Slam Dunk: A Second Chance Sports Romance

by Sinclaire, Roxy

  “Thank you for the opportunity, sir. You won’t be disappointed,” I said quickly. I just wanted it to be over.

  I stood up and extended my hand for him to shake. As he rose and took it, he rubbed my thumb suggestively and I quickly pulled away. He was the creepiest man I knew, and that was saying something, considering I’d acquired my very own stalker of sorts. Dealing with Michael was a necessary evil. I didn’t enjoy it.

  “I’m sure we can work something out. Have you started to produce milk yet?”

  Instantly, my stomach did a flip and I was reminded of my morning sickness days. “Excuse me?” I said, “I don’t know that I’m comfortable sharing that with you.”

  “Well, you should think about just how much you are willing to share to keep your vlog.”

  “Are you—” Before I could finish, the door opened and Elisa sauntered in.

  She glared at me and walked around the desk to where Michael was sitting. Her red, catlike nails dragged along the back of his leather chair. She looked me over and smiled. Even her grin was evil and menacing.

  “Are you ready to go?” she asked him.

  Michael smiled at me. “I’m sure you remember Elisa. We were just leaving to discuss some business. I’m sure you have other things to worry about.”

  “Could I have a word with you in private?” I hissed at him.

  He nodded to Elisa, and she left the room again, making sure to send looks that could kill in my direction. Mustering up the last of my courage, I leveled my gaze at Michael.

  “You do know that my pregnancy is confidential, correct?” I told him. “Sharing that information with anyone before I make it public would be a breach of the contract we just signed. So, I suggest that this information not be leaked because I will make sure that it leads back to you.”

  “Who’s the man you’re trying to keep this from, huh? One of the players finally get to you?” he asked sadistically. “I bet it was that one brunette who came on the show when you first started. You looked like you wanted to eat him up.”

  I rolled my eyes and went for the door. I didn’t care who he was sleeping with or what he told them as long as it didn’t involve me or my unborn child. I wasn’t going to let my baby become another topic for them to discuss.

  “Just remember what I said,” I hissed as I opened the door.

  I didn’t bother to move when Elisa brushed past me. Instead, I drove my shoulder into hers and grinned when she looked stunned. I was done putting up with Michael and his bullshit. It was my turn to shine. It would be a cold day in hell before anyone took this away from me. I was now officially a reporter with ESPN. For the first time in my life, I felt like I was on top of the world.

  * * *

  Finding a doctor had been challenging with my work schedule, but I’d finally found one I just loved. It wasn’t because of the doctor, though Dr. Sampson was a great guy. It was his staff that sealed the deal. One woman, in particular, named Gloria and I hit it off instantly. We’d quickly bonded over being new to the city and our inherent shyness.

  “How did it go today?” she whispered as she ran the ultrasound paddle over my stomach. “Didn’t you have a big meeting with that pervert?”

  “Yeah, it went good, I think. I didn’t know it was possible for him to get even more creepy, yet somehow, he found a way.”

  “Are you surprised? From what you’ve said, he’s a real sleaze ball. So, I guess you got the job then?”

  “I guess. I might have made a deal with the devil, though. It feels like Michael will come around asking for favors and try to use this job as leverage.”

  “I have faith in you. You’ll be ready for him. Are you excited about tonight?”

  I laughed and the baby kicked. “Oh, yeah. Great way to spend my twenty-second birthday. Not really what I had planned.”

  Gloria smiled. “I promise you’re going to have an amazing time tonight. I make the best fettuccini, and Oliver is super excited to finally meet you.”

  “Oh, Oliver. I feel like I already know him so well,” I joked. “So, how’s the baby doing today?”

  She grinned. “You know, I’m not supposed to tell you.” Gloria paused for a second and leaned over to me. “Everything looks great. The baby is happy and healthy. Are you sure you don’t want to know what it is?”

  I shook my head vigorously. “Nope, no way. I want to dream about having a little girl for a while longer first.”

  “Well, what makes you so sure it’s a boy?”

  I shrugged. “I don’t know. It would be just my luck to have a little boy with his dad’s perfect smile, blond curls, and athletic skills. The entire town will know with one glance who his father is, and before you know it, I’ll be on the front pages and not for really important news.”

  “You mean like what the hunky football player your husband roots for likes on his salad?”

  “Hey,” I said with a laugh. “My job pays the bills, and right now, that’s good enough. Plus, those guys are so unobservant that not one of them has figured out yet that I’m pregnant.”

  Gloria rolled her eyes and laughed. “Wow. It’s no wonder you don’t want the father in the picture.” She grew serious. “Have you talked to him any more since that night?”

  “No,” I said softly, my heart pounding. “He hasn’t tried to call anymore, either. I don’t know what to do.”

  “Still not going to tell him then, I take it?”

  I shook my head. Gloria and I had become fast friends. After a few movie nights between her house and mine, I finally told her who the father was. It was really great to have a friend here to share things with. She’d more than stepped up to the plate, showing me where to find a good daycare and everything else I would need in the future. I owed it to her to tell her the truth.

  “I just can’t. I don’t want that life for my child. I want him or her to have as normal a life as possible.”

