Page 54 of The Silent Count
The calm before the storm.
I hear the door click open and suck in a steadying breath. My shoulders pull back on instinct, like I’m squaring up for a fight. Vince won’t get physical. In part because I’ve got youth and thirty extra pounds of muscle on my side, and it would be a quick victory for me. His preferred method of attack is with words, anyway. He’s the kind who likes to tear people down to make himself feel better.
“Fortune.” His tone is monotone and resigned. Nothing like it was five minutes earlier, which comes as no surprise since no one is around to see him act out of character—the character he’s created his brand and career around at least.
“Vince.”
“Ahhh, I take it we’re on a first name basis now.”
“Well, considering my first name is legally Fortune now, it seems fitting for the occasion.”
“Don’t get me started with that bullshit,” he hisses. “You’re out here ruining your reputation. Our family’s reputation. What has gotten into you?”
He doesn’t add the words ‘my reputation’ at the end of his sentence, but he doesn’t have to for me to know that’s what he means.
Vince couldn’t care less about our family. The way I see it, our blood and some of his features are the only connection between the two of us. Showing up on your kids’ birthdays to have dinner with them for half an hour doesn’t make you a present father—unless you count the long weekend where he stuck around after my third birthday. Did I mention Georgia’s birthday is, I don’t know, roughly… nine months after mine?
The man standing before me has never been a father to me. He’s never been a part of our family. And frankly, I’m sick of him pretending the situation is anything but what it actually is. And you would’ve thought that both your kids changing their last names would’ve been enough, but his delusion won’t let him see that.
“Ourfamily?” My head juts back and a disgusted scoff breezes past my lips. I’ve kept my mouth shut for nearly three decades, but this is my breaking point. I’m tired of holding all of this in, and I’m done holding back. “Mom and Georgia… they aremyfamily. Not yours. You are nothing more than some man we see once or twice a year.”
A muscle works in his jaw. “I am your father, whether you like it or not.”
“I spent more time with my elementary school bus driver than I have with you since the day I was born.” A muscle works in Vince’s jaw, and I know I’ve struck a chord. “My birth, that you couldn’t be bothered to show up for, might I add. You are a sperm donor at best, and I’m done pretending otherwise.”
“You’re going to cut me off like your sister did? Really?” He pokes his tongue into his cheek with a huffed laugh, acting as if his two adult children wanting nothing to do with him is our fault. He’s sick and twisted, only believing the false reality he’s created in his head. “Disowning your father and dating the coach’s daughter all in one season. Not a good look for you, kid.”
“Don’t bring her to this.” My stare turns lethal and the evil grin inching over his face instantly turns my posture rigid.
“I don’t have to. The media will have a heyday with that one the second they find out. I can see the headlines now ‘Fortune Parker on a rebellious streak. Will he be able to clean up his act enough before next season?’ It’s certainly not going to be a good look heading into free agency, is it?”
Like I give a fuck.
If everyone in The League had a spotless reputation, jobs like Lea’s would be way less exciting or cease to exist. My teammates do stupid shit all the time and it might make a headline for a week, but the next time someone else does something equally idiotic, there’s a new story for people to grasp on to.
That’s the nature of publicity. That’s the nature of this industry. The headlines that seem paramount right now won’t matter in a month. I know that. Everyone else knows that.
Let’s also not forget that until a couple months ago when the article came out about my name change, my reputation was spotless. People might love the player Vince Bradford was two decades ago, but he doesn’t hold the same power he once did in the public’s eyes. That was knocked down four years ago by Georgia announcing her last name change, and has dwindled even more at the positive reception of mine.
“Why don’t I go spend tonight’s game check on a boat to really sell the story? Give them one more thing to talk about,” I spit back, full of fire.
“This is the life you want for yourself? To have everyone assume you’re getting special treatment because you’re dating the coach’s daughter. I should be more surprised that you’re too lazy to make a name for yourself in The League on your own. You never had a quarter of the tenacity I did when I was your age.”
“What did I say about not bringing her into this?” I say through gritted teeth, deliberately ignoring his jabs at me as a player.
He can talk down to me all he wants, ridicule my game and list all the reasons I’ll never be as good as him, but I draw the line at Lea. She’s done nothing to warrant his disrespect aside from being with me.
Unfortunately for Vince, she’s going to be with me for the long haul. If I have any say in it, one day Lea will be my family. My wife. The mother to my children.
That’s what matters to me. She is what matters to me. This game, my time in The League, is all fleeting compared to the lifetime I plan to spend with her. Vince trying to bring Lea into this, is only driving the wedge between him and me deeper. Him twisting the story to make it seem like she’s the reason behind my decision to cut him off completely is only making me dislike him more.
“Are you even in love with the girl, or is this your only way of trying to secure your spot on this team for a few more years to increase your chances of winning a championship ring?”
“Of course, I’m in love with her.” I let out a long breath. The first time the words have slipped out of my mouth, and Vince is the first to hear it. I can’t hide my feelings any longer, though. To him or anyone else. My shoulders drop, and the crease formed between my brows softens. “She’s my best friend, Vince. Has been for years. You wouldn’t know that, though, because you can’t bother to check in with your own kid.”
He scoffs. “So, what? You think that because you are coworkers, and you see her around the halls from time to time, it means you’re in love? You really are your mother’s son, aren’t you?”
My laughter starts off as a silent rumble in my chest, and quickly transitions into a full on doubled over laugh attack.
