by L A Cotton
Holy shit this was intense. The walls closed in around me. But there was also something reassuring about the fact they were listening to my side of the story. I doubted Coach would be quite as understanding.
“We haven’t… not yet. It’s important that you know I haven’t pushed Lily into anything she wasn’t ready for.”
Her mom gave me a small nod. I wanted to believe it was reassurance but this whole thing was so fucked up.
“Back to Lindsey. What happened to get to this point?” Mrs. Bennet frowned.
“Lindsey made a couple of idle threats, but I thought she was bluffing. Until she showed me the video before the game tonight. She said that unless I agreed to go to the dance with her, she would show everyone the video.”
“So she blackmailed you?”
“Yeah, but I thought she’d deleted it.” At least, that’s what I’d wanted to believe. “Lily and I planned to meet after the dance. I was going to tell her the truth then and come clean to Coach as soon as I’d talked to Lily. I swear, it wasn’t supposed to go down like this.”
“It’s okay, Kaiden,” Mrs. Ford said. “Everything’s going to be okay.”
How could she even say that?
Lily had turned up at the dance to surprise me, to declare her love for me, and it had all gone to shit. I wouldn’t blame her if she never wanted to see me again after tonight.
Mrs. Ford leaned over and squeezed my shoulder. “Lily is stronger than she gives herself credit for. Once the dust settles, I’ll talk to her.”
“Why? Why would you do that for me?”
“Because Kaiden, despite what other people may say about you, you are not your father. And I have watched my daughter bloom over the last few weeks… because of you.”
“Coach Ford will—”
“Let me handle my husband. You worry about the major groveling you’re going to need to do to smooth things over with Lily.” She winked, soothing something inside me. I didn’t know what it was about these Ford women, but they had magical bewitching powers or some shit.
“What will happen to Lindsey?”
“I’ll handle Lindsey,” Mrs. Bennet said. “It’s about time that girl was brought down a peg or two.”
“I suggest you go home and lie low for a couple of days. Jason might be your coach, but he’s also a father, and that is a dangerous thing indeed.” There was humor in her voice, but it didn’t stop her words hitting me dead in the chest. If our roles were reversed, I’d want to kick my ass too.
“Thank you, Mya,” Mrs. Ford said, standing. “Kaiden, will you walk me out?”
“Uh, yeah, sure,” I said.
The air was thick between us at first as we made our way back toward the gymnasium.
“You know, this feels an awful lot like history repeating itself,” she eventually said.
“What do you mean?”
“How much do you know about what happened between your dad and Jason back in high school?”
“I know bits.”
“Well, Lewis did something similar to us… to me. And Jason did what he thought necessary to protect me, just as you did what you thought necessary to protect my Lily. So while he might want to kill you with his bare hands tonight, once he calms down enough to see sense, things will be different.”
“I betrayed him,” I said. “I broke his trust and lied to his face.”
“Because you care about our daughter. I won’t say that everything you’ve done has been the right thing, but I won’t chastise you for putting her first either.” She took my hand in hers. “Lily told me that you wanted to tell Jason, how she talked you out of it. You put her first, Kaiden. You were respecting her decisions and trying to protect her. And that is a wonderful thing.”
We finally reached the parking lot. “I’m going to go home and check on my daughter. I suggest you go home and get to work on your grovelling.” She winked again, before heading for her car. “Oh, and Kaiden?”
“Yeah?”
“In case you didn’t already realize, my daughter loves you very much.”
I was dumbfounded as she got in her car and drove off. The Ford women really were a force to be reckoned with.
It wasn’t any wonder I was ass over elbow in love with Lily. After meeting her mom, it was crystal clear.
I’d never stood a chance.
The next morning, I didn’t expect to be woken by raised voices.
“You dare to show up at… at my fucking door?” Dad boomed.
Oh shit.
I scrambled out of bed and threw on a t-shirt and some sweats before hurrying downstairs. Dad filled the door, squared right up to Coach Ford who looked unimpressed.
