shot at Love

Her declaration hangs in the air. She spoke with so much conviction that I don’t think either of us have any choice but to believe her. In my hold, she’s still rigid, like a spring about to pop into the air.

Coach White scrubs a hand over his face and sighs. It’s like all of the fight leaves his body. I can’t believe what I’m seeing. It makes me even more wary about what’s going to come.

“I think both of you know that I wouldn’t kick Harmon from the team,” he says with a defeated expression. “We’re on track to win the championship this season, and it’s all thanks to Harmon. If I kicked him, I wouldn’t just be messing with his career. I’d be messing with mine. And everyone’s on the team.”

“So, what?” Jenna asks, sounding skeptical. “You’re going to let him win the championship for you then you’re going totrade him? I’ll go with him. I’ll transfer schools and take out loans if I have to. But no matter where he goes, I’ll be with him.”

My heart swells. I had wondered what might happen if I were ever traded, and hearing that she’s planning on coming with me wherever I go means the world to me. I’m so in love with this woman that it hurts and makes me feel a little crazy.

“Trading Harmon isn’t in my plans,” Coach White says, looking me up and down. “He’s a damn good basketball player, and I think it’d be pretty shitty to get rid of him after he wins me my first championship coaching the team. Especially when I think he can win me another next year, too.”

“You were just bluffing about kicking me off the team?” I ask, my brow furrowing as I turn that information over. He had seemed pretty serious when he first made the threat, and remembering the fear that ran through me makes me want to grab Coach by his shirt collar. He almost made me choose between two loves in my life—but little did he know that I would choose Jenna in this life and in the next.

“I meant it when I said it,” he admits, and if I didn’t know any better, I’d think that he looks ashamed of himself. “The idea of you taking my only daughter away from me really pissed me off, Harmon, I won’t lie to you. Hell, I’m still not crazy about the idea, but I can tell she’s taken with you. I can’t remember the last time anyone but me made her smile the way she was grinning when I walked over here. If Jenna’s happy, then I’m happy. Simple as that.”

“You mean that?” Jenna asks, her tense muscles relaxing.

“Of course I do,” Coach White says, giving her a soft smile. “I know that’s probably hard to believe, especially after this morning, but I really do just want what’s best for you. That’s all I’ve ever wanted for you. If Oliver is what’s best for you, if he’sthe man who makes you happy, then I couldn’t live with myself if I did anything to push you two apart. Or push you out of my life.”

“Dad…” Jenna says, her words full of emotion, her body sagging with relief.

“But,” he says, shifting his gaze to me. That harshness is still there, the clear disdain at the fact that I’m the object of his daughter’s affections. “Just because I’m not doing anything about this doesn’t mean that I’m completely sold about her choice. I have my eye on you, Harmon. If you ever hurt my daughter, you’ll lose more than a spot on my team.”

“You have nothing to worry about,” I assure him, smiling even though I’m being threatened. His concern just proves how much he cares about Jenna, how much he wants to protect her. My girl deserves this kind of love. She deserves only the best. “I’d never let anything happen to her.” My hand flexes protectively around Jenna’s.

“Good,” he says, his expression still serious, though I catch the subtle twitch of the corner of his mouth. “Now get yourself ready for practice, Harmon. We have a championship to win.”

“Yes, sir,” I say, smirking at him before pulling Jenna into a kiss. I’m sure the sight pisses my coach off, but I don’t care. When I lean away from her, I ask, “Will I see you later?”

“My schedule’s clear today,” she says with a shrug. “Well, except for practice, but that’s not until this evening.”

“So, you’re saying I could convince you to stick around and watch our practice?” I ask.

“I suppose you could,” she quips.

Coach White clears his throat, but he doesn’t look angry when I shift my gaze to him. If I had to name the expression he’swearing, I’d say he’s amused. He says, “Jenna, you can stay. But if you distract my point guard, I’ll have to ask you to leave.”

Jenna rolls her eyes, letting me grab her hand as we start in the direction of the locker rooms. “I’m just going to be sitting there.”

“He has a point,” I say, squeezing her hand. “That’s pretty distracting.”

“Watch it, Harmon,” Coach White says, a smile on his face. “I reserve the right to change my mind about keeping you on the team.”

All three of us know he’s not going to change his mind.

Epilogue

Ten Years Later

Jenna

“No, thank you, Michaela,” I say into my phone, stopping outside the court entrance. “I’m looking forward to another year of working with you. I know my guys are, too. I’ll send some tickets for you to hand out to employees. I’ll talk with you later. Bye.”

I end the call with one of our sponsors a little abruptly. It’s not entirely professional, but in my defense, Michaela and I have become close over the years of me owning the very same team my father used to coach. Her company has sponsored the team’s jerseys since I took over. Sometimes, she’ll even come to games and spend time with me in my luxury box.

Anyway, because we’re friendly, she knows about my husband, knows that he coaches the same team I own. She also knows that I was on my way to check in on the practice he’s leading. Michaela’s a smart woman, I’m sure she understands that I’m itching to see my man.

When I step into the gym, Oliver stops what he’s saying mid-sentence and locks eyes with me. An electric spark passes between us, and I barely suppress my shiver of excitement. It doesn’t matter that we’ve been together for ten years, he still makes my heart pound the same way it did on the first day we met.

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