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“Because she’s young and naive and men will gladly pay to see her body?”
“No, because she felt like you’d forced her onto a path that wasn’t right for her.”
He rolled his eyes. “Please. Spare me the bullshit because I’ve heard all that already, too. I couldn’t even ‘force’ her to go to school in Minnesota. She could’ve changed majors if she really wanted to. I couldn’t have stopped her.”
“Yeah, she could’ve changed majors. But she didn’t know what she wanted to study. Then she started making good money on OnlyFans—reallygood money, as much money in a month as most people make in a year. Imagine if you were making that kind of money at that age. You don’t think you’d be enticed by it? You don’t think you’d be tempted to drop out of school if you weren’t in love with your studies?”
Johnny didn’t respond; he only ground his teeth.
“And yet she still stuck to her morals,” I continued. “She’s getting harassed by men who want her to do nudes. I’ve seen the messages they send her—and they’re downright mean and nasty, Johnny. But you know what? She won’t do it because she’s not comfortable with it, even if she knows she could make a lotmoremoney if she did. She’s a good girl. Give her credit where it’s due.”
“Well, at least I’m glad about that,” Johnny begrudgingly conceded. “But still.”
“Look, I totally understand you’re not thrilled she’s on OnlyFans. But she’s got a great head on her shoulders. And honestly, I think it’s been a great experience for her. She’s got a bright future. She’s got business sense, bud.”
He huffed. “Business sense? She posts softcore porn on the internet.”
“Alotmore work goes into it than you think—marketing, social media, number crunching. Hell, half the shit she talks about is so over my head, I can’t even begin to understand it. The point is, it’s a job, and one she works really, really hard at. She’s built a solid foundation of skills that will help her with whatever she wants to do next.”
“You seriously think shecando something after this? You don’t think she’s ruined her future?”
“I know she can. She’s already moving on from it. She just has to figure out what she wants to do next. And shewillfigure it out.She’s too smart, too hard working, not to.”
Johnny grumbled. He didn’t like it, but I could tell he saw my point.
“Look, Johnny, I know this hurts. And I’m truly sorry I couldn’t tell you. I won’t blame you if you never want to see me again. But I’m not sorry I’ve fallen for Isabelle.”
“Fallen! You fool! Now you sound like her.” He laughed. “Don’t you see how sick and twisted this is? She’s nineteen, Rust. She’s achild.”
I shook my head sternly. “No. She’s not a child.”
“I should’ve seen this coming. Ever since she was a little kid, it was obvious she was fascinated with you. I’ll admit, I thought it was cute how she followed you around, too shy to speak a word to you. But I should’ve known right then and there how dangerous it was, bringing a pro athlete around a young girl.”
“Dangerous?” I asked, chuckling.
“Yes. Dangerous. Because she grew up thinking she was in love with you. And that’s what this is—a grown man taking advantage of a deluded, lovesick child. That’s why this is so sick and wrong.”
“Please. That’s crazy talk.”
“Is it? Or maybe that’s why she wanted to go to school in Vegas? Because she knewyou’dbe here?” He paused and let that sink in. “How does it feel, knowing you’ve been played by a literal child, living out her childish fantasy?”
I’ll admit, he gave me a good scare for a second or two—but considering Isabelle moved to Vegas a year before I did, that was impossible.
“I wasn’t even on Vegas’ roster until this past summer,” I said. “So there goes your theory.”
He rolled his eyes. “Everyone knew Vegas was taking you in the expansion draft.”
“Johnny,Ididn’t even know Vegas was taking me until the day of the draft. So that’d be pretty prescient on Isabelle’s part.”
He said nothing—he knew I was right. I changed gears.
“Look, I get it. I’d be upset too if I were in your shoes. But Isabelle is notsome clueless child, and I am not taking advantage of her, either. I understand you’ll always think of her as a kid because she’s your daughter, but Johnny, youhaveto accept that she’s a grown woman. She’s more than capable of making her own decisions and living her own life. And the more you try to control her life, the more you push her away.”
“Tell me more about how to be a parent. You havesomuch experience,” he said, rolling his eyes.
“True, I’m not a parent yet. But that doesn’t mean I can’t see what’s clearly happening here.”
“Oh?” He steepled his fingers. “Enlighten me, then.”
