Page 56 of Force Play
“Thanks, Ari,” she says softly as I push her cup toward her. She takes a sip, and I think she almost drops the cup in surprise. “This is a peppermint mocha.”
“It is.”
“Why did you get me a peppermint mocha?”
“Because you like them?”
She stares at me now like she can’t figure me out.
That makes two of us because I don’t think I can figure myself out, either.
“I never told you that I like those,” she finally says.
“Oh,” I reply awkwardly, rubbing the back of my neck. “I just always smell peppermint in your coffee.”
“Yeah,” she smiles. “It’s my favorite.”
“Then you’re welcome,” I smirk, trying to play off the unease I’m feeling.
Why do I know Lucia’s coffee order if she’s never told me?
Why am I so annoyed that she’s wearing my friend’s jersey?
Why can’t I stop thinking about our night together?
Questions that will likely remain unanswered because I have no fucking clue about any of them.
I don’t get to overthink that, though, as I’m pulled out of my thoughts by the vibration of my phone.
I pick it up and sigh.
“Well, gotta take this one,” I say before quickly making my exit, heading right to my room.
I shut my door behind me, harder than intended, before I flop down onto my bed and groan.
I answer the call right before it stops ringing. “To what do I owe the pleasure, Tom?” I say with as much faux happiness as I can muster.
“Don’t disrespect me, Ari,” my dad’s voice booms from the other end, all authoritative and military.
Like he’s speaking with one of his privates and not his own damn son.
“What do you need, Dad?” I sigh, pinching the bridge of my nose.
“I want to talk to my son.”
“No, you don’t.” I can feel him seething all the way in Texas. “You never call just to chat.”
“You’re turning thirty next month, Ari,” he states as if I don’t already know this. “You need to figure out what you want to do with your life.”
I scoff. “I’m a professional athlete, Dad. Thatiswhat I want to do with my life.”
“You won’t play forever, and you should do something better with your time.”
I roll my eyes. This man has never had any candor. “Then I’ll figure that out when I retire.”
“Or just come enlist in the Army like I’ve always told you to do and finally make something of yourself.”
I sink into myself. I’ve never had a conversation with my dad that didn’t make me feel small, like I’m not worthy unless I’m doing what he wants.
