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No. “Surely he’s been in town for a few.”

“Yeah, but he doesn’t even know that I play.”

“What?” I turned around so I could look up at him. “What do you mean he doesn’t know?”

He shrugged. “I haven’t told him.

“Adonis. You gotta tell him. You’re the star of the team. Empire High has a winning record for the first time in like...forever. Surely he’ll want to catch a few games.”

“Doubtful. He’s really busy.”

I pressed my lips together. “Is he home right now? I need to have a word with him.”

Adonis smiled. “So fiery.” He ran his thumb along my jawline.

“I’m being serious. Is he here?” Every ounce of me wanted to tell Adonis’ father off. Which was probably a bad first impression, but I didn’t really care.

“No, we’re home alone.” The way he said it almost distracted me.

“Will he be home anytime soon?”

“Nah, he’s away on business.” Adonis frowned. “Wait. No. I think he’s on vacation trying to find me a new mommy. I can’t remember what he said.” He laughed.

“First...gross.”

Adonis shrugged. “What? He does that from time to time. The women never last very long.”

I stared at him. “Because you scare them off?”

“Always thinking the worst of me.” Adonis’ hands slid to my ass.

“I need so much more information right now,” I said.

Adonis sighed and sat down on the edge of his bed, pulling me with him.

I straddled his lap, my tight red dress riding up my thighs.

His fingers slid up my thighs. “I like this dress.”

“Focus,” I said.

“I am focused.”

I grabbed his hands and put them on my waist. “So your dad brings home women and you don’t like them?”

“Some of them are okay. And, yeah, sure...I may have scared them off when I was little. But my dad is fully capable of doing that on his own now. No one ever lasts longer than a few months. So I don’t even bother to get to know them.”

I hated everything he was saying. Not because I disapproved. But because it was so heartbreaking. I still didn’t know that much about him. But the pieces of his life that he did share had a way of making my chest hurt. Adonis had stumbled into my life when I’d desperately needed him. And I was quickly realizing that maybe he needed me too.

“I hate him,” I said.

“Who? My dad?”

“Yes. Don’t you?”

Adonis shrugged. “I’m indifferent.”

I didn’t even know how to rationalize the fury in my chest. Mr. Ariti was a terrible father. And if Adonis wasn’t going to tell him, I was. “I need a piece of paper.”