Page 45 of Craved By Lust

I make sure to clean my piercings that I changed out for smaller, more malleable replacements so they don’t affect my athletic capabilities and sigh.I want to go home…no if I’m honest, I want to see Frank.I miss him…

Hell, I miss him so much that I thought I smelled his familiar scent of expensive cologne and cough drops when I woke up this morning. I have never had a friend like him, but there’s no telling if he’s even going to want to continue to be my friend after I get back, considering I’ve been ignoring his calls and texts.

I turn off the shower, dry off, and quickly change. I unzip the duffle he gave me, smiling as I take out the meal replacement shake and chug it down. I should text him when I get back to the hotel.Damn… why did I choose to leave my phone?

Whatever. I’m sure Frank will understand. He’s always there for me. We are like two peas in a pod. Oddballs for life type shit. This won’t be the thing that makes him stop talking to me.

After I put on my shoes, I leave the locker room and make my way outside, where I see my mom and dad waiting.

“Mom! Dad!” I limp over and give them a hug. Though they look anything but happy, I’m grateful they are pretending, even if only for a little bit.

“There’s my girl,” my dad chuckles, swinging me around, and my mom hugs me tight.

“I miss you guys,” I tell them, meaning every word.

“We missed you too,” my mom takes my hand and helps me over to the car like I’m handicapped or some shit, but I don’t say anything.Nothing I say will change the earful I’m about to get.In the backseat, I answer their questions as they drive us to a spot close to the hotel so we can have dinner.

Since we already had reservations, it takes no time to be seated, but it feels awkward because the criticism is coming. In three… two… one….

“So, how are you, Jess?” my dad asks and I repress a sigh.Yup, right on time.I shrug, bracing myself.

“I fine, Dad. Why?”

“Well,” he pauses and takes out his napkin, looking me over with a frown. “I was just wondering… you looked a little sloppy out there today,” he voices and my heart skips.

“Yeah, I know. The team was?—”

“Jess, I’m not talking about the team. I’m talking about you,” he huffs, and I sit back, closing my eyes.

“Dad,” I groan, not in the mood for this.

“No, Jess, don’tdadme. You’re my daughter, and I love that you want to play football, but… seeing my little girl get tackled like that is hard. I think it’s time you hang it up an?—”

“It was one bad game, and you know better than anyone getting tackled is just a part of the game. I?—”

“Yeah, it’s part of the game, but I know targeting when I see it Jess, and they were targeting the weakest link,” he grumbles.

“No, they were targeting what theythoughtwas the weakest link. I played well, I jus?—”

“I don’t care, Jess! I don’t want to see it anymore,” he seethes, and I sit back, deflating just as the server awkwardly places the food in front of us.

“Dad, would you be saying this to me if I were a boy?” I grit through my teeth.

“No, I would be patting you on the back and telling you good game, but you arenota boy, you are my daughter. My little girl… my sweetheart, and your old man is tired,” he tells me honestly and I swallow, but my throat is closed up.

I told Frank a lie… I told him that my dad supported me, but he doesn’t…at least not fully.

“Dad, I love football. I?—”

“Then what about flag football?” he interrupts me as he pulls out brochures to numerous colleges that scouted me to play on their women’s football teams and spreads them out in front of me. “There are plenty of teams where girls are doing amazing things! Not only that, but according to the records, it’s the fastest-growing sport in the country. Plus, look at this! They are called the Powderpuffs. How adorable!”

“Dad, I don’t want to be a Powerpuff. I want to play football with the gu?—”

“Think about it!” he cuts me off, banging his hand against the table, making my mom jump. I sit still because I won’t let anyone, not even my dad, see me stumble. Still, as he slides the brochures closer to my hand on the table, I peek at them, seeing all the beautiful women smiling and holding up footballs and pictures of them running.It’s not bad, but…

“Fine.” I take them and place them in the duffle Frank packed me. “I’ll look them over, Dad,” I smile, and the mood in the table lightens as my mom, who seemed to be holding in a breath, places her hand on her chest, smiling bright as if she’s heard the best news in the world.

“Why, this is wonderful news!” She claps excitedly. “Come now, let’s set this aside and eat.” She holds out her hands and my dad and I take one each, as she says grace. Still, I feel no peace… not even a bit.

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