Page 92 of Puck with Karma
As I got better at the game, my father’s ambition for me took over. He pushed me through endless hours of practice, playing for multiple travel teams. He hired me tutors since I still had to maintain decent grades so I could play in college.
He then decided that I needed to enter the draft. He fretted over who would pick me. His dream was for me to play for the home team. When they drafted me, that was the first time I saw my father getting incredibly emotional. I’d finally achieved his dream.
I was young and stupid, and didn’t think I had many options. I never questioned signing a contract with him, the duration of it coinciding with my contract with the Cats.
I never imagined that I would hate him for it soon after. And I’ve been hating him ever since.
The only time when I didn’t care as much about him and his demands was during the time I was with Abby. She made it bearable for me, especially after I told my father he was fired.
And now, here I am.
My father’s threats to sue me over that contract put everything on ice, no pun intended. I don’t have options as far as that goes, unless I want to lose most of the money I already made.
I am trying to build some sort of a relationship with my little sister. But she just seems to be suspicious of it, unsure of what to think of all the attention I am trying to give her.
The girl who I thought I was in love with dealt me a betrayal of the worst kind. She appears to have been engaged to someone else while being with me. Wait till the press gets a hold of this.
I am slowly starting to think that it’s me who is the problem. For years, I blamed everything on everyone else. But it doesn’t make sense. So, it has to be me since I am the only common denominator.
“Dude,” Noah knocks at the door. “Are you okay in there? Should I call for help?”
I smile at the worry I hear in his voice. It sounds genuine, and I want to believe he really cares. But, based on my recent experiences, who the hell knows.
With a sigh, I pick myself off the floor and open the door for him.
“I’m fine. I just need to take a quick shower, then the bathroom is all yours.”
He stares at me, eyes round in his face as he tries to figure me out. Good luck with that since I can’t figure myself out.
“Your cell phone has been ringing a lot,” he finally says. “I don’t know if it’s important, but I answered this last one.”
He lifts his hand to show me that he has my phone. He thinks I’ll be angry about him answering my phone.
“Who was it?”
I swear he blushes when he answers. “Janie. Your sister,” he adds after a short pause.
“Is she okay?”
“Uh, yeah, she seemed fine. Just wanted to make sure you know she didn’t make it to the game tonight.”
“Okay,” I nod in understanding. “As long as she is safe wherever she is.”
I close the door in his face and turn the shower on. As I wait for the water to warm up, I feel my heart turning to stone.
Getting to this point has been a long process. But it’s finally happened. I don’t care about anything or anyone anymore.
Chapter 27
Xander
Unknown number: Xander, my name is Chloe. My fiancé is Van Boyd, he plays for the Sliders. I know this is going to sound weird, but my friend Bran Karlsberg met a Mallory this past week. He would like to meet with her again, but he forgot to get her number. Could you help me with it? She said she was friends with your sister…
The message came through a couple of days ago. I didn’t respond, but I’ve been re-reading it on and off ever since. Now, I stare at the screen, hoping like hell that fucker’s name is not showing in my messages. Resisting the urge to slam my cell phone against the table, I instead place it gently in the cup holder of the treadmill.
I came to the gym to relax, but instead, I am getting even more stressed. I slap my hand over the control board and pick up the pace accordingly.
Nothing registers in my head as I run, going faster and faster, until I feel like I am about to lose my footing, forcing me to slowthe treadmill down, going into cool down mode. By the time it stops, I am shocked to see that I logged in close to six point five miles.