“Kaiden,” he said, “do me a favor and tell your old man to back the fuck up before I make him move.”
“Dad,” I hissed, wrapping my arm around his chest and trying to nudge him backward. “I got this.”
The bitter scent of liquor assaulted my senses and I looked away, trying to drag in a lungful of fresh air. Coach caught my eyes and his face wrinkled.
“You think you can come around here, trying to take my son… my fucking son.”
“Okay, Dad, let’s go.”
When I’d first heard him, he’d sounded sober. But it was embarrassingly obvious that he was drunk.
“I could take him, Kaiden. I could take him right now.”
I managed to get Dad moving down the hall, but he stumbled, his entire weight falling into me. We started to fall, but Coach Ford rushed into the house and grabbed him, steadying Dad enough so that I could straighten myself up too.
“Thanks,” I said. “If you want to wait in the kitchen, I’ll go deal with him.”
“Sure thing.” He looked like he wanted to say more, but to my relief, he didn’t. It was already bad enough he’d witnessed this.
I managed to wrestle my old man onto the couch. “Stay there and sleep it off,” I said. His eyes narrowed, cloudy and dull. Then he let out a loud belch and drifted off into a drunken stupor.
“Sorry about that,” I said when I joined Coach in the kitchen.
“I didn’t realize things were so bad.”
“He’s gotten worse since I transferred to Rixon.
“Kaiden, if there’s anything—”
“I’m guessing this isn’t a social visit.” I changed the subject. I wasn’t looking for sympathy, especially not from my girlfriend’s dad.
Assuming Lily ever wanted anything to do with me again.
“You got coffee?” he asked.
“Yeah, we have coffee.”
“Good, make us one each and find me out back.” He tested the door handle and slipped outside.
Okay then. I figured he wanted to prolong the agony, make me sweat for as long as possible.
Digging out my cell phone, I checked for messages but there were none. I’d texted Lily at least five times since getting home last night, but she hadn’t replied, not that I blamed her.
After I made the coffee, I went outside to find Coach. Sat in one of our garden chairs, he looked over at me. “Sit.”
I let out a small breath.
“You know, on the drive over here, I had all these things I wanted to say to you. And then your old man opened the door and it’s like I don’t know what the fuck to say now.”
“I don’t want your pity,” I said, defensively.
“Yeah, well, I didn’t want you anywhere near my daughter and look how that turned out.”
“It was never supposed to go down like that. I wanted to tell you. I wanted to—”
“Lily told me what happened.”
“She did?” I ran a hand over my head, hating how awkward things felt between us.
“Of course she did. I’m her father.”
“I really screwed up, huh?”
“As much as it pains me to say it, you’re supposed to screw up. You’re eighteen. Fuck, Kaiden, I was a nightmare at your age. Thought I was invincible though.” His eyes slid to mine. They were darker today. Alm
ost black as he stared at me. “Thought nothing could touch me because I didn’t care about anything except football. And then I met Lily’s mom. God, she knocked me on my ass. I fought it. I fought it at every turn, but things turned sour with your old man and I realized football wasn’t the only thing I cared about.
“I’m going to ask you something and I want you to give me the truth. Not what you think I want to hear or what you think will save your sorry ass. The truth, okay?”
“Yeah, I can do that.” I braced myself.
“Do you love her?”
“I do,” I swallowed over the huge lump in my throat, “I love her so fucking much.”
He nodded, his jaw popping with disapproval. But I also saw something else in his eyes. Something that looked a lot like respect.
“I spoke to my wife. She told me everything, but I needed to hear you say the words. I needed to look you in the eye and see it.”
“How is she? Lily, I mean?”
“I’m not going to sugarcoat it for you, because if you claim to love my daughter, you need to know how bad it can get.” His eyes shuttered as he dragged a hand over his scruff. “She’s a mess, son. Lily has spent the last four years hiding in the shadows in an attempt to protect herself. And now the light is shining right on her. She doesn’t know how to handle that. All I’ve ever done is try to protect her, but I can’t protect her from her own mind.”
