AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I’ll do everything in my power to protect her, Coach.”
“I know you will, son.” He leaned over and gripped my shoulder. “I know you will.”
* * *
“Is it true?”
Coach Ford’s car had barely gotten off the driveway when my old man’s voice came from behind me.
My spine went rigid as I closed the door and turned to face my father. He looked like shit, slumped against the doorjamb, dark circles around his eyes and skin sallow.
“Is what true?” I asked, coolly.
“That you’re seeing his daughter.” Anger simmered in his eyes. “What the hell, Son? A Ford? You’re fucking a—”
“Don’t,” I ground out. “Don’t you dare talk about Lily like that.”
“Lily. The bitch has a—”
I flew at him, wrapping my hand around his throat and slamming him against the wall. “What the fuck is wrong with you, huh? I love her, Dad. I’m in love with her.”
“Love,” he sneered. “What the hell do you know about love, kid?”
“A lot more than you, apparently.” My body vibrated with anger, a violent storm raging inside of me. “She’s a good person, Dad. You’d like her if you—”
“You think I wanthisdaughter in my house?” His eyes narrowed, spittle flying from his mouth. “He ruined everything… every-fucking-thing.”
“No, Dad, you did that all by yourself.” My grip on him loosened and he shoved me away.
“You’re weak, Son. You don’t have what it takes to go all the way if you’re distracted by something so fickle as a bit of puss—”
“Stop! Just stop.” The words tore from my lungs, making my chest heave. I’d taken his verbal attacks, his constant taunts, and disappointment. But as far as I was concerned, Lily was off-limits. She didn’t deserve his drunken bitter tirades. And I’d be fucking damned if I let him stand there and talk about her as if she was nothing.
Not when she was everything to me.
“Life has moved on Dad, everyone has moved on… but not you. You’re stuck in the past. And it’s destroying this family. That’s on you. It’s all on you.”
He lunged for me, slamming me against the wall.
“Go on, do it,” I goaded, tired of his bullshit. “You’re not half the man Coach Ford is. You’re nothing more than a sorry excuse—”
His fist crumpled against my jaw, pain radiating through me as my head snapped to the side, the metallic twang of blood filling my mouth.
The door opened and Mom’s shrieks filled the hall. “Lewis, stop.STOP!” she yelled, shoving her small body in between us, shielding me. “Enough,” she cried. “Can’t you see what you’re doing?”
Dad staggered away, his eyes wild. “I didn’t… Kaiden, Son…”
“I’m done,” I spat, smearing the blood off my lip with the back of my hand. “I am so fucking done.”
“Kaiden,” he reached for me, but Mom swatted him away.
“No, Lewis. I have stood by long enough. You need help. You need to do something to fix this family before it’s too late.”
“What are you saying?” he seethed, his eyes darting nervously between me and Mom.
“If you don’t get help. I’m leaving you.”
“Tina, don’t be so dram—”