  “I don’t think that you’re ever going to get that here, though, Brittany. Not if you think the baby will look like him. He stands out in a crowd, you know? With what you do . . .” She took a deep breath and sighed. “It’s just a matter of time before someone connects the dots.”

  “I know. I just have to hope that I’m ready for whatever comes after that,” I said softly. “But there’s nothing I can do about that right now. Instead, I’m going to think about having an awesome dinner with my friend and her new boyfriend.”

  “He’s not that new,” she said with a pout.

  “Two months is still new, but what the hell? I’ve got nothing else to do on my birthday, and you really are a great cook.”

  “So,” she said carefully, “Oliver has a friend he was thinking about inviting over tonight. He says he thinks you two will hit it off.”

  I busted into laughter. “I’m seven months pregnant! Dating isn’t really high on my list of things to do.”

  “Well, his friend knows that! Some guys can look past that to the personality,” she muttered.

  I shook my head as she helped me back onto my feet. “I don’t think so. Tell him thanks for the offer, but tonight, I just want to hang out with you guys. I’m not ready to date. Right now, I just want to think about the baby.”

  “I will tell him to get rid of the guy but keep his number around,” she said confidently.

  “Nope,” I said quickly. “Burn the number and let it go. No men for me, thanks, except the little guy growing in here. Him, I will love.”

  “All right,” she said. “See you tonight!”

  I waved to her as I walked slowly through the hallway. Mothers and babies were scattered throughout the ornately decorated waiting room. I couldn’t help but smile at the baby boy sitting by the door as he gazed up at me. That was my future, to have a little boy who would be loved by me forever. A girl screamed in the corner and I laughed. Now that would be my girl. A firecracker. I felt a little pang of guilt. I would love a little girl. The baby kicked, and I rubbed my belly. It didn’t matter what the baby was. It wa
s mine.

  10

  Corey

  I paced back and forth in the small room, my adrenaline pumping rapidly. I hated it there. I felt like I was losing my mind when I knew that I was sane. The door opened and an older man with a grey suit came in and sat behind the desk.

  “Hello, Corey,” he started. “How are you doing today?”

  I shrugged. “About the same as every other time I come here. I’m fine, and these sessions are pointless.”

  The doctor looked up at me from his glasses. “You’re here of your own free will. You can leave at any time, son.”

  “Yeah,” I muttered. “Easy for you to say. Your dad didn’t threaten to cut off your housing stipend if you didn’t show up.”

  “Would you like to talk about the issues you’ve been having with your father recently?” he asked in the monotone he used for our sessions.

  The mention of my father set my nerves on edge. My game had slowly been declining again, and this time, he wasn’t going to go away. He’d made it very clear one Tuesday when he showed up uninvited at my apartment. The situation had sucked from start to finish. My date for the night stormed out just as he was about to knock. The stunned look on his face still haunted my dreams as she made her loud exit.

  “I can’t believe they called you a star in bed,” she yelled as she stumbled past him. “Your bedroom game sucks as much as your basketball game does.”

  I didn’t have anything to say to her. I just stared at my father and stepped aside for him to come in. “I wasn’t expecting company.”

  “I can see that. Don’t tell me you’re losing that game too,” he muttered. “This isn’t what I came here to talk about, though.”

  “Listen,” I said. “I was going to come out and see you tomorrow. I don’t really want to do this tonight.”

  “Well, you’re going to get your head back in the game,” he said quickly.

  “I’m working on it, Dad. I hope that isn’t the whole reason you came down here.”

  “It’s not. I decided that something has to change. Starting tomorrow, you’re going to see a sports counselor.”

  “No.” I laughed. “I’m not.”

  “Yes,” he said firmly. “You are. Because if you don’t, you aren’t going to have an apartment. Instead, you’re going to move back home and live with me where I can keep an eye on you.”

  “Are you kidding me right now?”

  “No.”

  * * *

  “Do you want to tell me what you’re thinking about right now?” the doctor asked.

  “What is it going to take to get me out of here and get my father off my back?”

  He sighed. “Your father just wants to know that you’re doing okay. Something isn’t the same as it was when you first joined the team. He mentioned that there was a woman a few months ago?”

  “It’s been nine months,” I whispered.

  “And you still have feelings for her? Have you tried talking with her to resolve the issues and move on from the relationship?”

  “She won’t talk to me. I got drunk and made an idiot out of myself. I thought that my game was getting better and that I was getting over her, but it doesn’t seem to be happening.”

  “Well, maybe it’s time that you go and try to talk with her again.”

  “I don’t know. I don’t think that’s a good idea. Can’t you just put me on something to make the pain stop? Then I’ll be back on my game.”

  “I don’t like to ice over the problem like that. An anti-depressant is like a Band-Aid. It will cover the wound, but eventually, you’ll have to take it off and deal with the real problem.”

  “Have you seen any of my games? Do you know how many points I’ve averaged this year? Because it’s a really depressing sight to see. I have my biggest rival breathing down my neck and making my life hell. I have my father pointing out my every shortcoming, and the woman I’m in love with won’t even return my calls. What the hell do you people want from me?”

