Emma
“Th-Thanks for driving me.”I’m sobbing in poor Cody’s car. I bet he’s sorry he offered to drive me home. I was planning on calling Carley as soon as I got far enough away from Eli’s house. “That was so embarrassing.”
“I told you. He’s got a fucked-up relationship with his father.”
“So that gives him the right to treat me like I’m a p-puck bunny?” I stare down at my lap.
“If his father thought Eli had a girlfriend, he’d probably try to ship him off to hockey camp up in Canada.”
Wiping my nose with the sleeve of Eli’s jersey, I ask, “Why?”
“Because all Jack Baxter wants is for Eli to make the pros.”
“I thought Eli wanted that to. I thought he loved hockey.”
“He does love hockey, but he’s not sure he wants to go pro. His dad, well, let’s just say Jack Baxter has one goal and that’s to see his son in the NHL, but here’s a little secret.” Cody looks over at me and winks. I don’t bother commenting about the wink. I’m getting used to them. “Our boy is the opposite of that. If he had his druthers––”
Druthers?
“––he’d be at home, on his sofa, watching TV with his wife and kids. That’s all he’s ever wanted.”
“His wife and kids?” I practically scream the words. “He’s married?”
“Sorry.” Cody waves his hand in the air. “Hisfuturewife and kids.”
“But his dad wants him to play professionally.” I’m not asking a question. It still makes no sense. “Isn’t Eli an adult? Can’t he just tell his dad what he really wants to do?”
“His dad has him by the balls. Eli’s plan is to work for the FBI someday, whether that’s after hockey or after he graduates. It’s been his dream since we were in high school and two agents came and talked to us about working for them. Eli was sold the minute they started talking about cybercrime.”
“Wow.” I mean, that makes sense why he’s a computer programming major.
“But his dad wants him to follow inhisfootsteps. And since Jack Baxter is paying for our house and his tuition, Eli lets him dictate how he lives.”
“That’s ridiculous.” And sad. Plus, it makes me mad. Here I thought Eli Baxter was this strong, stand-up guy, but this makes me wonder if I was wrong.
“It is.” Cody nods.
“If you think it’s wrong, why don’tyoudo something?”
Cody chuckles. “Because my dear, sweet, naïve Emma, I live in the house for practically nothing so I’m not about to rock the boat. I come from a lower-middle class family. I’m living the high life thanks to Jack Baxter.”
Ignoring his rationale, I feel like I need to defend myself. “I’m not naïve.”
“You are. A little.” Cody pats my shoulder and it’s not just a little condescending. “Jack Baxter is an asshole. It’s easier to go along with it than deal with the fallout.” Cody’s quiet for a minute or two. “It’s too bad Eli’s mom wasn’t there.”
“Why?”
“Because she would have put a stop to all that back there. She’s what we call a mild-mannered ballbuster. It’s how she and Jack have stayed together all these years. She doesn’t put up with his bullshit and she thinks her son farts flowers.”
His last two words get a startled laugh out of me.Farts flowers?
“It’s true. As far as Helene Baxter is concerned, Eli is the Second Coming.”
“Reminds me of my sister,” I grumble. Only she’s the one who thinks she’s the holy one.
* * *
The minute I get home,Carley knows something’s wrong. No doubt thanks to my red, puffy eyes. After I tell her what happened, I half expect her to jump into her car and drive over to Eli’s place and kick him in the–– Well, kick him. But that’s not what she does. Instead of getting angry and violent, she shrugs and says, “Parents are weird.”
