Page 20 of Shot Taker

It felt good to solve a problem that would’ve taken longer and been harder for her without me.

I know she wants to be independent, but it was a favor.

I'm tall.

Plus, I liked the excuse to spend time with her, to watch her work.

I sent her a text before tip-off to ask how the wall was received by Parker—because it was the right thing to do, not because I can’t stand to go back to us not speaking.

“Less showboating, more defense in the second half,” Coach demands of everyone before putting in a hand. “Kodiaks on three.”

On the way back out, I notice Coach rubbing his chest.

“You good?” I ask.

He drops the hand. “I’ll be fine if you all go out there and do your job.”

We’re back out there, changing ends and paying more attention to their end of the court. Atlas gets a block, and Miles grabs the rebound, hurling the ball toward a sprinting Rookie at the other end.

The crowd erupts.

“Hell yeah.” I clap Rookie on the back as we trot toward the other end.

From then on, we’re looking to score.

There’s a moment when they make a push in the fourth.

But when the final whistle blows, we win by eight.

Back in the locker room, we expect to see Coach happy with the win.

Instead, he’s seething.

“Should’ve been more. And you"—Coach turns to Rookie—"you can’t guard, you won’t get anywhere in this league.”

I step between them. “He scored twenty-five tonight. Back off.”

The room goes silent.

“For that, you’ll both sit next game,” Coach growls.

Rookie and the guys trail out, most of them heading for the gym we always hit after home games.

I’m still staring. “Coach, come on. Don’t bench me. It’s bad for the team.”

“You’re right. I’ll bench him.”

My mouth falls open.

“You’re a team. You didn’t listen as a team, so the team gets the consequences. This shit might fly with Utah, but it won’t work against LA in four months.”

I stomp toward the gym after my teammates.

“What happened?” Rookie asks.

“You’re benched,” I say.

“What?!”

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