  “I think that opening up like this is a very good start. If you really want anti-depressants, I’ll give them to you, but I don’t think they’re the answer. You should go and talk to her one last time. Maybe time has changed how she feels.”

  Even thinking about Brittany made my heart ache. The brief relationship we had wasn’t supposed to consume everything, but it had. I still watched her show each time a new one came on and monitored for the strange man in the comments, but I’d left her alone beyond that. I didn’t call or text her and the flowers had stopped. What made me think that cutting her out would do any good, though?

  “I love her,” I told him.

  “Do you love her, or are you infatuated with her? It’s not often that a star of your caliber is turned down, especially for a committed relationship. I understand this can be confusing sometimes. That’s why your father brought me in.”

  I shook my head. “No. I’ve been unsure about things in the past and thought that I was in love, but this is different. I know in my heart that we are meant to be together. I think it’s too late, though, and I’ve ruined everything.”

  “I don’t believe that, Corey,” he said confidently. “I think that you need to focus on the game, though. If you won’t go and see her, then you need to let her go. The decision is yours, but it needs to be made soon.”

  “I know,” I whispered. “I know.”

  “Why don’t you give her a call right now?” he asked me, to my surprise.

  The blood drained from my face, my stomach started to do flips, and my heart pounded. I couldn’t call Brittany, not after all these months of silence. “I don’t think that’s a very good idea. I don’t know what I would say.”

  “Why not ask her to coffee?” he offered. “The situation would give me a better idea of how you’re feeling about her. I could report positively back to your father as well.”

  “I thought you had to agree to patient privacy or something like that.”

  “You gave me permission at the start of our sessions to report back to your father. I understand it’s part of the deal you made with him.” He fell silent before clearing his throat. “I think that you’re stalling. Go ahead and make the call, Corey.”

  I nodded and looked down at my phone. If I wanted to keep my apartment and my place on the team, then I needed to play along with what my father wanted. If that meant this cracked doctor could listen to me get hung up on or ignored by Brittany, then so be it. I pressed on her name and my screen lit up as I turned it on speaker. After two rings, it went to her voicemail. My heart raced. It was different from the one I’d heard two months ago.

  This is Brittany. I’ll be out of the office until January tenth. If you have any work-related questions, please forward them to— I quickly ended the call.

  She was gone for weeks, it would seem. My mind was racing with the possibilities. If they sent her on an assignment, they wouldn’t make her stop taking calls. Maybe it was some kind of sabbatical.

  “Is everything okay, Corey?” the doctor asked.

  “Yeah,” I muttered. “I just wasn’t expecting that.”

  “Do you think that you would be ready to go and talk with her? Put the past behind you and move on with your life and the team?”

  “Yeah,” I said suddenly. “I think I’ll go see her. Is there anything else that we need to talk about today?”

  He grinned and shook his head. “We’re making some really great progress. Let me know tomorrow how it goes with her.”

  “Sure,” I told him.

  I left the building and headed right for my car instead of waiting on my father to talk with him. Something inside of me had snapped. I wasn’t going to let him boss me around anymore. Sure, he paid for the apartment I lived in, but that was nothing. I could get a job and find my own place. It was becoming frighteningly obvious that my father cared more for my game than he did me. Brittany was gone. That’s what was really bothering me. Wherever she was, I wasn’t there with her. It scared me because I didn
’t know if she was ever coming back.

  My destination was obvious as I drove directly to her apartment. When my phone rang and my father’s picture popped up, I silenced my phone right away. I practically ran up the steps to her apartment and pounded on the door. When the door jerked open and a short man in glasses answered, I took a step back.

  “Who are you?” he growled.

  “I’m sorry. I was looking for a woman who used to live here, Brit—” I started.

  “Don’t bother. She’s gone and she won’t be back.”

  “What do you mean?”

  The little man shrugged. “All I know is she wanted out of this place fast, so she cut me one heck of a deal on taking over the rent.”

  “Did she say why she was moving?” I asked quietly.

  “No idea,” he muttered.

  An elderly female voice from somewhere behind the door chimed in. “Frank, I hope you aren’t over there giving out that poor girl’s information! You know the situation and what it could do!”

  “What is she talking about? Listen, I’m an old friend of hers. I’m just trying to make sure that she’s okay.”

  “Oh, no,” the woman said, finally coming into view. She was portly and dawned a flora nightdress. “Sorry, sugar, but she told us not to give out her information to anyone. Can you believe some man came here stalking her?”

  My cheeks flushed. “What?”

  The woman nodded. “Poor thing was scared senseless. An ex-boyfriend or something of hers wouldn’t leave her alone. She was so scared she packed up and left. Heck, we don’t even know where she went.”

  “No,” grumbled the old man. “I don’t think that’s right.”

  “I’m telling you,” the woman whispered as she looked at me sideways, “It’s none of this boy’s business where she went. How do we know this isn’t him?”

  “I thought she said it was a—”

  She quickly snapped her fingers together and cleared her throat. She didn’t want me knowing anything. “Shh! You keep your mouth shut, you hear me?”