Page 10 of Forbidden Dunk

I shoved his shoulder, making him laugh. I wasn’t scared of my dad finding out I had a bun in the oven. He wasn’t overly protective THAT WAY. He would be more pissed off at the fact that I slept with a ball player and then got pregnant by him than if I had just really slept with some random guy.

Fucked up mindset, I know, but what could I say to that?

Not to mention, dumb as it may seem, I looked forward to getting to have the joys that came along with a baby. First movements, kicks, turns, all of that. Wasn’t thrilled with the morning sickness, but it wasn’t the baby’s fault.

I got to experience all the fun things my mom did. And I wouldn’t be like her, having a baby grow up without a parent there. That’s the worst thing to do to a kid. So, I was glad to see that Shawn was in. After all, he did know all about it too.

Given that both of this baby’s parents were tall, I had no doubt I was going to be carrying a big one. This was going to be fun in about eight months.

“Do you mind if I go with you to everything I can?”

I couldn’t phantom how a man this sweet was alone. It amazed me. He kinda amazed me.

“I don’t mind. But don’t be mad if I tell you to meet me there rather than you picking me up. I’m so not taking on the wrath of my dad yet!”

“You think I want to. I was going to say don’t get all pissy if I tell you that.”

We shared a laugh before I let out a deep exhale. This was comfortable and oddly right.

“I don’t want you to get in trouble, either Shawn, if something happens and you have a game, or appearances. I get the job. I know what it’s like.”

He looked at me, his head tilted slightly, and I had to lift a brow. There were all kinds of explanations in that look, but I didn’t know him well enough to figure out what they all meant.

“What?” I asked.

“I’m going to let that line pass because you don’t know me, Shorty, not like you should. But I’m going to let you in on a secret. I love playing ball, I’m good at it, but it’s a job, nothing more. And when something big happens in my life that I want, nothing comes before that.

“This baby will be front and center, because it’s already very important to me. I can get fined, benched, or kicked off the team, but if my baby needs me, I will be there. Understand?”

I nodded.

Honestly, what more could I say to that? This man hadn’t even known for half an hour about the baby and instead of running for the hills, he sat here and told me it was already an important piece of his life.

Who the fuck thought that way?

“Good. Now, with that out of the way, I need to rectify something?”

“That is?”

“This whole thing of not knowing me, Marketa. I’m not happy with that. It needs to change.”

“Okay, Mr. Demanding, what did you have in mind?”

I couldn’t help the smile that went along with the tease because this man was beyond cute. Sure, demanding he was, but still cute, and sexy, and good looking. Did I mention any part of that before?

“A date.”

“Excuse me?”

“Shorty, let me take you on a date, so we can start this road properly.”

“What road?”

“The road of us being a couple.”

His smirk spoke volumes, all of which I understood.

Well, shit.

---