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My fury grows but I try to remain calm on the outside. “There’s a difference between quitting and being done with the bullshit.”
“The only thing that’s bullshit is you letting Cash Barlowe influence the choices you make about your career. All those years you worked your ass off, down the drain.”
“You should’ve told me.”
“Why? So, you could act exactly like this?” He gestures to me before slinging his hand in the air. “It’s one season. I saw your talent and knew you were destined to be ten times the player your father ever was. And I wanted it to be under my watch. I just needed to get you to prove yourself to the team, so they’d keep you here. That’s when I was going to tell you. After you knew this wasyourteam because it’s where you should be.”
“It’s his team. It’ll always be. That much is clear.”
“You have a choice. Step up and play the damn game. Or stand down and play his. Pick wisely, Carter, because you deserve better than the shitty cards Cash has dealt you time and time again.”
“I’m done.” I repeat the words, trying to block out Dundee’s. How can I step onto that field knowing the sole reason I’m there is because of my father?
His head drops as he shakes it. “You’re gonna regret it.” Just before he reaches the door, he turns to look at me. “I had a curious visitor at the stadium yesterday.”
“Okay.”
“She wanted to warn me about Cash. She said he has some kind of plan to ruin your career, and she was worried about you. Avery cared enough about you that she waited outside the gate, hollering at every person she saw until someone escorted her back to my office. And you can’t get off the damn couch to save yourself.”
My eyes focus straight ahead on the wall. “Was she okay?”
“Ask her yourself.”
The door slams, echoing through the empty house, and that only serves to make me feel worse by the second.
I want to ask her. I want to get off the couch. I want to save myself. But the only thing I can see is my father’s wicked face behind the plate where I started the first fight I’ve ever had on the field—reminding me that I’m not in control of myself.
37
AVERY
“You can totally bail on me.” Bodie pulls my attention from the familiar landscape as I ride shotgun to his brother’s wedding.
I can’t say I hadn’t thought about bailing. After a long, worrisome week of no word from Carter—and thankfully nothing out of Cash—I’m exhausted. But I’d promised Bodie and since it’s Greg (the brother I adore, not the one who ripped my heart out), I really do want to go.
“Yeah. I should. But I can’t bail on your brother.”
“Oh, so this is all for him?” Bodie laughs, waving over the length of me. “Here I thought you got all dolled up for me.” His grin stretches wide as he reaches over to grab my hand. “You look beautiful, Avery.”
“Thanks.” I glance out the window, my free hand smoothing down the soft fabric of my dress.
Oddly, Bodie remains quiet for the remainder of the ride. Once he pulls to a stop in the parking lot, I glance around, noting we are super early since he has to take pictures. He hurries around the hood, shutting the passenger door as I rub my hands over my already smooth dress, eyes turned to the ground.
“Avery.” Bodie’s soft tone pulls my eyes to him as he steps forward, swiping his hand across my exposed back where the dress is lined in lace. There’s a look of remorse on his face as he pulls me into his embrace. “He’ll come around.”
“I’m fine.”
“No lying to your best friend.” He releases me, taking my hand in his as we start to walk into the venue. “But I really believe he’ll come around. He has a lot going on right now. With the suspension and fallout from the game, I’m sure he’s trying to get everything straight.”
“Yeah. That’s probably it.” I agree because I want to think he’s staying away and avoiding my calls for that reason and not because he doesn’t want to see me.
“Besides, he’d be a real dumbass to not see what a wonderful woman you are.”
“Thanks.” My best friend is really trying to pull me out of my funky mood, so I resolve to do my best to enjoy the event. I fix a smile on my face as we’re greeted by Bodie’s family, including the brother I do my best to avoid. As soon as Russell makes eye contact and takes a step in my direction, Bodie says something to him, and I take the opportunity to pivot and find a place to hang out while they snap some pictures.
During the gorgeous ceremony, I tell myself I’m just wrapped up in the moment, but the truth is, I realize how much I want this. Not the wedding, not the showy day, just someone to spend the rest of my life with. And of all people, Carter enters my mind. Cash’s cruel words soon follow as I shake it all out of my head. There’s no point dwelling on something I have absolutely no control over.
Once the ceremony is over, the wedding guests are shuffled into the reception area where Bodie soon joins me dancing, laughing, and having a wonderful time. And it’s when I’m spinning out of a turn from Bodie that I spot someone else.
