Anything but Minor - Kate Stewart Page 0,65
said without apology.
“Well,” she said with a fake pout as she eyed Waters over my shoulder. “If you change your mind, you know how to find me.”
“Of course I do,” I said as I looked over to Waters, who was already eye fucking her. “Double the latex,” I muttered under my breath. I was just about to call Alice when I saw Andy and Kristina arguing in the hall behind the bar. Kristina was crying as Andy shook his head and gripped her shoulders. I stood and made my way toward them when I heard his voice.
“Son.”
Oh, fuck no.
I turned to look at my father, who seemed to have aged far more than the years since I’d seen him.
“Who let you in?”
“Doesn’t matter. I called, you refused to answer, so I came.”
He was dressed in a Swampgators t-shirt, and I could only assume he’d attended the game. His next words confirmed it.
“You’re a star. I mean, I always knew you would be, but your pitching now...I’m proud of you.”
I barked out an incredulous laugh. “You could’ve saved your breath for that.”
“Give me a fucking chance to talk,” he said roughly, a tone I’d become used to over the years. It had zero effect on me as I studied him. It dawned on me then.
“You were an asshole father.”
“I deserve that,” he said as he looked over at the team. “This is your year.”
“So everyone says.”
“Mark my words.”
“Your words are meaningless. I don’t want you here.”
“I don’t want to be here,” he said as he looked at me with dead eyes. “I won’t beg you anymore to forgive me for something I thought was right for the family. When you have your own one day, you’ll understand.”
“There’s the door, asshole,” I said through gritted teeth.
“I see it. I’m getting remarried. My fiancée wanted me to try to make amends. Her son is a huge fan of yours and wants to meet you.”
“Does Mom know?” Fear crept through me as I thought of the state of my mother if she found out the news.
“Not yet.”
“Don’t tell her. I’m asking you to make this private. Don’t do this to her.”
“I’m not doing anything to her. I’m moving on with my life. She made her decision.”
“Unfuckinbelievable,” I hissed as we stood facing each other.
Andy was by my side seconds later as he addressed my father. “Martin, I think you should leave.”
“I’m talking to my son.”
“All due respect, sir, this is my fucking bar.”
“I’ve got this, Andy,” I said as I looked over to him. “I’ve got it, man.” Andy gave me a simple nod and gave us our space.
“Let’s end this here,” I said casually. “I don’t want a damn thing to do with you or your new family. I hope for that kid’s sake you learned from your mistakes, but I won’t be around to find out. I want nothing to do with you. I’ve made that clear. The next time I see you, it better be in accidental passing.”
“You can throw us away like that?” There was only a hint of hurt in his voice.
“No, you can and you did. We’re done. There’s no going back. My mind won’t change.”
“Then that’s that,” my father said gruffly as he looked at me again. “Goodbye, son.”
“You sold your son for one hundred thousand dollars,” I reminded.
“If it makes any difference, it wasn’t worth it.” It was the rawest and sincerest apology I would get.
“It doesn’t.”
I motioned toward the door, thinking of my mother’s face the minute she found out about his new wife. It was the only thought that gutted me as I watched him disappear. I turned back to the bar to see business as usual. Melo-dee was in Waters’ lap in a slow grind. Kristina, now free of tears, was passing out beers like the thirst quenching dealer she was, and Andy was the only one that looked on at me. I stuck my hand up to my forehead and saluted him in goodbye.
The only person in the world I wanted to see was somewhere in Ohio, and I’d done a bang up fucking job of making her believe I wasn’t waiting on her when the truth was, I wouldn’t be able to breathe right until she was back in my sight.
I pulled my suitcase behind me like the deadweight it was. I’d taken the first flight out and decided not to hide from my life, or the fact that I may very soon be alone again. Fatigue crept through every muscle