We all shower and change, and when I finally have Callie in my arms again, I feel as if I can overcome this. Maybe everyone might not believe me, but some people will. And Ripley is right—does it really matter as long as those people who truly know me believe in me?
“You okay?” She places her hands on my face, searching.
“I am now.”
Her smile is soft and loving, and I thank whoever sent her to me because had I not had her, this moment would’ve sent me spiraling.
“Jagger said we’re meeting him at the hotel?”
I nod. “Ripley said we don’t have to take the bus, so Jagger got us some cars.”
Callie, Decker, my mom, and I walk out of the room and down the hallways, but as soon as we’re through the doors reserved for the players, I see him. Guess I shouldn’t be surprised he’s waiting for us.
Leaning on a light pole, my dad takes a drag of his cigarette and releases a puff of smoke.
Callie freezes, her hand going cold in mine.
How does she know who he is?
“Boys, great game.” He pushes off the light pole and walks toward us.
Decker steps in front of our mom, but she slides out from around him.
“Go home, Jason.” There’s anger and years of exhaustion in her voice.
“Oh, you’re a momma’s boy now, are you, Foster? Saw her up in the suite with that woman you knocked up.” He looks at Callie, and I slide her behind me. But much like my mom, she doesn’t stay there. “Never thought I’d see the day you’d forgive her for abandoning you. For not wanting you and only wanting your brother.”
“Enough with your lies.” Decker’s voice is filled with contempt.
Our dad’s gaze flicks over to Decker. “Your mother wanted you all to herself. We knew Foster was the bad seed, and she was worried he’d sour you.”
My chest squeezes, hearing all the same shit I did growing up.
My mom looks at me as if asking if he really told me those things. I don’t engage. I just want to get Callie out of here.
My dad holds up his hands. “Hey, I abided by your rules. Never left Seattle. So I expect that those checks won’t stop.”
Callie steps forward until I gently pull her back. “He’s not paying you anymore.”
My dad laughs at her. “Because you’re gonna get all his money, is that it, sweetheart? Think just because you can spread your legs, you’re owed something?”
I release Callie’s hand and move toward him, but she grips my shirt from behind, and I stop.
“Hate to break it to you, but whatever this is between you two will be short-lived. My son here can’t do relationships thanks to all his abandonment issues from her.” He nods at my mom.
“You know what, Jason, I let you win long enough, but today it stops. You need to leave right now.”
He looks at her as though she’s nothing, less than nothing. “Or what, Ang?”
“I’m going to call the police.” She pulls out her phone, but Decker places his hand on it.
We don’t need the press here.
“Let’s just go.” I walk us out and see our cars waiting for us just outside the gate. Once we’re in them, I can get my head on straight. We can figure out how we’re going to deal with this.
“After everything I did for you,” he says to my back, “all the time and money and attention I put into building you into the ballplayer you are today, this is how you act?”
I whip around, keeping Callie’s hand in mine, and get into his face. “You did nothing for me. I was the one who did all the work. I was the one who threw the baseball. I was the one who stayed late at practices. I was the one with the special coaches. You were the one who took advantage. And now you come to me for what? You blew up my career. Thanks to you, everyone thinks I made some shady bets and threw games. That’s not even mentioning the amount of money I’ve wasted on you, which was a helluva lot more than you ever spent on making me into the prodigy you wanted. Callie’s right. There’s no more money coming your way. I have a…” I stop myself. He doesn’t deserve to hear from me if it’s a grandson or granddaughter. “A child coming.”
