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“You know damn well what—”
“Hey, Michaels,” a voice calls out, interrupting our terse conversation, “do we have film review at three?”
I flick my gaze in Brayden’s direction and give him a tight smile. “Yup.”
He points toward the student union. “You interested in grabbing an early lunch?”
“Nah.” I shake my head. “Can’t. I’ve got class.”
His focus shifts to my father. Curiosity fills his eyes. Before he can ask any more questions, I say, “I’ll catch you at three.”
He jerks his head into a nod and takes the hint. “Yup. Later.”
Relief escapes from my lungs as he leaves. People continue to walk past and stare. A few girls giggle and wave when I catch their gaze. I really need to take this conversation someplace a little less public.
“Not sure why you would tie yourself down when the pussy is so plentiful around here,” my father says with a leer as he watches the girls walk away. “Goddamn, son. You must be drowning in it. Makes me realize how much we’ve done for you.”
My jaw drops to the ground.
Is he fucking delusional?
Rage claws at my insides, searching for an escape.
“I told you before,” I mutter, not wanting to be overheard, “I don’t have anything else to give.”
“Well,” he jerks his shoulders and raises his hands as if it can’t be helped, “that’s gonna be a problem.” He pulls off his ball cap and scratches his head. “Who would have thought everything would be so damn expensive? A grand doesn’t stretch nearly as far as it used to. I’m going to need a little extra to help get me on my feet.”
“There’s nothing more I can do.”
He purses his lips and glances around the tree-lined campus. “You got a nice set up going here.” His hardened gaze flicks to me. “I would hate for anything to ruin it.”
I gulp down the rising nausea before it has a chance to explode from my lips. It might be a vague threat, but it’s one to take seriously. He doesn’t care about making problems for me. He’s always been a selfish bastard. Clearly, nothing has changed in that regard.
“I’m cash strapped,” I repeat. If I give him anything more from my savings, I don’t know how I’ll support myself for the rest of the academic year. I still need to eat and pay rent. Now that I’m no longer living in the dorms, scholarship money doesn’t cover off-campus housing. Although, with the number of guys I share a place with, it’s cheaper than the student residence halls.
“Maybe you can get a loan. It’s not like you won’t be making millions next year. You’re a good investment.” His eyes light up, warming to the idea. “In fact, I got a couple of associates who would loan you some money at a fair price.”
Loan sharks.
He wants me to take money from guys he got in the hole with. There’s no damn way I can get involved with people like that.
“Well, you better figure it out. I’m almost out of cash, and your mother doesn’t bring in much.”
“Maybe you’re the one who needs to get a job.” The bitterness shoots from my mouth before I can think better of it.
He would much rather sit on his ass and take money from his wife and kid than actually do something to change his situation. I wish he would get the hell out of our lives and leave us alone once and for all. But he won’t. As long as he sees a way to squeeze us for money, he’ll stick around. I see it in his eyes. And right now, I’m a cash cow for him.
Anger snaps in his dull blue eyes as he straightens. “What? You too good to help out your old man? After everything I’ve done for you?”
Done for me?
What a joke. The best thing he ever did was get sent to prison. Too fucking bad he couldn’t have stayed locked up behind bars where he belongs.
And now he’s back.
To ruin my life.
When I remain silent, lost in those depressing thoughts, he steps toward me and smacks my shoulder. “Get me a couple of hundred bucks by the end of the week. That should hold me over for the time being. But you’re gonna have to figure something out, kid. Maybe talk to that fancy agent you got and see if he can slip you something.” Then he says what I’ve been dreading but know deep in my soul is the truth. “I ain’t going away.”
He's right about that.
He’ll never go away.
He’ll continue to suck off me until I die.
For the first time in a decade, I feel hopelessness rush through me, filling up every space inside as it threatens to suck me under.
35
Rowan
“I’m not going to lie, North Carolina will be a tough one, but we’re prepared. They have a powerhouse of a defensive line. As long as our guys give you a pocket to do your thing, we’ll be good.”
