Page 18 of Forbidden Dunk

I knew he said that, and I did believe him. He loved the game, but it wasn’t his passion, it wasn’t his end goal. He could retire and not blink an eye.

“I also know this is important to you, Shorty, so I’ll give you the time you want, because it’s you and I will get what I can. Butknow, I don’t like betraying Coach like this, and I don’t want to keep sneaking around for too long.”

Chapter 11

Shawn

“What is he having you do?”

I glanced up from the clipboard in my hand and smiled at Marketa.

“What makes you think he’s having us do anything?”

“Because I know my dad. So, what is it?”

“It’s some of the plays,” I told her, handing her the board. “I’m not sure, with the team we’re up against, this is the best course of action. I tried telling him earlier in the week that maybe we ought to try something else, but he was dead set that he knew what he was doing. That he was the coach for a reason.”

“I love that man, but when he’s set in his ways, he’ll never budge.” I watched her as she looked over the sheets, her head shaking as well. “I agree with your thoughts, Shawn.”

“Colter, get the fuck away from my daughter!” We both looked up and into the very red face of Coach Jones. “I told you to stay the hell away. Why didn’t you listen?”

“Dad,” Marketa started, ready to defend me, but he quickly shut her up with a glare.

“No Dad. Stay the hell away from him, Marketa. In fact, you can watch the game from my office because I’m not even sure I can trust you not to make eyes at each other.”

“Oh my god, Dad. It’s not what you think. Shawn was talking about the plays-”

“Don’t care,” he nearly yelled, cutting her off again. “Go.” She glared at him before tossing the board back at me and then stomped off. I couldn’t help but watch her, feeling a bit of pride for how she stood up to him. “You, Colter.”

“Yes, sir?”

“You can bench the game. I told you there would be consequences if you didn’t listen. I changed the roster, but now I’m changing it again.” With that, he stepped up to me, pushing his finger in my chest. “She’s fucking off limits to you, do you understand?”

“Coach, we weren’t doing anything, I swear. We were discussing your plays!”

“I know my daughter, and she’s not the coach, just like you aren’t! What I say goes. Same for the plays. Now, get your pants on and join the team, then sit your happy ass on the bench!”

With that, he stormed off to the court, leaving me with my mouth hung open.

If I was going to get punished, at least let me get punished for having my tongue down her throat, not for discussing basketball with her.

I shook my head, heading back to the locker room and getting my joggers back on. I knew the team had talent, but I led them. Who were they going to look to for answers? A coach who was having a pissing contest and didn’t like losing?

“Dude, let’s go. Why aren’t you dressed?” Hugh asked, coming up behind me as we left the locker room.

“Coach is benching me for the game because I was talking to his daughter. We were discussing his plays!”

“That seems rather big for just talking.”

“Yeah, well, that came on the heels of him finding me in his house.”

“Funny, Shawn, you forget to mention that part, huh?”

I shrugged. It was no use discussing any of that now. It was what it was, and I had no choice but to sit on the sidelines like he said.

I just really hoped he wasn’t the type to hold a grudge and when the team needed me, he’d put me in.

I groaned, for I don’t know how many times now, as I sat back and crossed my arms. This game was a complete and total shit show, and Coach just didn’t seem to really fucking care. As if proving the point that I was so bad to be helping him!

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