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Logan
After eating lunch with Sailor and her nephews, I dropped her off back at her place and took the boys home. I practically begged her to go out to dinner with me tonight while my parents take Campbell out to a movie in Cardinal Point ? their idea, not mine ? but she turned me down flat. Mentioned some bullshit about not doing repeats and that she only went to lunch with us today because her nephews wanted her to go. She pointed out that it was a bad idea when Campbell “accidentally” spilled his drink in her lap.
Now, I have a sullen teenager on my hands, and it doesn’t take much for me to figure out why. His mood changed the moment I suggested that we invite Sailor to eat lunch with us. He treated her like crap the entire time until both Quinton and Liam called him out on it. I will say this, Sailor has two protective nephews.
I throw the football to him, and he flings it back with all his might again. I won’t keep playing this silent treatment bullshit while he tries to kill me with the ball.
“Want to talk about what’s bothering you? Or better yet, why you behaved the way you did at lunch.”
I toss the ball back to him, and he hesitates before returning it. “I asked you before if you had something going on with Ms. Leigh. You said you didn’t.”
He takes a little heat off of his throw this time. “I admit, I wasn’t completely honest, and I apologize about that. That doesn’t give you the right to be disrespectful to her.”
“So, you do like her?” he asks, catching the ball.
“I do.”
“What about Mom?” And the heat is back, him throwing the ball so hard it hits my chest with a thud. I hold on to it while we talk.
“Campbell, we’ve had this discussion, and I know you don’t want to hear it, but your mom and I are not going to get back together. It doesn’t change how much we both love you. We just don’t love each other anymore.”
He huffs. “Don’t talk to me like I’m a kid! I’m not a kid!”
“Then don’t behave like one! You practically threw a temper tantrum earlier! You’re old enough to understand what has happened,” I say, calming myself. “Your mother and I were not happy together. We tried to make it work for a long time.”
“But she’s getting help! That’s what you wanted!”
“I wanted her to get help because she needed help, Campbell. Not because I wanted us to stay together.”
He shakes his head, walking off. “You gave up on her, Dad.”
I sigh and run a hand through my hair, dropping the ball to the ground. He has no idea how untrue that is. I didn’t give up on her. I gave everything up for her. I spent years in a loveless marriage, standing by while she blew my money and welcomed other men into our bed.
She’s the reason I left the NFL. There was no injury. I chose to leave so I could raise my son and I couldn’t do that and stay in the NFL. Jolene was not capable of being a good mother to Campbell. It was time that I put him first. That’s not going to change. But for once in my life, I can come first, too.
