by Eliza Freer
Izzy slides the smoothie to me which I grab greedily. I glance over at Tassie and she gives me a tight smile as she sips her own coffee. Izzy clears her throat loudly. “So?”
I take another huge gulp of my smoothie before setting it down and launching in. “I’ll talk, no interruptions, then afterwards say whatever you want.”
Izzy crosses her arms and nods. “Deal.”
I sit up straighter and push back my shoulders. “Wilder and I broke up last night. We got in a huge fight at his party and we just imploded. Even Kyle was more on my side than he was, which just drove a really big knife straight into my little heart.” I shake my head and look down before continuing. “So we both said some mean things, he got really personal with his digs, too personal. I don’t have it in me to be with someone who doesn’t believe in me no matter what. That’s all I’m asking for. I don’t think it’s that crazy, and after all the stuff he’s said to me, I didn’t think it would be that much of a stretch with him.” I shrug. “But, I guess maybe it was.”
I glance up and Izzy looks furious. She holds up one hand. “Let me just say, I always hated him. I know I might not have looked like it, but I did. He’s too pretty. Too charming. Can I kill him?” She toggles her fingers back and forth between her and Tassie. “We will kill him together. Oh! Just wait until you tell the guys. They’ll for sure kill him.”
I laugh. “Forgot that part. They were there for the end of it. I thought Riley was going to punch him. We ended up at Tony’s party. Where, from what I remember, ten players maybe bought me drinks, so I was good and drunk.”
Izzy slaps her hand on the counter. “As is your right as a heartbroken woman.” She frowns at me. “For what it’s worth, I am sorry. What do you need from me?”
I smile. “Actually, I’d like to switch up some of my shifts. Wilder knows my schedule, and I can’t have him in here every day making a scene. So, could you work your magic?”
Izzy nods. “No sweat. There’s only a few days left before school starts, and then the schedules are kind of based on class schedules, but he’ll be busy then too, so yeah, I can do that. I think you’re only here for two shifts maybe, but I’ll make it work.”
I lean over the counter and kiss her on the cheek. “Thanks, love. Oh, and sorry about the calls.” I look over at Tassie also. “I love you both for worrying about me, really. Wilder and Kyle kept calling and texting me, so Riley took my phone and shut it off so I didn’t even have the temptation.”
Izzy laughs. “Well thank the goddess for those boys.”
Tassie slaps the counter and laughs. “That’s exactly what I said!”
They fist bump, which seems like a new thing, and I zone out a little while they continue their conversation and I continue drinking my smoothie. I alternate between that and my coffee until I feel more like me.
“Ladies, I probably shouldn’t be out too long. I don’t know when my dad is going to be home, and it’s probably not going to be pretty. I don’t even know how he knew I got home last night, so that’ll be an interesting revelation.” I push forward my empty glasses and lay my head back down in my hands.
Izzy grabs the glasses and turns towards the kitchen. “Let me change the schedule now, so you have it to take with you before you leave. Also, grab a couple of those muffins you love too. You’ll probably need them.”
I smile and push away from the counter, coming around to the other side. I toss three muffins in a bag to take home. She never specified a number, and I feel justified. As I’m about to round the counter back towards Tassie I feel arms wrap around my back. I know before turning around Cam is giving me one of his best hugs.
He leans down and whispers in my ear. “I heard. I’m sorry. What a dick.”
I nod and pat his hands. He pulls away and I turn around and face him. I lay a hand on his shoulder. “Thanks. Hopefully after today everyone will stop saying sorry and we can pretend like life’s normal again.”
He winks. “Hear you loud and clear. Now get out from behind my counter, woman!”
Izzy pops out from the kitchen and hands me a sheet of paper. “Adjusted. And don’t worry about anyone who will complain. You know me. I just don’t care. Well, I care about you and Cam, but that’s it.”
I smile at her and give her a final hug and kiss on the cheek. “Thanks, Iz. Love ya!”
I race around the counter and collect Tassie and we’re off. I blow out a big breath. Glad that I’ve gotten the break-up confession out to everyone that needs to hear it. Now just to face my dad. This will undoubtedly not be pretty.
