point it’s all going to come spilling over.
19
Cole
I’m dripping in sweat by the time I step into the locker room after practice. Coach is drilling us hard for the upcoming season. Our first game is the beginning week of December, right after Thanksgiving break.
“Anderson!” Coach pokes his head into the locker room as I’m peeling my practice jersey off my body.
“Yeah?”
“Come see me after your shower.”
“Ooh!” Some of the guys call out like I’m in trouble. I roll my eyes at their antics and grab my towel.
After I’m clean and changed I head down the hall to Coach’s office. I knock on the door before I enter.
“Take a seat, Cole.”
I slide the chair out and sit down. It’s small for my large body but I make it work.
“What’s up, Coach?”
“I heard from Jason and he’s coming into town the week after our first home game. Are you still up for meeting with him?”
I sit forward, eyes wide. Hands on the knees of my jeans. “Absolutely.”
“Excellent,” he threads his fingers together on top of his desk, “I’ll let him know you’re still agreeable and give him your number if that’s okay?”
“Yeah, yes, of course.”
“Remember, this is just a casual lunch to get to know you. It doesn’t mean anything.”
Sitting back, I try to calm my nerves. “I know, sir.”
But neither of us can deny what a great opportunity it is, even if it leads to nothing.
“I’ll pass your information along and he’ll be in touch.”
“Thank you.” I stand, shaking his hand when he offers it to me.
His face brightens, a smile I know isn’t meant for me thrown over my shoulder to whoever has approached the door. “Zoey.”
Zoey? My blood runs cold. Surely, he doesn’t mean my Zoey. There has to be plenty of Zoeys on campus, and yet as I make a slow turn to the door I know, I just fucking know it’s going to be her.
She freezes in the doorway, her eyes darting from me to Coach.
“Hey, Dad.”
Dad? Her fucking dad?
I look over my shoulder at Coach Reynolds and back to her, horror spreading through my veins.
Zoey. Zoey Reynolds. My roommate. My friend. The girl I’m falling for.
She’s my coach’s daughter.
The world has never been so cruel to me. Am I cursed? Am I this unlucky when it comes to the girls I like? What the hell is happening?
I keep standing there, even though I should leave. Coach and I are done, there’s no reason for me to still be here, except my feet won’t move.
Zoey’s eyes don’t leave mine. It’s like her father, my coach, isn’t even in the room.
She’s known. She knows I play basketball, and she never said a word.
“We’re done here, Anderson,” Coach reminds me, trying to nudge me out of the room. “I’ll see you on Monday.”
“See you then, Coach,” I manage to grind out, pushing past Zoey, careful not to touch her.
I trudge back to the now empty locker room and slam my hands against the metal. I do it again, just because, letting out a groan of frustration.
My feelings and situation with Zoey were complicated enough.
Both of us have been avoiding the feelings, fears from our pasts holding us back, but now on top of that she’s my coach’s daughter, the embodiment of forbidden fruit. I didn’t even know Coach Reynolds had a kid our age.
Collapsing on the bench, I bury my face in my hands.
I’m royally fucked.
Grabbing my bag, I sling it over my shoulder and go to leave the locker room.
I fully plan on just leaving the building, letting my anger cool down before I see her next, but when I swing the door open, she’s walking by and instinct takes over. I clasp her wrist and she lets out a tiny cry of surprise as I pull her into the locker room, pinning her against the wall.
“Cole,” she squeaks out.
“You knew,” I accuse. “You knew your dad was my coach and you didn’t say a word.” Her eyes drop to the floor. I place a gentle finger on her chin, raising her face back up, refusing to let her not face this. “Why?”
Her teeth grind. “Because we’re complicated enough, Cole. I like you. You like me. But we’re both protecting our hearts. You knowing about my dad … that only gives you more arsenal to stay away from me.”
“As if you’re not carrying enough of your own,” I bite back.
She wets her lips. “Things are difficult with my dad. Everything I’ve told you is true. And a part