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The sight of my father’s name sends chills through me. First Tim, now the man who banished me here like I was nothing more than dirt on his shoe.
For a second, I think about not answering it. But Harrison Rexford doesn’t call for pleasantries. He calls for business, for things which require his attention.
Does he know?
The thought flickers through my mind, but I dismiss it. My father is many things, but he’s not psychic. There is no way he can know about the baby.
I swear the ringing grows more persistent, and I take a deep breath before finally hitting answer.
“Hadley, must you keep me waiting?”
No “How are you?”
No “Happy Thanksgiving.”
Just straight to the point as always.
“I was...” I swallow the excuse on the tip of my tongue. “Hello, Father.”
He gives me an indignant huff. “I spoke with Valerie. She said you quit cheer.”
Thanks a lot, Miss Jones. I should have known I couldn’t trust her.
“I need to focus on other things, and I don’t enjoy it anymore.”
“Our agreement was—”
“I know what our agreement was, but this is my senior year. I don’t want to spend it part of a team I don’t enjoy being a part of. Besides, the football season is almost over.”
“Very well. Your mother is most concerned, but so long as everything else is in order. Your college applications?”
“Almost done,” I lie.
“Cutting it a little close, aren’t you?”
“I have time.”
The plan was always that I would attend Gravestone University, like my parents and their parents before. But I’m tainted now. My father would rather lie to his friends and say I’m off chasing my dreams than admit the truth.
“I don’t know what the delay is. We talked about this. UCLA, USC, or Stanford.”
I purse my lips, irritation rippling up my spine. He doesn’t want me to tarnish his reputation, but he wants to keep a hand in my life.
I’m eighteen now, I don’t need to follow his orders. But I have to think smart. Right now, I have an allowance, not to mention the sizable trust fund waiting for me when I graduate, although I like to think of it as a ‘keep Hadley quiet’ fund.
“I know what we talked about, Father. I was there, remember?”
His sharp inhale tells me I’ve surprised him. I’ve surprised myself, but I have bigger things to worry about now than continually disappointing him.
“Is there anything else?” I ask when he doesn’t reply. “I have some homework to finish.”
“No, that was all. I’ll await confirmation that your college applications have been sent. Your mother says hello.”
I swallow the lump in my throat but don’t reply.
“Very well. Stay out of trouble, Hadley. I didn’t make a sizable donation to that ridiculously expensive school for you to make an even bigger mess of your life.”
He hangs up and I clutch my phone, silent tears streaking down my cheeks. I wish I could cut him out of my life as easily as he did me.
