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“We have time. Go talk to your brother. ”

“It’s fine, Beth. ” Mark responds for me in a tone that indicates an apology. “I’m glad I got a chance to meet you. Don’t let Groveton smother you to death. ”

She gives him one of her rare genuine smiles and I want to hit something—hard. “Good luck with your game next week. ”

Mark shoves his hands into his jeans as he leaves. “You know where to find me when you’re ready, Ry. ”

Beth watches him until he’s out of sight.

“What the fuck is wrong with you?”

“You wouldn’t understand. ” I stalk off to the parking lot and toss my stuff into the Jeep.

Beth slams her passenger door shut and I answer her anger by slamming my own. “Tell me where I’m supposed to be taking you. ”

“The strip mall a half mile before your pitching facility. ”

My head jerks. That place is a step above ghetto. “I’m not leaving you there. ”

“I didn’t ask for your approval. You made a deal with me. It’s your decision if you want to keep it. ” Her frozen blue eyes pierce into me.

I yank hard on the bill of my hat and peel out onto the main road. She’s angry. I’m angry.

We stay silent as I drive the thirty minutes to the other side of town. There’s enough electricity in the air to propel the car without gas. One word from either of us could cause an explosion.

Beth obviously likes playing with fire. “Is your brother one of those guys that can be awesome to strangers, then turn into a complete dick in private? Did he piss in your Cheerios every morning before you went to school?”

“No,” I grit out. “He was a great brother. ”

“Then what is wrong with you? He said you guys haven’t talked in three months and that he was here to see you. What’s so damned important that you couldn’t take three seconds out of your day to

say hi?”

I turn on the radio. She turns it off. I pound my hand against the wheel. “I thought you were in a hurry for your one hour of freedom in Louisville. ”

“Waiting fifteen minutes so you can talk to your brother isn’t going to ruin my one hour.

Let’s try this again. What’s going on?”

“He’s gay. ”

Beth blinks. “You already told me that.

Catch me up on the you being an asshole part. ”

I am not an asshole. The whole reason for this day was for her to see that I’m not an asshole. “He left, okay? He left and he’s made it clear he’s not coming back. ”

She angles her body toward me. “Tell me that’s a self-imposed decision Mark made. ”

Beth doesn’t tell me squat about her family, yet she expects perfection from mine. “My dad threw him out and Mark didn’t even try to see what would happen if he attempted to stay. Are you happy now?”

“No. So your dad’s a homophobic bastard.

What’s your excuse?”

The anger bursts out of me. “What did you expect me to do? Go against my dad? He told me and Mom that we weren’t allowed to talk to him anymore. He’s my dad, Beth. What would you have done?”

I don’t bother telling her that I tried reaching out to him or that Mark didn’t respond to me…until now. Now when it’s too late.

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