Page 67 of Playing to Win

“I got dumped. Spectacularly. In front of the entire room full of people. And that was after I caught him with his hand up some other girl’s skirt.”

“Do you really want to be with a guy who can do that when he’s with a knockout like you?”

She part smiles. I’ll take it. “You’re my dad—you have to say things like that. And no, I don’t want to be with him but it can still hurt, right?”

“Yeah, it can still hurt, baby. Were you supposed to be going home tonight?”

She shakes her head. “I was going to stay with Meghan.”

“Then I won’t call your mom until tomorrow, but I’ll text her and tell her you decided to stay here instead.”

“Thanks.”

“As for that Meghan character, she left you on a bathroom floor in a very vulnerable state. You might want to rethink your close friendships.”

She blows her nose like an old man.

“How are you feeling? Like you want to be sick again?”

“Not just yet.”

“Come on, then, let’s get you to bed.” I stand and put paste on her toothbrush, then hold it out to her.

“Do I really have to brush my teeth?”

“Not if you would rather they fell out from all the acid you vomited over them.”

“Point taken.”

I help her stand and hold her steady as she gives her mouth a halfhearted clean. Then I walk her to bed.

“Do I need to help you get into pajamas?”

She gives me a drunken, tired laugh. “You should see the horror on your face right now.”

“Get into bed; I’ll bring you some water.”

When I return to her room, she’s already tucked under the covers. “Here, drink up. You’ll thank me tomorrow.”

“I don’t think I’ll do much of anything tomorrow.”

“Nope, I have to agree with you on that one.” She drinks a few mouthfuls of water, and then I set the glass down on her bedside table. “’Night, baby.”

“’Night, Dad.”

I settle into the pink chair in the corner of her room and watch her go straight out like a light. My mind goes to Izzy just two doors down. She’s probably in bed now. Alone. Tomorrow, whether the timing is right or not, I’ll have to let her in on my past, and my very present daughter.

At some point, I must have fallen asleep because I wake sweating under the sunlight, realizing I forgot to draw the curtains last night. Cady is snoring, her mouth wide open like she’s catching flies. I check her bedside clock. “Shit.”

It’s after nine. Izzy is probably already at the gym. Regardless, I have to make double time to get to my first PT session at nine thirty. Deciding I’ll have Angie make up a breakfast shake, I have a quick shower and pull on my gym clothes. When I go to check on Cady, her bed is empty. “I’m in here.”

I follow her hoarse voice to the living room. Her hands tremble as she brings a cup of coffee to her lips. “Feeling good, kiddo?”

“I feel like a man made of concrete sat on my head, then dragged razor blades along the lining of my stomach.”

“Graphic. Nice. Listen, Cady, I’ve been a teenager but last night, you were underage drinking, in a place you shouldn’t have been, and you put yourself in real danger. Anyone could have put something in your drink or taken advantage of you.”

She looks down at the mug in her lap. “I know.”

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