Page 6 of The Pass Protection
How is my dad going to react? Is he going to be upset that I transferred? Or will he be more upset that I drove across the country by myself?
Suddenly, my need to please everyone else constantly is screaming at me to turn around and not face my problems head-on. I’m such a daddy’s girl, and I can’t face the fact that he may be upset with me.
I startle at the contact of Ruth’s hand on my forearm. Glancing down at our contact, my eyes bounce up to find her watching me, reading me. “He’ll be happy to see you, honey. Your dad talks about you all the time. Whatever it is that has you coming here, you’re in the right place.”
“How-how did you know?”
“Oh honey, I was young once. I recognized the hesitancy as soon as you walked in those doors. But whatever it is, it’ll all work itself out. One day, you’ll wake up and be sixty-six, and you won’t even think about your troubled past.”
“Really?”
“Really. Put on that brave smile I saw earlier and surprise your daddy.” With a final pat on my forearm, Ruth leaves me alone.
Steeling my shoulders, I take one last big inhale, hold it, and slowly exhale the breath while reciting the mantras my therapist has had me practicing.
You are strong.
You are brave.
You are worthy.
You are fearless.
And I’m pushing the doors open.
The room must be entirely soundproof because the noise is the first thing that greets me. The sound of fans cheering and roaring from the sound system is painfully loud. It’s like experiencing an actual game. I guess this is good practice for what they can expect in a week.
Slowly, I make my way down the wall, trying to hide. Glancing across the sea of players, ocean-green eyes find mine.
Grant.
Of course, he would be the first person I saw. Flicking my hand up, I give him a quick, subtle wave from my hip, not wanting to cause a scene.
Luck wouldn’t be on my side for that.
“This is a closed practice,” shouts a voice from the field, garnering everyone’s attention. Heads whip in my direction, and I feel my cheeks heat from all the curiosity.
Eyes wide, I scan the group of guys. I find Grant shaking his head, his expression set in his signature stoic look. He needs to find some way to release his grumpy attitude. It wouldn’t kill him to smile every once in a while. Still scanning the crowd, my eyes latch on warm-brown eyes. Crew is standing off to the side, helmet clutched in his hand as his sweat-soaked face stares at me. His expression is unreadable, which is not an expression I’m used to seeing on his face.
“Bret?” my dad’s voice booms over the field. My eyes move to find him. My dad is standing diagonally from me on the sidelines, dressed in his signature coaching outfit of mid-thigh navy athletic shorts, a moisture-wicking CTU football T-shirt, and a cap.
A huge smile breaks free, and I watch him push his way through a line of players. Before I can think about it, my feet carry me to him.
“Hey, Dad,” I say, barely above a whisper as my nerves struggle to strangle me. I know he can’t hear me, but I’m sure he’s reading my lips as he tries to figure out my body language. I could never hide anythingfrom him. His brows furrow, and his shock morphs into concern. Yep, he’s definitely reading me like a book.
The two of us meet on the field, and he pulls me in for a hug. “Bretster, what are you doing here?”
“Can’t a girl come see her favorite dad?” Extending his arms, he keeps his hand on my biceps as he pulls away to get a better look at me.
“Of course you can, kiddo.” His voice is lined with worry, and I hate that I’m putting more stress on him as he gears up for the start of a new football season.
Mustering up all my strength, I paste on the biggest, brightest smile I can and hope my dad can’t see through me. His soft chuckle tells me he knows I’m full of shit.
Swinging his arm across my shoulders, he pulls me into him as he starts steering us toward the sidelines. “Stand over here and watch the guys, and we can chat afterward.”
I squeeze the arm wrapped around my dad’s back and fall in step with him. As we approach the sidelines, one of the coaches makes his way over to us.
“Sorry, Derek, I didn’t realize she was your daughter.”
