Chapter 6
Matthew
Icould hear Dylan’s mom screaming at her when I walked in the door, but I didn’t want to intrude. Sounds like the whole playing lacrosse thing is not going over well with Holly. You’d think she’d be proud or amazed that her daughter not only made the lacrosse team but took them to state and won.
Instead, Holly's voice shrieks through the house about her daughter playing a "heathen sport" and how she was told cheerleading was an acceptable sport.
“This woman is mental,” I mutter under my breath.
My parents would have never told me what I could or couldn’t play in school. Hell, I could have come home and told them I was doing chess, backgammon, or MMA fighting, and they’d have been like, ‘Cool, when are your matches?’ And be sitting in the front row cheering me on. Not Holly.
I don’t understand what my dad sees in this woman. She’s nothing like my mom. Not that I expected her or anyone my dad dates to be, but how does he go from one extreme to the next?
“Ugh, I can’t wait to go to college and leave here for good,” Dylan screams before I hear her bedroom door slam shut with a force that makes the walls shake.
I’m going to give her some time to calm down. But I’m not letting another day go by without talking to her. We are going to figure this out today. However, for now, I’m going to go downstairs and see what my dad has to say about all this. Grabbing my phone, I send Dylan a text, letting her know that I’m not letting this go.Me: We need to talk.Then I head down to see if I can figure out what her mom plans to do. I enter the kitchen and my dad is seated at the island while Holly paces back and forth, her face a mask of frustration.
“I just don’t understand where I went wrong. I’ve given her everything she could ever want. And this is what I get. Do you think it’s her acting out over the divorce? Or maybe because she hasn’t seen her dad?” “I don’t know, honey,” my dad answers, his voice soft. “She seems like a good girl to me.”
I move to the fridge, acting like I’m not listening to every word they're saying, and grab an energy drink and one of the pre-made fruit cups I prepared earlier this week.
“Darling. She’s been sneaking around for months, lying to us, and playing lacrosse. I specifically told her she couldn’t play that sport. I moved here with my sister because I was told they didn’t have a girls’ team.”
My jaw tightens.
Wow, that’s low.
Knowing your daughter loves something that much and moving somewhere purposely so she can’t play.
“They don’t,” I interrupt. “She tried out for the guys' team and made it. That’s a feat.”
“Matthew, please. This doesn’t concern you.” She tries to dismiss me. “Well, it kind of does.” I crack open my drink and take a sip. “How so?” “Well, seeing how I went to most of hermatches, I can attest to what an amazing player she is. I can also tell you that I’m the college scout for this region for lacrosse. We also didn’t know she was female, but she was being scouted and still is. There are no rules about gender in college-level lacrosse and CSU is interested.” “No shit?” my dad asks, his eyes wide with surprise.“Absolutely not.” Holly slams her hands down on the counter. “She is not playing that caveman sport in college. She’s not even going to Colorado State. I applied for her to go to a few other places and am just waiting to hear back. Universities that are geared more toward ladies and careers that are suitable for Dylan.” Holly’s voice is cold, unyielding.
“What career is suitable for her?” I ask, my mind blown that this woman thinks she can tell her adult daughter where to go to school and what to major in. “Because I remember at the dinner we had when we were introduced, she said she was interested in sports medicine.”
“Teaching, cosmetology, data entry, office management. Places where she can dress professionally and hold herself in an appropriate manner.”
“Why does it matter to you so much what other people think of her?” I’m no longer able to hide the disdain in my voice.
“I will not have a repeat of what happened at her old school,” Holly snaps, her eyes flashing with anger.
“What happened?” my dad asks, looking genuinely concerned.
“We don’t talk about it. In fact, Dylan doesn’t even know that I know, but I do. I will not have her reputation tainted by her actions again. That’s that.”
“Honey, do you think you’re being a little irrational? It seems like she’s good at lacrosse and if she wants to play, what’s the harm? Especially if she’s being scouted.” My dad tries to reason with her.
“Ladies do not play contact sports. That sport is how she got into the mess she was in to begin with.”
“She’s your daughter, so I respect your decision.” Dad shrugs.
“You’re a pushover, and I don’t even know who you are anymore.” I curl my lip at him. “Holly, you’re a real piece of work. I now see why Dylan can’t wait to get away from you. I’ve been here only a few months, and I feel the same.”
Holly gasps, her hand flying up to cover her face in shock.
“Matthew!” Dad scolds, his face reddening.
“No. I’m done. I’m going to wrap up what I need to here and leave. I’ll rent a place or head back early. Count me out for the wedding too. I won’t support you marrying someone so cruel and rude. Mom would be ashamed of you.” I leave the kitchen and head up to my room, my heart pounding in my chest.
