Page 28 of Foul Line

I pull my hair over my shoulder and sulk up the tiny porch. My heart is beating like crazy. I turn to check once and see that Hayes didn’t listen. He’s right behind me.

Son of a bitch.I turn back around. “Hey, Dad. I’m sorry. I—”

Dad looks behind me, his expression stern. “Leave now, Hayes.”

Hayes’s lips form a thin line. “Sir, I—”

“Now, Irving. I don’t want to have to ask again.”

Pretty sure he didn’t ask, but he’s got his coach-like authoritative voice on full blast. If my cabin was any closer to the others, he’d be waking everybody up.

Dad pushes the cabin door open for me, and I step inside. He glares behind me for a few seconds, longer than necessary even, but eventually, he turns toward me, so I can only imagine that Hayes wised up and left. He shouldn’t have even walked up to the cabin with me. I don’t know whether to be mad at him or happy that he decided to stick with me. I turn, forgetting all that to face my father. “I’m really sorry, Dad. I know I’m out past curfew, I—”

“Are you taking this seriously, Tess?” He cocks his head at me. “That’s what I’ve been sitting here wondering while you’ve been out doing God knows what. It’s a thought I never believed I’d have to put in the same sentence as your name. What are you thinking?”

His words smack me in the face. “Of course, I’m taking this seriously. I’m having my best camp ever so far. I—”

“Really?” he asks, eyebrows raised. “Not after tonight you’re not. I got a call an hour ago, followed up with texts of pictures of you breaking curfew. What is wrong with you? Do you know how many players there are that would love to be in your position? I don’t just give these spots to people, not even to my own daughter.”

“I know, Dad,” I grind out. I sit on my bed with my head in my hands. Shame washes over me. This is what I get for letting my guard down.

“You’re goddamn lucky Lake’s not going to pursue this.”

I yank my head up to stare into his face. “What? Lake called you?” The blood in my veins turns to ice. That motherfucker. “Don’t ever trust Lake, Dad. When it comes to me, don’t ever trust him.”

“I thought the same thing until I showed up where my daughter was supposed to be sleeping in her bed and she’s not fucking here. Then, I see her walking back hand-in-hand with a guy.”

I run both hands through my hair. “Don’t get Hayes in trouble. It’s not his fault. He was worried about me.”

“I’m dealing with Hayes myself. I have a feeling O’Brien wants to keep this on the down low because his friend was involved.”

“I can guarantee you that asshole only gives a crap about himself. He’s not trying to save anyone. He wants you to get me in trouble.”

“It seems like you’re doing a great job of that on your own,” Dad spits, his voice rising.

I stand. “Dad, Lake’s destroyed my life. How can you not see that?”

He chuckles disbelievingly. “First, you’re mad at Ryan because Ryan destroyed your life, now Lake O’Brien? Who else are you going to blame for your own actions, Tess? You were still out of your cabin when you weren’t supposed to be. Lake just called you out on it.”

I shake my head at him. “If you only knew, Dad.”

“Then tell me. What don’t I know? Talk to me. You haven’t talked to me like we used to since I left your mom.”

“Maybe because you’re never around!” I scream, my anger finally getting the better of me. “Maybe because you’re off meeting Ryan’s grandparents instead of hanging out with me. Maybe because you’re not asking, and you’re not paying attention. Why didn’t I get playing time this past year, Dad? Why?” I’m so furious I’m shaking. My hands are fists at my sides.

My dad moves forward. “You understood how hard playing for RHS was going to be, right? You have barriers to break down, you have bias to break down. Why do you think I’m hard on you? Why do you think I’m so mad you were out of your cabin when you weren’t supposed to be?” He takes a breath, putting his hands on my shoulders. “It’s wrong, but if you want to play with the boys, you’re going to have to rise above them in every way possible. You’re different, so you’re going to get mocked. You’re going to be scrutinized. You’re going to get teased. You’re going to get knocked around and filleted wide open.” He swallows hard. “But this was all your choice, Pumpkin.” He moves his hands to clasp my cheeks as he stares down at me. “I’m behind you. I know my little girl is tough enough to do this, but you can’t let your guard down, and you can’t put me in a position where I have to reinforce rules I don’t want to.”

I let him pull me to him. My whole body sighs in relief. It’s been months since my dad hugged me. It’s been months since my dad and I talked about real fucking shit instead of surface topics. The wave of emotion hits me like a tsunami. I grab the back of his shirt and let the tears fall. All these months of taking shit from the Baller Bitches comes out in hiccups. The final showdown with Lake where he pulled the rug out from under me lands on my dad’s shirt with salty teardrops. The betrayal of the guys. All of it.

“I know, Pumpkin. I know,” my dad says, rubbing my back. “Your mom wants to send you to Springs. She texted me last week that she talked to them. The coach is excited about having you.”

I pull away, wiping at my face. “I’m not going to Springs, Dad. Please.”

“Look at you, Pumpkin,” my dad says, his face crumpling. “Look what’s happening to you.”

I wince. “Dad, I am begging you. Change Mom’s mind. Be on my side about this. You know how much this means to me.”

He opens his arms, and I go into them again. He keeps his hand on the back of my head. “Let’s see how camp goes. You know I’m watching what’s going on. I’m not blind, Pumpkin. I just want to see you come out the other side of it unscathed, and I hate to say it, but you have to do it yourself. That’s the only way you’ll prove it to these jackasses.”

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