Page 9

Oliver

When I lock eyes with Coach White, Jenna stiffens beside me. She tries to drop my hand, but I don’t let her. Instead, I tighten my grip on her and pull her against my side. Then, I drape an arm around her shoulder, holding her close to me and making it clear to her father that I’m not backing down.

The three of us are quiet. It’s almost suffocating, but I won’t back down. I’ve made my decision, and so has Jenna. Foolishly, I assumed we’d both have a little more time before we faced the consequences of our actions.

There’s no use in dwelling on that, though. The reality of our situation is that we have to face Jenna’s father now. So, I know I have to make good on what I told her just a few minutes ago.

“So,” I say, narrowing my eyes at my coach. “I take it I’m off the team, then.”

There’s a long stretch of silence between us. I can hear my teammates beginning to arrive for practice in the distance, unaware of the standoff that’s happening not too far away from them. They’ll figure everything out soon enough, though.

As Coach White’s silence lingers, I begin bracing myself for the worst. I wonder if he’s going to scream or if he’s going to use that eerily calm, calculating tone that he uses in huddles during the last half when we’re using our final timeout. And, though I’m fairly certain he’s not a man prone to violence, I wouldn’t be surprised if he throws a punch.

Finally, he opens his mouth to speak, but Jenna cuts him off, finding her voice.

“If you really kick Oliver off the team over this, I’ll never speak to you again,” she says, and when I look down at my little firecracker, her jaw is set and there’s fire in her eyes. “I think, maybe one day, I could forgive you for taking away your financial support. It might be years down the line, but I could get over it because I love you.”

She swallows hard, leaning against me. Her father seems just as surprised as I am that she’s the one talking and telling him off. It seems that neither of us are able to say anything during her brief pause.

“You can’t mess with Oliver’s career over this,” she says after she’s fortified herself. “The only thing he’s done is made me feel loved and cared for. He makes me happy. If you fire him for that… Well, Dad. That’s unforgivable. I’ll never speak to you again.”

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 to trade 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’s the 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’s wearing, 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.