“Thank you.”
We sat in silence until he ruined it. “You know, if she were here—”
“I’d be somewhere else.”
“What I wasgoingto say was that she could have this talk with you.” His gaze was shifting all over the place, anywhere but at me.
“What talk?” I asked suspiciously.
“I understand I asked you to be involved with the football program, for... reasons. But had Iknownthat you would be so openly attracted to—”
“Don’t do this.” My head was bowed, my hands in fists, and my eyes screwed tight. “Please.”
Dad had that tone. The one that made me feel about twelve years old, even though I was twenty, holding a coffee cup, and technically a grown woman.
“Savannah,” he said evenly, sliding the paper cup of tea aside. “You seem to be overly familiar with the football player.”
I forced a smile. “I’m tutoring him. That’s my job.”
“That’s yourcover,” he corrected, his eyes pinning me like a bug on a card. “But don’t mistake me, Savannah. Those boys — especially Spence — aren’t your friends.” The level of disgust with which he said ‘Spence’ was enough to make my fists clench. “They’ll take what they want and leave a mess behind. It’s what they do.”
The warning wasn’t new. My father hated distractions, and football was distraction incarnate. But the way he said Dante’s name? I wasn’t okay with that.
Heat crawled up my neck, betraying me, and I hated that. He didn’t know him the way I did. He didn’t know the way Dante’s smile, his real one, lingered on his mouth longer than the one he flashed for the media and the fans.
“I think you’re exaggerating,” I said carefully, keeping my voice light. “I tutor him, and he is nothing but respectful and willing to learn. He’s a goodstudent.”
“Mmhmm, tell that to campus security on Saturday night.”
I sipped my coffee. “Did, um, anything come out as to why they were fighting?”
Dad’s nostrils flared. “According to their coach, they were boys being boys.” His voice dripped with abhorrence.
I’d seen Dante, and that was a lot more than just blowing off steam. “Huh.” I sipped my drink again. “What happens to him —them?” I corrected myself, but it was too late; Dad had heard my slip.
“Spence has a few privileges revoked. The bigger one, the linebacker...”
“Noah Matthews,” I supplied softly.
“Yes, him. He was going to be kicked out of the program, but Spence and the Defensive Coordinator both vouched for him.”
Dad was not impressed with the punishments.
“They were the only two fighting?” I probed.
“The others were assisted off campus.”
Holyshit. “What? Really?” I asked.
“They were packed and gone before morning,” he said, looking at me. “So, you see, Savannah, I know these types better than you.” His eyes softened slightly. “They...heis not who you think he is. Saturday proved that, no?”
“Dad, can you not have the boy talk with me?” I asked him softly. “I’m twenty years old.”
“Well, if your mother were here right now—”
“She wouldn’t have noticed, or been interested.”
“Savannah,” my dad said, giving me that look again. “She is very busy and incredibly talented. You know she loves you.”
