Free Rebound (Pro-U Book 3) by Ali Parker Page A

love me," I spat at her and took a step backward. "I don't need your help. I don't need shit from you."
    "You're right. You don't need anything but a trip to the doctor. You're not keeping it. That's final. I fucking refuse to watch your life dwindle away like mine did. It's not happening. You're the only legacy I have." She poked me in the chest and I swatted her hand away.
    "You don't own me. This is my body and I'll do what I want with it."
    "Like you already have. You're only sixteen. How dare you sleep around!" She threw her hands in the air and walked toward the kitchen. "I'm calling the clinic. You're not keeping that thing."
    "It's not a thing," I screamed after her. "It's a baby."
 
     
    The sob that racked my insides rolled off my tongue and into my hands as I let my pain consume me. I hated her for so many reasons, but that day stood out amongst the rest as the main one. I would never forgive her for turning her back on me. Never.
    "Hey kiddo. What's going on?" Coach Murphy's voice pulled me from my devastation.
    I sniffled and wiped at my eyes quickly. "Nothing. Just having a rough day."
    She sat down beside me and wrapped her arm around my shoulders. "Well, you know I'm here, right? I'll always be here for you."
    "Thanks." I lifted my chin toward the ceiling and tried to force my tears back. "I'm so damn angry right now."
    "Wanna talk about it?" She squeezed me and got up, picking up the ball beside her and tossing it to me. "Come on. Show this old lady what you still got inside of you. We'll work some of that emotion out."
    "I don't really want to dredge up the stuff inside me, coach. I appreciate the offer, but my life has been-" I took a shaky breath and dribbled past her as she moved around me and stole the ball.
    "For every point I get, you let something out, all right? You get a point, and you can hold it all in." She chucked the ball back at me.
    I nodded. "All right."
    My worst fear was sharing anything from my past and having someone look upon me the way my mother had that day, or every day after. I'd never give up a single word that might give someone the ability to judge me. Never.
    I scored ten points and almost killed myself doing it. Coach didn't score once, though I could tell she was putting her all into it.
    She pressed her hands to her knees and glanced up at me as she panted loudly. "You're the strongest player I know. I'm proud you’re mine."
    "Thanks," I mumbled and dribbled down to the end of the court, doing a quick layup and praying that she would be gone when I turned around. I didn't have much left inside me and I was moving toward cracking.
    "Natasha."
    I turned to face her and tucked the ball under my arm. "Yeah, coach?"
    "This stuff inside of you," she ran her hand between her breasts down to her stomach and back up, "it will eventually kill you if you don't get it out. It's toxic. It's like drinking poison and hoping someone else will die. You're only hurting yourself by locking it up and pushing everyone away."
    I nodded and pressed my teeth into my lip, trying to hold it together.
    "All right, kiddo. I'm here. Right down the hall." She turned and walked out as another hot wave of tears rolled down my cheeks.
    I ran drills until my legs wouldn't work anymore. The message on my phone was from my father's number. He either knew and wanted to check on me, or had received a call from my mother after our shitty reunion the night before.
    After taking a few deep breaths, I picked up the phone and called him back. Better to get the conversation over with, and the truth be told, his calm demeanor helped me find myself again. I should have chosen to go live with him instead of my mother when I was old enough, but fucking Adam DeLance. The boy that promised to love me forever. I hated him almost as much as my mother.
    "Tasha. Hey baby girl. How are you? Gearing up for a killer season?" My father's voice was filled with too much excitement and warmth for the conversation I expected.
    "Yeah.