“He’s right,” Hailey sighed. “That guy’s guarding me and wrecking your game!”
“Fine,” Grant nodded. “Switch…”
Hailey glanced at her dad, and Jack shrugged. “Fine,” he agreed finally.
Hailey gave her father a quick pat on the shoulder and practically shooed him back to his seat on the sidelines. “Don’t worry, Coach…we’re gonna win this game!” When she was sure her dad’s back was turned, Hailey lifted herself onto the balls of her feet and kissed Grant’s lips. “Take that jerk to school, and I’ll plant one of those on you that will make his head spin.”
Grant stood frozen, and Hailey nudged him with her hip. “I do like a challenge,” he conceded.
Hope Hull ran back onto the court, energized and with a point to prove. Grant and his counterpart sparred verbally back and forth, a battle that Grant seemed to be in command of for the moment. Hailey’s eyes were intense, her determination to keep her new man from scoring evident with every movement.
“You look good sweaty, Baby!” number fifteen winked at Hailey as Grant dribbled the ball down the court. “Just sayin’…”
Hailey rolled her eyes.
“Let’s go, Grant,” she called. “Let’s take this game home!”
Grant took the ball to the basket, brushing shoulders with his defender.
“I’ll take you home,” number fifteen puckered his lips.
“You are disgusting!” Hailey groaned.
“You don’t know what you’re missing, Baby,” he popped Hailey’s bottom again. “Not only can I palm a NBA basketball, I wear a 13 ½ size shoe!”
“What?” Hailey sighed, confused.
“Geez,” Grant rolled his eyes as he glanced at the game clock.
“Why would I care what size shoe he wears?” Hailey wrinkled her nose as they ran the length of the court.
“Don’t worry about it,” Grant shook his head.
“We need a chick on our team,” number fifteen continued running his mouth. “I bet you guys’ victory celebrations are epic!”
“Come-on, Dude, lay off,” Paul shouted.
“Yeah, leave her alone,” Billy Wayne chimed in.
“I’m all for seeing more chicks on the court,” number fifteen laughed, as he popped Hailey on the bottom and let his hand linger. “Especially one as feisty as you! You’re wild in the sack, aren’t you?”
“You wanna see more of her? Is that what you want?” Grant nodded. “Do you see two of her yet?”
The Moore City player seemed baffled.
“How about now?” Grant shrugged, and his fist landed hard between number fifteen’s eyes, laying him out on the court.
The crowd went wild! Rusty Cobb was jumping up and down, pumping both fists in the air as Donny Ray Harper clomped up and down the bleachers in celebration. Dale Munk put his arms around his boys on either side of him, as if telling Jimmy Ray and Ricky Lee that if fightin’ was the only answer, he expected it to be done just like that.
Nora kept an eye on a host of Moore City parents who were restraining an overweight man wearing a Dale Earnhardt hat and a black t-shirt that proudly proclaimed in gold letters: Father of #15.
Jack took a deep breath, sure his best player had just been suspended for the next game, if not the remainder of the season.
“Oh my gosh, what a punch…” Paul gasped.
“Heck yeah, Son,” Billy Wayne laughed. “I reckon you’re glad it wuttin aimed at you this time.”
Joe John looked around wildly, half-expecting a brawl to ensue but finding it hard to spot anyone on Moore City’s team who looked eager to rush to their teammate’s defense.
“What did you do that for?” Hailey exclaimed, shoving Grant.
Grant picked up the basketball and slammed it hard against the wall, figuring he was done for the night, his display of frustration silencing most of the crowd as they waited to see what would happen next. “Because I love you!” he screamed.
Hailey didn’t know what to do but laugh!
“What did he just say?” Emily gasped.
Nora’s face went white, her hands moving to her chest.
“Oh my goodness!” Jessica jumped up and down, shaking Emily with fierce excitement. “Basketball games were never this great before your brother came to town!”
The referees separated both teams, sending them to opposite ends of the court, just incase any one else still had a score to settle.
Hailey grinned at Grant. “Do you have to scream that at me every time you say it?” she laughed. “I mean the first time was sorta romantic, but this is just getting ridiculous, Grant!” She moved easily into his arm. “But, I love you too,” she whispered.
The opposing coach was going crazy, demanding action.
One referee helped number fifteen to his feet, and, for a moment, he seemed unsteady. The referee offered him a towel to catch the blood that flowed from his nose. Hailey strolled past on her way to the sideline. “You look good bloody,” she winked. “Just sayin’…”
