A stack of papers sits in front of my dad. I’m not sure what he’s working on, but I have a feeling it’s some type of contract that he’s looking for me to sign.
He taps the folder once. “We’re done pretending that this is a discussion. You’re joining the new team.”
I don’t move. “No. I’m not. I told you that already and I told the media that too.”
His eyes narrow at me. “You don’t have a choice.”
“I do,” I reply. “And I’m making it.”
“You are wasting your potential with the Blaze and by being with that girl. You are throwing away everything that I have built for you,” he says coolly.
I don’t blink. “You built a cage for me. I’m choosing not to live in it anymore. Drew will do a fine job.”
Drew exhales quietly and I see him shake his head. “Are you really so worried that I won’t be successful, Dad? Or are you just so focused on punishing August for doing something that you don’t like and not following orders?”
Dad just opens the folder and pretends like Drew hadn’t even spoken. “This is the future. Your future. You should really sign this contract. You will leave this team, and you will stop letting that girl?—”
“Don’t.” My voice is like steel. “Don’t bring her into this.”
Dad opens his mouth to say something but just closes it.
I continue, my tone calm but lethal. “This isn’t about Hendrix. This is about you trying to control me again. You will not punish her because you have no say on that field. That’s all for Watts to handle. You will not punish me and try and keep me from her. You will let Drew try his hand at doing something of his own for a change. Do you not think that he can do it? Because right now the way you are treating him about this is making it look like he is not good enough. We both know that he’s more qualified than I am. Why are you so focused on me?”
His jaw tightens. “I’m trying to save you from mediocrity.”
“No, you are trying to save your own ego and keep me under your thumb.”
Dad stands abruptly. “You are not staying with the Blaze.”
“Yes,” I say, rising to meet him, “I am.”
“You are the face of this new franchise. I already announced it,” he reminds me.
“Well, I think we unannounced it,” Drew says, shaking his head, annoyance heavy in his tone.
I grin at my brother. “Drew is. He deserves it far more than I do. So please stop punishing me and let him do it.”
Dad blinks. “What?”
Drew straightens, sliding a neatly prepared folder across the table. “I want the job. I’m qualified for the job. I’ve already spoken to the right people.”
Dad stares back at Drew. “You went behind my back.”
“No, we went around you,” Drew says, grinning.
I fold my arms. “You’ve spent my whole life trying to force me into a life that you want for me. Not the life that I want for myself. Meanwhile, Drew has been doing the work you never bothered to see.”
Dad sputters, “He doesn’t have the profile that you do.”
“No, he doesn’t like the media attention like I do. But he has the brains. He has the vision and he actually wants the job,” I say snidely.
Drew adds, his voice steady, “And unlike you, I don’t see players as assets. I see them as people.”
Dad looks down at the paper that are in front of him and declares. “You’re both making a huge mistake.”
“No,” I reply. “We’re finally making a choice.”
I move around the table so that I’m closer to him. When I speak I lower my voice so that there is no mistaking the finality in my tone. “I’m staying with the Blaze. That’s not up for discussion anymore. And Drew is taking the job that you tried to force on me.”