As Tassie and I get closer and closer to my house I let a shiver escape. “I’ve never really done anything like this before. I don’t have precedent. What’s a typical punishment like?”
Tassie twists her lips. “Depends. Usually grounding and a lecture. Since you’re a first time offender it shouldn’t be too bad. Plus your dad knows what’s been going on. But, hey, if he’s there how am I getting home? I need you to drive me. I brought Cory.”
I sigh. “He might not even be there. If he’s not we’re running for it and I’ll take you home.”
Tassie laughs as I unlock my front door. No sign of my dad. I run upstairs and check his bedroom when I notice a note on my bedroom door I hadn’t noticed before.
Easton-
I’ll be home at 3:00. See you then, kiddo. Love you!
-Dad
I sigh with relief. Maybe he’s not that mad. I pull the note off my door and notice one beneath that one.
Oh, I forgot, We WILL BE having a conversation. You need to be home when I get home.
I groan and run downstairs to show Tassie the notes. She laughs and tosses them on the kitchen counter.
“Okay, well that gives you enough time to take me home, come back, and find a good place to hide.” She smacks me on the butt and ushers me towards the door. “Scoot. It’ll just be worse if you’re not here.”
She hands me my keys and I lock the door again. I jog to Cory P and unlock the doors for us. I take a deep breath before starting the car and driving Tassie home. Fifteen minutes later as Tassie is getting out of the car, she leans in and gives me a kiss on the cheek and a shoulder squeeze.
“Good luck, Yankee. I’d say call me after, but that’s wishful thinking, huh?”
I roll my eyes. “Probably. I’ll send smoke signals or something.”
She laughs and runs up to her house. I back out of her drive and head home, ready to face the music.
********************
I walk in the door with about fifteen minutes to spare before Dad is supposed to get home. I make myself some coffee and post up at the kitchen counter awaiting my lecture and execution. I hear the front door open and glance up at the clock. 3:04 PM.
“Hey, kiddo.” Dad says quietly as he drops his bag at the foot of the stairs and moves into the kitchen.
I give a small smile. “Hey, Pops. Coffee?”
Dad gives a small shake of his head. “No, thanks.” He moves towards the refrigerator. “Just water for me.”
I don’t remember the last time things were this awkward between us. I study my dad over the lip of my coffee mug. He keeps twisting the cap of his water back and forth, never quite breaking the seal. When he sets it on the counter and wipes his hands on his jeans, I know he’s ready.
Dad clears his throat. “East, I know we haven’t really had a lot of discipline problems in the past, so we’re both flying by the seat of our pants here. But, you know I can’t let you think that last night was okay. It wasn’t. Having Paul wake me up on the couch to let me know you’re home isn’t the way I thought last night would end. I didn’t think I’d have to watch Blake carry you upstairs to tuck you into bed.”
I grimace and look at the counter. At least now I know how the night ended. “I’m sorry, Dad.” I whisper quietly. Because, I am. He puts a lot of trust in me and I hate the idea that I’ve disappointed him.
Dad nods. “I know. But, hun, I know I give you
a lot of freedom and I always have. You’re not a stereotypical teenager. You’ve never been a normal kid. It’s like you were born ten years more mature than kids your age. But last night, you never would’ve known that was the case. I know I gave you permission to have a drink, and maybe I shouldn’t have, but I didn’t think you’d wind up drunk and underage in a campus bar where you could’ve been seen by anyone.”
Dad’s voice starts to raise and I glance up at him. He doesn’t so much look angry as he does concerned. “I didn’t mean to get to that point. I just…I don’t have a good excuse. I know you don’t want excuses. It was my fault, no one else’s. I just…I needed…I thought I needed…”
Dad holds up a hand to stop me. “I know. You’ve had a really hard few weeks. A really hard few weeks that I wish you would’ve told me about sooner than last night. I understand why you did what you did. I really do. But, kiddo, we’ve always trusted each other. We’ve always talked. You can’t clam up on me now just because you’re scared or trying to spare me. When you do things like that, you shut yourself off and bottle up all these feelings and end up wasted in a bar.”
