world is black and white, and no leniency is given unless there’s big money greasing the palms of the powers that be. They’d eat Violet alive.
I would rather Violet be with me because she wants to be, not because I’m forcing her every fucking step of the way. It’s a damn blow to a man’s ego. Though, the way I have it figured, mine could stand to be brought down a notch or two.
“It’s a welcome home party for my brother, Vi. Normally, I’d skip Dad’s shit and ignore it. He also wouldn’t give a fuck, because he mostly just tolerates me.”
“Mike—”
“But if there’s one thing my dad and I can agree on, it’s Parker. Parker’s a good guy, so fucking good I’m not sure how he and I are brothers. I sure as hell don’t know how we have the same father. Parker’s having a hard time right now. Last week he was on top of the world. This week that same world has been turned upside down,” I mumble, my hand tightening on the steering wheel in irritation.
“I don’t understand,” she responds, her voice quiet, and I know she’s still pissed. But it’s the first sign I’ve had that she might be softening toward me since I showed up on her doorstep this morning. It’s been four days since I picked her up at her place, pinned her against the wall and kissed the fuck out of her. I’ve kissed her every day since, even this morning. But after she found out why I was there, all thoughts of kissing me flew out the window.
At least where she’s concerned.
I still want to kiss her. Hell, I think I want to kiss her more when she’s pissed at me than I do when she’s not. Maybe I am the twisted fuck my father always accuses me of being.
“Mike?” she asks when I don’t answer right away, and I pull my thoughts back to the conversation at hand.
“Parker got the call to move up to the major leagues this past spring. He’s made a huge impact on the game, and has even turned into the league’s poster boy. You’ve probably seen his face and name everywhere.”
“Uh…not really.”
“Seriously?” I ask, wondering how that’s possible. Shit, it’s all I hear, and it makes me sound like an asshole, but at times I hate the fact that Parker is my brother. I may love him, but living in his shadow is fucking impossible, especially with our father.
“I’m not much into sports, Mike. I’ve been too busy wondering where dinner was coming from or staying alive in general,” she mutters, and shit, I’m reminded again of how different we are, and that’s the last thing I want.
“Parker was on tap for setting rookie records, Vi. Then he was in a car wreck and he’s injured. He’s also feeling like shit about it all.”
“Why? I mean, it’s not like he can help having been in an accident. Unless he was drinking or something?”
“Parker doesn’t drink. He’s squeaky clean, always. Baseball is his life. He wouldn’t do anything to endanger that. I’ve only seen one thing that even comes close to being more important to him than baseball.”
“That’s kind of sad. I mean, it’s just a game.”
Her response makes me smile. Violet and I are more alike than she might ever know.
“Not to some people,” I reply, and I don’t even try to hide the cynicism from my voice.
“I guess,” she replies, and something in her tone makes me turn to look at her. She’s studying me and I think she can see more than I intended for her to. I forget how sharp Violet is. I quickly look back to the road, feeling uncomfortable. “You said I was going to a family party. Your brother being hurt and having his career derailed doesn’t sound like a reason for a party, Mike.”
“You would think that, wouldn’t you? Hell, most people would. Except for my father. He’s going to have a party to celebrate the Huntington name and assure people that Parker will be fine and back on the field in no time.”
“And will he?”
My hand automatically clenches around the steering wheel, as fear claws at my gut.
“I don’t know, Angel. I really don’t know,” I finally answer, and I hate responding like that. There’s not much in this world I’m afraid of. That’s an easy sentiment when you don’t like yourself much, but I’m afraid of Parker losing his dream. I wasn’t lying when I told