Page 93 of The Change Up
The laugh that he emits is evil. It’s filled with disdain.
Let’s just get this over with.
“Oh Gary, he wasn’t holding hands with anyone out there,” my mom chastises, which only makes his sneer more venomous.
“I don’t know how they expect you to win games when they have some tramp in the locker room.
“Gary,” Mom scolds, but the look Dad cuts her with could crack ice. I watch as she cowers behind his glare, shoulders sagging. It’s brief, but I notice the change in body language. Shegives me a small smile as she steps to the side, moving so that she’s behind him.
It pisses me off how much she lets him get away with it. But as I’m watching her for the first time, I see that she’s been a victim of his words this whole time. I just don’t understand why she didn’t leave and take us away when we were younger.
“She’s a part of the newspaper staff. She’s covering our season and writing an article on Coach Weber.”
He scoffs before he goes into a lecture on how women shouldn’t be allowed in the dugout. The words keep pouring from his mouth. His speech is so slurred it’s hard to understand some of the things he’s saying. I know he’s drunk. I know I should just ignore him but after what feels like hours, I finally have had enough. I can’t listen to this shit any longer.
When I hear him talk about ‘that girl’ again, I lose it. The words tumble out of my mouth, and I don’t even think about the repercussions of saying them. The only thing I can do is to shut him up. To get her out of his mouth. I can’t handle listening to him spew venom about her.
This is what I was worried about.
This is why I told Leah to make sure she never says anything about Chloe at the house.
This is why I ghosted her that summer.
As soon as he had suspicions I was seeing someone that summer, he lost it.
For someone who was supposed to be staying calm after his heart attack, he used every opportunity to get under my skin about women and distractions. I’ll never understand how someone can be so cruel.
“Before you know it, he’s going to be pissing his future away because of some chick who’s looking to wife him up.”
It’s why I don’t think about how hurtful the words I say are. I just want him to shut the hell up.
“Jesus, she’s nothing.” The words feel bitter as soon as they escape my lips, and I want nothing more than to suck them back in, but my chest is vibrating with frustration and the need to shut him up.
The look he gives me shows me he doesn’t believe what I say. With a haggard breath, I continue the lies that taste vile on my tongue. “Nothing more than someone to help release the stress of the game. She’s not the type you marry, so get off my back about it. I’ve told you that I don’t have time for distractions, and I refuse to let a girl get in the way of my game.”
My mom’s gasp is the only verbal response I receive as my dad just stares at me, eyes squinted, as if he’s trying to get a read on me. It’s then I see the edges of his lips curl in a smirk almost as if he sees something on my face, which I know is impossible. I’ve perfected the stoic look when it comes to talking to my dad.
Looking past my dad, I watch my mom’s reaction as it morphs into pain. “I’m sorry, Mom, but I can’t do this anymore. I can’t be his punching bag.”
With a deep inhale, I finally grow the confidence to stand up to my dad. “You know what? Fuck it. I’ve been so scared of you forfuckingyears, and all I’ve ever wanted is for you to be a dad to me. To tell me ‘great job, son’ or hell, that you’re proud of me. It’s been years of me wanting the approval of my dad, and it’s never come. It’s been years of slurred words and insults to the point where I can’t even tell you about something—or someone—that makes me happy. You’ve got me downplaying a relationship over the woman I love, and enough is enough. This relationship, or whatever the hell you want to call it, is over. I’m done with you and your control. Don’t call me. Don’t text me. Don’t come to my games. We’re done.”
Dad takes a step toward me, his leer more intense. His mouth starts to open just as someone yells my name from behind me.Glancing over my shoulder, I find Hudson storming through the few remaining spectators. Anger radiates from him.
With one last look at my mom, I give her a tight-lipped smile before walking away.
From my parents.
From my bully.
From the years worth of pain.
Closing the gap between Hudson and myself, I can’t help but feel the overwhelming weight of waiting for the next shoe to drop.
“What’s up?” I ask, nodding my head at my pissed-off friend.
He shakes his head. “What the fuck is wrong with you?”
“Me?” I ask, pointing a finger at my chest. “What are you talking about?”
