Page 75 of In Too Deep

Coby yanks me into his side.

“Is that any way to greet your family?” Dad asks and reaches out, pulling me to him in a hug. I leave my hands down at my sides as he yanks me to his chest. He chuckles and shakes his head. “Oh c’mon, Lacy, you haven’t seen me in so long. The least you can do is give your father a hug.”

I scoff and pull back, rushing into the arms of Coby. “The least I can do? How about I haven’t seen you in so long because… I’m the daughter who couldn’t give you anything useful, so you abandoned me, and therefore, you don’t deserve a fucking hug?”

He flares his nostrils as Mum exhales and steps closer. “Lacy, honey… we’re here to celebrate with you. Let’s be happy and not bring up the past. We want to take you back. We miss you.”

Scoffing, I purse my lips. “So, Dad got you to say that because it’d sound like utter bullshit coming from him, right? Well, sorry, Mum, but you can’t pull it off either. And yes, I’m going to celebrate with my family. But I’ll tell you something… family is not necessarily blood. Family is those who are there to support you. Not those who come back when the timing is… how shall I say this…right.”

“Lacy, don’t be so absurd. Are you suggesting we only want you back in our lives because you made it to the Olympics and won gold ?” Mum demands.

Dad looms over me and puffs out his chest.

“Dad?”

He huffs and points his finger right in my face. “Lacy, you’ve won gold. That’s a huge honour. We should have believed in you, yes. But youmustdo the right thing and come back toourfamily. You need to share your fame and bring all the benefits that come with it back toyourfamily. You owe us that much. We gave you life, Lacy. Don’t take that for granted.”

“Oh my God, do you actually hear yourself?Yougavemelife… so I owe you everything? Well, I’ll tellyou,Dad… I didn’t start living until I left your clutches. I never knew life could be so good away from you and your rules and restrictions. I’m better off without you. I made something of myselfwithout you. Ifyou want fame and fortune, you’ll need to find it some other way. You’re not coming anywhere near my gold or the rewards that come with it.”

“You think just because you’ve lived a small percentage of your life with that drug cheat family that you’re living a full life, Lacy? We have money. We have connections. Think of how far we could move your career along if you come back to us. If you stay with the drug cheats, you’ll be tainted with the same brush. Hell, you probably are a drug cheat yourself!” Dad sneers as Mum winces. Stacy starts to cry.

Anger surges through me. My blood boils as my face burns. I clench my fists and lunge forward, screaming at the top of my lungs as I reach for my father’s neck. Coby grabs my waist and holds me back as I try to kick him. My hands flail about, but Dad smirks as I scream while Mum holds onto Stacy.

“Leave!” Coby yells.

Dad curls up his lip as I calm down slightly in Coby’s grip. Huffing, I glare at Dad with such ferocity that, if staring could kill, he’d be keeling over right about now.

If only.

“And who the hell are you? Her bodyguard?” Dad snarls.

I stare right into his eyes. “No, Dad. He’s the guy I’m having mind-blowing sex with. Now leave and don’tever… and I meanever… try to see me again.”

Coby stiffens against me as Dad stares down Coby, his chest heaving and his nostrils flaring.

Mum puts her hand on his chest to stop him from inching forward.

“She wants nothing to do with you, jerk face. So I suggest you fuck off before I call security and have you escorted from the premises,” Katie pipes up.

“You’ll regret this, Lacy. You…” he points to me, “… and this family… we’re done.” He storms off.

“We were done when you kicked me out at sixteen. This is your doing.Yousuffer the consequences,” I thunder.

Mum sniffles. “I love you, Lacy. I never meant for this. He’s just so…”

I squeeze Coby’s hand, and then I step over to Mum. She regards me with watery eyes, and I open my arms. She immediately pulls me in for a hug.

“Yes, Mum. But just because he and I are done doesn’t mean we have to be.”

She hugs me tightly.

I glance at Stacy. “And that goes for you, too, Stacy. You’ll always be my sister.”

“We love you, Lacy. It’s so different with you gone.” Mum sobs.

“Yeah, Dad’s so mean… to both of us,” Stacy states.

I try not to cry in front of them.

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