Page 45 of The Silent Count
I find nothing funny about a parent meddling in the love life of their child… let alone one that’s in their late twenties. Even more, I don’t think a boss or coach should have any say in a subordinate’s relationship—daughter or not. I’ve always thought my father’s rule for his players was idiotic, but I didn’t care enough to say anything back then. Early in my career, it was probably a good thing that I didn’t have players hitting me up or asking to take me on dates. Not having the distraction helped me get settled into my career— establish myself in such a cutthroat industry.
Now? I could almost laugh at how stupid it seems.
I’m an adult. Any of the players on this team who I’d consider entertaining would all have a few seasons under their belt and know the ins and outs of workplace professionalism. Fresh out of college, Lea might not have had the rationality to make such a decision, but I’ve been in this industry for over half a decade now.
I’ve grown up. And I’m more than capable of making my own choices without my father watching over me. I’m just shocked it took me long enough to stick up for myself.
I’ve spent so much time sticking up for other people, I was too blinded to advocate for myself and what I want.
I’m doubtful that dating Fortune is a big mistake, but on the off chance that I find myself in the wrong, I’ll pull back my shoulders and clean up the mess, just like I do for everyone else.
“What? Does he need some kind of bodyguard or something? Didn’t pin him as the kind of guy who couldn’t take a bit of feedback.”
“Feedback?” I flail my hands in the air. “What does he need feedback for? He’s had one bad game all season. Not to mention that Calhoun is out, which only makes his job harder. Fortune has spent—what—a couple of weeks with the second-string quarterback trying to figure out their flow? He’s had nearly two seasons to become seamless with Calhoun. Harmony like that on the field isn’t built overnight.”
“Look, I don’t know what’s gotten into you, but I don’t tell you how to do your job, so I don’t know where you got off on the idea that you can charge into my office like a bat out of hell, telling me how to do mine.”
A scoffed laugh breaks free from my lungs.
“Really… that’s what you’re going to do? You’re going to sit there and pretend like you don’t know Fortune and I are dating? Like you aren’t doing this to put him between a rock and a hard place?” Silence. Dad doesn’t move a muscle. Doesn’t say a word. “You can’t stand the fact that one of your precious players went behind your back and is dating your daughter, right? No, wait. That can't be the only reason. Is it because you also can’t cope--”
Fortune bolts through the door, cutting me off with a firm, “Lea.”
I flick my wrist to wave him off.
This is between my dad and me now.
I don’t need Fortune to step in here and act as an intermediary between the two of us. I can hold my own.
Or so I think, until I drop into an open chair across from the desk, and peer up at my father. One look at his face and my heart feels like it’s going to fall out of my body.
Hurt coats his face. The face that I thought would fill with fury, ready to give me a piece of my mind for acting so out of line, looks like it’s holding back tears instead.
I…
No… No. No. No.
I made a miscalculation.
I was so worried about my dad finding out about our relationship that I created a completely false narrative in my head, assuming he already knew the truth.
Fuck.
In my line of work, making mistakes can be detrimental. It’s vital to hear a story from all angles to get the best understanding of what actually happened. But I felt blindsided, and instead of coming at this from a rational standpoint, I automatically assumed the worst.
Regret swirls in the pit of my stomach as I sit here and process how I just backed myself into a corner this badly.
“Lea,” Fortune whispers from the doorway. “I think you might’ve misunderstood me when I—”
I shoot a deadly glare at him over my shoulder, and based on the way his eyes widen as he holds up two hands to prove his innocence, I’m certain he realizes he was too late. That the truth has already been unfolded, and there’s no turning back.
My cheeks burn when I go to open my mouth and apologize, but my father raises a hand to silence me.
“I wasn’t aware that the two of you were dating…” My dad shakes his head, wiping a hand across his stubbly jaw. I can hear the disappointment laced in his tone, and it makes my heart sink.
My breath catches in my lungs as I watch him bounce his gaze between Fortune and I. His face grows redder by the second as he presses his lips in a tight line. The sadness I glimpsed earlier is replaced with indignation. And as much as I hate to admit it, it’s one hundred percent warranted.
His voice is stern and demanding. “Get out of my office. Both of you.”