I clear my throat and my voice gets shaky. “I didn’t want to disappoint you, Dad. Everything that’s happened to us. The moves, the pictures, the bad stuff in our lives, is my fault. All of it. I didn’t want to hurt you again. I didn’t want to mess things up for us again. I just thought I could handle it. I thought me and the guys could figure it all out, and it’d just go away.” A tear slips down my cheek. “I thought I could protect you from being hurt by me again.”
Dad sighs and walks around the kitchen island and wraps me up in a hug. I twist my body so my head is pressed against his chest. “None of that was your fault. You didn’t take that photo, you didn’t blackmail anyone, and you didn’t act like a loser and send it out to your friends. You didn’t start rumors on this campus about yourself and the kinds of activities you get up to. You didn’t make people jealous by doing anything scandalous. You’re just you. And the people you’re closest to that care the most about you, just happen to be in the public eye. None of that is your fault, so don’t do that. Don’t not tell me things because you take on all the responsibility of what’s happened to us in the past. Don’t you dare do that. That’s not fair to either of us.”
I nod and pull back from his hug. “Sorry.”
Dad pulls back the rest of the way and looks into my eyes. “I know you were safe last night because you were with the guys, but you won’t always be. Once the season starts we’ve got away games, and we’ll all be gone. Me included. I need to know you will make smart decisions. East, you know more than most that there are people who will take advantage of you. They will get to you in weak moments and hurt you. I’m not trying to upset you, but you know that’s true. I can’t be worrying about you going out there and drinking too much and making stupid decisions alone because you’ve decided you’re invincible. Lots of things can happen to a pretty girl on a college campus, no matter who her friends are. You are not guaranteed protection. I need you to be smart. I don’t know what I’d do if something happened to you, and I don’t want to find out.”
I sniffle back a tear. “I know, Dad. You’re right. I take it for granted that the guys are there, and want to be there. It was dumb and I shouldn’t have gotten drunk. It won’t happen again.”
Dad chuckles. “I appreciate the sentiment, but you are in college, so I won’t hold my breath. But, I do need you to think about your surroundings. I just want you to be safe. Again, I know you were last night because of who you were with. And, I don’t necessarily think you’d be that careless if you weren’t with them. But I wasn’t about to let my eighteen year old daughter come home wasted and not say something about it.”
I smile. “I really am sorry I disappointed you. But, the guys, they’d never let anything happen to me. You know that, right? I’m always safe with them. Not an excuse, just saying.”
Dad shakes his head. “I know, East. That doesn’t mean I didn’t make them run a few extra laps today for finding the loopholes in my permission. And, I’m not saying you can’t go to parties anymore or you can’t hang out with the guys and actually act like a college kid, but I just felt the need to remind you that, yes you are smart, but you are also young and beautiful and breakable, too.”
I nod. “So? This feels like the punishment stage.”
Dad rubs his hands together. “Oh, yes. As your punishment, taking into consideration you’ve had a few really crappy weeks, you have to spend more time with me. You’ll come to practices with me these next few days and watch your old man in action. I’m sure the guys won’t mind having you around either. You start school soon, so this will only keep you out of trouble for the few days you have left, but between practice and work, I’ll keep you busy.”
I chuckle and wrap my arms around Dad. “That sounds like the worst punishment ever.” I pull back and give Dad a kiss on the cheek. “Thanks, Dad.”
He kisses the top of my head and turns to the fridge. “Now that that’s over, what are you making me for dinner?”
I roll my eyes and hop off the stool. I walk to the fridge and shoo Dad out of the way. “Go away. I’ve already planned fajitas. I’ll call you when they’re ready.”
Dad smiles at me and heads down into his man cave as I start pulling things out of the fridge. As far as lectures and punishments go, I think I got off pretty easy.
