The Jock by J.L. Beck Page 0,75
consume me.
This is too fucking much. I almost lost Blair, and now my father is here again. The bad in my life just keeps piling up.
“Whose car is that?” Blair asks, perking up in the seat.
“My father’s,” I reply, trying to keep the coldness out of my voice.
“Why is he here?”
“I don’t know, but we’re going to find out.” It’s an honest answer. I’m not sure why he’s still here. He made his point the other night when he punched me in the face and should’ve been long gone by now.
Together we get out of the car, and it feels like we’re marching into battle together. I force myself to give Blair a smile as we walk up the steps and into the house. My father is standing in the kitchen, disgust on his features.
“Send your friends away,” is all he says.
“What do you want? Shouldn’t you be home by now?” I growl, tightening my grip on Blair’s hand. I’m afraid that if I let go of her, she’ll run away, and I’ll never find her.
My father’s cold gaze moves from me and then to Blair. Half stepping in front of her, I shield her body from his gaze. “Didn’t I tell you to get rid of her?”
“Didn’t I tell you I’m an adult and can make my own choices?”
“You really do need a lesson in manners and listening.” He shakes his head. “And this little shitshow with the girl and your friends. It only solidifies my choice more.”
“What choice?”
The smile he gives me is one he offers to his clients when he comes up with a slimy deal. As a lawyer, he’s good at fucking people over.
“I’m transferring you to Blackthorn next semester. You’ll play ball there this summer, where there are no distractions. Obviously, North Woods isn’t the school for you.”
My heart sinks into my stomach. He’s trying to take everything from me. My friends, the life I have here, and the most gut-wrenching of all, Blair.
“I’m staying here. North Woods is where I belong. Coach Willard will be pissed if I transfer.”
I’ll come up with any excuse to stay.
“Coach Willard doesn’t fund your house, truck, or the credit card in your wallet, so he doesn’t get a fucking say. I’ve set up a meeting with the football coach at Blackthorn. You’re going, or you can kiss everything you have goodbye.”
A lump forms in my throat. I think I’m going to barf. I can’t accept this. I can’t leave. But what else am I going to do? I’ll have nothing. I won’t be able to take care of Blair if I don’t have a job, an education, or even a place to stay.
There’s nothing I can do. If I say no, then everything is gone. I have no way of surviving, but if I go, I leave everything behind, including Blair.
It feels like I’m being torn in two because this isn’t a choice. There is no option for me.
“You will go, Cage. You will play on the Blackthorn team, and you will be good at it. Do not make a mockery out of me. I will make you wish you were never born if you do.”
My jaw clenches so hard, I swear my teeth crack. I don’t want to play football or be anywhere that Blair isn’t, but I’m fucking terrified.
If I go, at least there is hope, I can finish college, and then I don’t need my dad or anyone else. Then, I can take care of Blair.
We can still make it, we could do the long-distance thing, see each other every weekend. It wouldn’t have to be this way forever. Anger surges through me, and I clench my free hand into a fist.
“Fine. It’s not like I have another option anyway.”
“That’s right, you don’t.” His flat voice makes me want to punch him the face, but violence isn’t any good in this situation. My father doesn’t care what happens to him as long as he gets what he wants. Looking over my shoulder, I peer down at Blair’s grief-stricken face. She looks how I feel, like someone ripped my still-beating heart out of my chest and tossed it on the ground.
“Can you please leave?” I growl, trying to keep my voice steady so I don’t start another argument. All I want is for him to leave and for me to try and figure out how I can get out of this situation without losing Blair.
“I suppose. From here on out, I want only your rent-paying roommate