“What’s going to happen to Lindsey?”
“I’ll handle Miss Filmer and her parents.”
The ferocity in his tone made me flinch. “Can I ask you a question?”
He nodded.
“Whatever did happen to Chelsea Farnham and her family?”
His lip twisted into a knowing smirk. “A man has to keep some secrets. All you need to know is, I took care of it. Just like I’ll always take care of it. If you’re going to be with my daughter, Kaiden, that extends to you now. If you need anything,” his eyes flicked past me to the house, “all you need to do is say the word.”
“Why? Why would you ever help me after what I did?” Guilt still swarmed my chest, but my shoulders felt lighter since Coach arrived.
I hadn’t expected his forgiveness and especially not his blessing, but something had shifted between us.
“Because,” he lifted his eyes to mine and a reluctant smile traced his lips, “she’d want me to. Lily loves you, son. So while I might not be able to protect her from the world, I can sure as shit try to make her happy.”
“How much do you want to knock my head off my shoulders right now?” I asked, fighting a smile of my own.
“Oh, about a solid eight. It was an eleven on the drive over here, so count yourself lucky.”
“I’ll do everything in my power to protect her, Coach.”
“I know you will, son.” He leaned over and gripped my shoulder. “I know you will.”
“Is it true?”
Coach Ford’s car had barely gotten off the driveway when my old man’s voice came from behind me.
My spine went rigid as I closed the door and turned to face my father. He looked like shit, slumped against the doorjamb, dark circles around his eyes and skin sallow.
“Is what true?” I asked, coolly.
“That you’re seeing his daughter.” Anger simmered in his eyes. “What the hell, Son? A Ford? You’re fucking a—”
“Don’t,” I ground out. “Don’t you dare talk about Lily like that.”
“Lily. The bitch has a—”
I flew at him, wrapping my hand around his throat and slamming him against the wall. “What the fuck is wrong with you, huh? I love her, Dad. I’m in love with her.”
“Love,” he sneered. “What the hell do you know about love, kid?”
“A lot more than you, apparently.” My body vibrated with anger, a violent storm raging inside of me. “She’s a good person, Dad. You’d like her if you—”
“You think I want his daughter in my house?” His eyes narrowed, spittle flying from his mouth. “He ruined everything… every-fucking-thing.”
“No, Dad, you did that all by yourself.” My grip on him loosened and he shoved me away.
“You’re weak, Son. You don’t have what it takes to go all the way if you’re distracted by something so fickle as a bit of puss—”
“Stop! Just stop.” The words tore from my lungs, making my chest heave. I’d taken his verbal attacks, his constant taunts, and disappointment. But as far as I was concerned, Lily was off-limits. She didn’t deserve his drunken bitter tirades. And I’d be fucking damned if I let him stand there and talk about her as if she was nothing.
Not when she was everything to me.
“Life has moved on Dad, everyone has moved on… but not you. You’re stuck in the past. And it’s destroying this family. That’s on you. It’s all on you.”
He lunged for me, slamming me against the wall.
“Go on, do it,” I goaded, tired of his bullshit. “You’re not half the man Coach Ford is. You’re nothing more than a sorry excuse—”
His fist crumpled against my jaw, pain radiating through me as my head snapped to the side, the metallic twang of blood filling my mouth.
The door opened and Mom’s shrieks filled the hall. “Lewis, stop. STOP!” she yelled, shoving her small body in between us, shielding me. “Enough,” she cried. “Can’t you see what you’re doing?”
Dad staggered away, his eyes wild. “I didn’t… Kaiden, Son…”
“I’m done,” I spat, smearing the blood off my lip with the back of my hand. “I am so fucking done.”
“Kaiden,” he reached for me, but Mom swatted him away.
