Page 49 of Hot Receiver

“I’m just worried. Missy and I weren’t there for Summer last time things happened. And I’ve seen Rusty hanging around by the girls’ school this week.”

“Has Dad been gone? You think he’s gotten wrapped up with them again?”

Her voice drops to a whisper. “I followed him to somewarehouse the other night. Watched from the car. Rusty was there, waiting for him outside.” She sniffles. “I couldn’t see much. Couldn’t hear anything. But he went inside the place. And the next day, Rusty was at the school, watching from his car.”

“Goddammit,” I yell. “He’s not gonna be happy until someone gets killed. You guys are in danger, do you get that, Ma? You need to leave him. Let him deal with his addiction. You’ve done enough to help him. Now, it’s his turn to fix his shit.”

“Honey, you don’t understand. It’s not that easy. If I go, I don’t know what he’ll do next, what will happen to him. He’s sick.”

“And what about the girls? You think staying with him is good for them? They’re in grave danger down there.”

“And they’ll be in worse danger if I took them away from him. How can I protect them on my own, with no place to live or money to support them?”

“Come up here and live with me. Get away from that toxic wasteland for good, Ma. Do right by the girls and yourself. For once.”

“Matthew, I am trying to do right by all of us. You have no idea how hard it’s been. But I’m trying my best. I’ve always done that.” She clears her throat. “I know he’s had problems, but I still love him. I feel like if I leave, that will be the end of him. Can you really ask me to do that? To take everything he loves away from him? It’s all he lives for.”

I pull into the stadium and drive into the VIP parking deck. Heat floods my face, my jaw so tight I’m afraid it might lock. “Do you really think he loves you and the girls? You’re sacrificing everything for that selfish asshole. Everything, Ma.”

“I understand how you feel, but I am handling it.” Her voice changes, suddenly much cheerier. “I only called to wishyou well today. We’ll be watching, sweetie. Be careful. We love you.”

“Thanks. I love you, too.” I squeeze my eyes shut. “Ma, call me if anything happens with Rusty. I’ll get there as soon as I can if you need me.”

“I know, sweetie. Break a leg.”

“That’s for theater.”

She gasps. “Oh! Then forget I said it.”

“Love you, Ma.” I end the call, and my head falls back against the seat.

That son of a bitch. It makes me crazy that my dad and I used to be so close, and now, I can’t stand the sight of him because of how deep of a hole he’s dug for Ma and the girls.

Maybe I can get custody of the girls. Bring them up here because their home life is unfit. Because their dad is a fucking gambling addict who’s put their lives in danger.

I heave a deep sigh as I jump out of my truck and head into the stadium. The locker room is in the underbelly of the place, but somehow, I find my feet ignoring the path they know by heart. Instead, they walk up the stairs to the corporate offices.

My brain fogs with lust and loss as I jog past the place in the stairwell where Zak fucked me against the wall.

I need to see him.

I need to hear him say the last time wasn’t really it for us.

I want a future.

And I want him to want it, too.

I push open the door at the top of the stairs and walk into the hallway. The owner’s boxes are on this floor, too, so there are a bunch of people wandering down the hallway to pregame.

My pulse rockets as I near Zak’s office. The door opens. I pick up the pace, staring straight ahead so nobody has a chance to stop me for an autograph.

A guy walks out. He pauses to look behind him, a bright smile on his face. I nearly choke on the lump suddenly growing in my throat. Zak appears next to him.

With a sinking heart, I stop short.

I’ve never seen him smile like that.

Correction.

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