Chapter 25
It's funny how uneventful a day can seem when you're not working with your friends. After asking Izzy to change my schedule away from what Wilder would be expecting, that put me on opposite shifts from her and Cam. It's been awhile since I've worked without either one of them, and it’s depressing. I’m not discounting that my newfound relationship status and reinforcement of trust issues might have something to do with it. After zoning out most of the day, I change out of my work clothes at the end of my shift and find my dad waiting in his car out in front of the shop. Today is the first day of my “punishment” where I’ll attend practices with him.
I hop in the car and nod at Dad. “Hello, Father.”
Dad nods back and starts us on our way. “Daughter. Ready for this?’
“So ready. Do the guys know I’m coming?”
Dad nods. “Yep. Makes sure they’re on their best behavior.”
I laugh. “Right. However, I’m not opposed to holding the position of temporary Assistant Coach to whip those boys into shape.” I sneak a glance at my dad who is all smiles.
“Honey, you have to have a more well-rounded knowledge of football to do that for me. But, I do appreciate the sentiment.”
I shake my head. “No, no. I said to whip them into shape. Not to shape them as players. Big difference. Let’s just take it day by day and see how it goes.”
Dad laughs. “Okay, deal.”
We pull into Dad’s parking spot at the stadium a couple moments later. We hop out of the car and head in through the coaches’ and players’ entrance. I smile at the sounds of the guys laughing and running from the locker rooms onto the field. Dad notices the skip in my step and laughs.
“If coming to practice makes you this happy, maybe you should’ve been coming more often.”
I shake my head. “It’s the rarity of it. Like, if I rode a roller coaster every day instead of a couple times as a year, it might not be as much fun. Same principle.”
Dad rolls his eyes. “Okay, kiddo. Now, of course I want you to have a nice, relaxing time today, but behave and don’t forget the guys need to practice. You’re a little distracting by nature, but stick to the sides, okay?”
I roll my eyes back. “Yeah, Pops, I know.”
It’s then we hit the field and the first faces I see are Blake and Riley. They both run over to me and my dad.
Riley speaks first. “Hi, Coach.” He nods down at me and winks. “East. I still have your phone by the way. It’s here, if you want it back.”
Blake looks to Dad first as well. “Coach. How
you feeling, East?”
I glare at Blake. “Just fine, thanks for bringing it up. Don’t you have laps to run or something?”
Dad chuckles. “Now that she mentions it…”
I cackle and grab Dad’s wrist. “Can I grab my phone from Riley real quick? Please?”
Dad nods. “Fine. Don’t dawdle.”
I grab Riley’s bicep. “Lead the way, Captain.” Riley and I head towards the locker rooms. “Did my dad say dawdle?”
Riley laughs. “I believe so. Seems like a word a Southern Gentleman might say, so it’s fitting here.”
I scoff. “We are anything but southern or refined, so I think it’s weird.”
Riley glances into the locker room to make sure it’s empty before he leads me inside. He heads over to his locker and grabs my phone from the top shelf. “I haven’t messed with it since yesterday.” He hands me my phone. “But, be warned I deleted the texts from Wilder and Kyle. I just thought, knowing you, you’d read them all when you got your phone back and feel worse about everything, so now you don’t have the temptation.”
I shake my head and swallow through the sudden tidal wave of emotions. “You’re not wrong about that. Thanks.”
We head out of the locker room and back towards the field. I grab Riley’s elbow. “Wait, how did you get into my phone? You don’t know the code.”
Riley wraps his arm around my shoulder and keeps pushing me forward. “I asked what it was that night, and you laughed and said ‘it’s my birthday. Good luck with that, bucko.’”
I bury my head in my hands. “No. I didn’t say that.”
Riley laughs. “You did. But, lucky for you, I’m an amazing friend so I know when your birthday is.”
I open my mouth wide and smile up at him. “You do! That’s straight impressive, Ry.”
I turn my phone back on. When it asks for the unlock code and I type in my birthday it rejects it. “What the hell?”
Riley snickers. “Well, I figured since I’m a good enough friend to know your birthday, you should know mine. So, I changed your code. Now it’s my birthday. So, good luck with that, bucko.”