“No, Lewis. I have stood by long enough. You need help. You need to do something to fix this family before it’s too late.”
“What are you saying?” he seethed, his eyes darting nervously between me and Mom.
“If you don’t get help. I’m leaving you.”
“Tina, don’t be so dram—”
“No, Lewis. I can’t do this anymore… I won’t. Kaiden is our boy. He’s our son, and you’re…” She expelled a weary breath. “I don’t even know who you are anymore.”
With a garbled cry, Mom took off down the hall and I followed. I’d known he would react badly when he found out about Lily, but it didn’t make it any easier to swallow.
“Let’s take a look at that,” Mom said. “Sit.”
I dropped onto one of the stools. “Did you mean it?”
She paused, lifting her teary gaze to mine. “Yeah, sweetheart, I did.”
“Good,” I said with a stiff nod.
“What happened?” Mom ran a towel under the faucet and gave it to me to press against my mouth. It stung like a bitch, but hopefully it would help with any swelling.
“Coach Ford stopped by… I, uh… I have something to tell you.”
“I’m listening.”
“I met a girl, Mom. The girl.”
“Oh my,” she gasped but her brows furrowed. “And how does that concern Coach Ford?”
“She’s his daughter.”
Soft laughter bubbled in her chest, and it was my turn to frown. “Mom?”
“Well, if that isn’t history coming full circle,” she gave me a warm smile. “I don’t know what is.”
Chapter Thirty-Three
Lily
“Lily, can I come in?” Poppy stuck her head around the door, and I nodded. She glided over to me and slipped under the covers. “How are you feeling?”
“I don’t know how I’ll ever step foot in school again.”
“Don’t say that.” She threaded her fingers in mine. “It’ll be okay, Lil. Dad and Principal Kiln will stamp out the video and you have me and Peyton and Ashleigh and…” She trailed off. “Have you spoken to him?”
Pressing my lips together, I swallowed the fresh wave of tears rushing up my throat.
“Oh, Lil. You should talk to him. Mom said—”
“I can’t. I’m not ready.”
I’d stood
in the middle of the dance and declared my love to Kaiden, and he’d been there… with her. The rational part of me knew he was only doing it because she was a manipulative bitch, but it didn’t change the fact she’d ruined what should have been the best night of my life.
“I don’t know if I should tell you this…” Poppy hesitated. “But Dad’s over there right now.”
“He’s what?” I bolted upright. “Mom let him go over there?”
“Mom didn’t let him do anything.” She sighed. “You know what he’s like. It’s eating him up inside that this happened, and I guess he and Kaiden have a lot to talk about.”
“Oh my God.” Burying my face in my hands, I tried to swallow the tears. I was so sick of crying. I’d cried almost all night, remembering Lindsey’s cruel words and my classmates whispers and snickers as they watched the video.
“Lily, stop.” Poppy’s hands clasped around my wrists. I hadn’t even realized my fingers had found their way into my hair. But now that I was aware, I couldn’t resist tugging the roots sharply; the sharp, burning sensation like a salve to my battered soul.
“Lily, you don’t want to do this,” she said softly.
“I need it,” I said, tugging again, a huge wave of shame washing over me as I pulled my fingers away and admired the loose strands.
“No, you don’t. This doesn’t control you, Lily. Here.” She moved around my side and let down my messy braid and began re-braiding it, careful to tame all the flyaway hairs into the tight weave.
My fingers itched to pluck them free. To keep plucking until I felt at peace. But it was a downward spiral I didn’t want to start.
Poppy was right. It didn’t control me, not anymore. I focused on my breathing instead, controlling the things I could control, until I felt calmer.
“There,” she said. “You’ve got this, Lil.”
“Thank you.”
“I’m so proud of you.” She threw her arms around me.
“Proud?” I whispered.
“Well, yeah, duh.” Poppy held me at arm’s length, sincerity glittering in her eyes. “After everything you’ve been through, you still found the courage to go after what you want. That takes balls.”
