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“Get your bags packed.Let’s go.” My father opens the door and motions for me to hurry up.
“Go where?” I glare at him.
“Back to the airport. We’re going home. Going to get this trip rescheduled for you and get you back on the road.”
“Uh, no we’re not. I’m staying here until I see Quentin. Where is he?”
“He left.”
“What do you mean he left?”
“Exactly what I said. He’s gone. Now let’s go. I don’t have time for any more shenanigans out of you, Madison. And don’t think about calling your mother for sympathy. She’s as furious as I am.”
My heart crashes to a halt in my chest. Quentin couldn’t have left. Wouldn’t have left. There’s no way. I know when he said he loved me he meant it. I could see it in his eyes. Feel it in the way he talked to me.
“No. He wouldn’t.”
“Well, he did. Now pack your bags.”
I push past my father into the main room of the house, and I see my brother on the couch. His eyes are on his phone.
“Tobias, where’s Quentin?”
Tobias looks like he’s been over the coals too. I can’t imagine Dad didn’t blame him in part for all of this. He never wanted Tobias talking to someone with the last name Undergrove in the first place, let alone being friends with him and bringing him into his house. God forbid he touch his daughter.
“I don’t know, Mads.” Tobias shakes his head and looks back down at his phone.
I whip around to see my father standing there now, still looking as pissed off and as formidable as ever. I hate him in this moment. I’d never thought he was the best father. He was frequently absent, always focused on football over his family, and his betrayal of my mother—even if it resulted in one of my favorite people in the world—was something that always hung over this family like a pall. But occasionally he had moments. Times when he felt like he was a real dad. Teaching me how to throw a football. Making time occasionally when I was in high school to show up to my volleyball games and cheer me on—even if his presence was as much a distraction as it was a reward. When he picked me up from my first car accident in my new car and told me it was just a car that could be fixed rather than yelling at me. Those moments had always given me enough to cling to. But now I can’t help the sneaking suspicion he’s done something to Quentin. Forced his hand.
“What did you say to him?” I stare at Dad, feeling the burn of tears at the back of my throat.
“I told him he wouldn’t get any money out of marrying you. That was all I needed to say.”
It breaks me.
“I hate you. You ruineverything. Just because you don’t know how to love someone doesn’t mean you have to ruin it for everyone else.”
“I ruin everything? Everything you have is because of me, and you take it all for granted. I’ve been too soft on you. Your mom wanted you to stay in college. I was the one who thought you trying your gap year might get your head on straight. But instead when we give you an inch, you take a mile. Shacking up with some piece of shit felon’s boy who only wanted your money. I thought you were brighter than falling for that. Instead, you embarrass yourself, me, and your brother. I’m done letting you run wild. Pack your shit.”
“Don’t bring me into it,” Tobias warns, standing from his place on the couch.
“I’m not going with you.”
“Madison.” I see my father’s face turning its signature red. The one the sportscasters always comment on when he’s lost his patience with the refs. I can see him gearing up to unleash hell.
“I’ll take her home,” Tobias interrupts.
My dad silently turns and looks at Tobias. There’s an exchange between them, a silent one.
“Today,” my father says before he gives me one last withering glare and storms out of the room.
I look at Tobias and then I feel the tears come crashing through. I can’t hold them back anymore. The pride that I still had in front of my dad is gone now that it’s just me and Tobias. He crosses the room and wraps his arms around me.
“It’s gonna be okay, Mads.”
“It’s not. Nothing is okay. I love him. Really love him. I’m not stupid. He loves me too. Dad, he ruins everything. You know he ruins everything good.”
“Well, we’ll see. Just… for now, let’s get you packed and out of here, okay?” Tobias squeezes me tight.
* * *
My brother’s—we’llseeturns into a—we’ll know. Because once I get home, despite numerous text messages and calls on my part—ones that are blocked and eventually go to a line that’s disconnected altogether when I try calling from my brother’s phone—I never hear from Quentin again. In fact, Tobias and Xander never hear from him either. I don’t see any news of him as a free agent, and I don’t see him back on his team roster at their old college.
Quentin’s disappeared like a ghost into the night. I’m half-worried that something terrible happened—something I’ll never know about because my father can’t let a grudge go.
Until New Year’s Day when I’m at a friend’s house, recovering from my hangover by sitting on the couch with fast food. My friend is watching college bowl games and I don’t even know what teams are in them. I hadn’t been interested in football this year. Nothing other than Tobias and Xander’s games when I could catch them. Hating a football player as much as I hate Quentin will do that for you—ruin the whole damn sport.
So when I see him walk out on that field, playing for a different team, described as a top draft pick—I feel sick. When I see the girl who wraps her arms around his neck and kisses him when they win the game and raise the trophy surrounded by all the fans who have rushed down out of their seats—I feel like crying, but I don’t. Instead, I make a silent promise to myself, that when the time comes, I’ll ruin the name Undergrove.
