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I squeeze my eyes, and hot tears land in my eyelashes. He’s right. I’ve always known what he just said was true. “I’ll win MVP, Dad. You’ll see.”
“And adhere to curfew? And not get into fights in the cafeteria?”
When I don’t answer, he pulls me away at arm’s length and raises an eyebrow. “Tess?”
“Who told you about the cafeteria? Jacquin?”
His gaze narrows. “No, the kitchen personnel. Plus, I came in and Ryan was on his hands and knees cleaning the floor. I knew something happened.”
My mouth drops. “Ryan was cleaning the floor?”
Dad nods. “He’s a good kid. He’s had to put up with a lot in his life. He certainly hasn’t had it as good as you.”
Still. Ryan cleaned the juice up? I almost want to ask him if he’s talking about Ryan Linc. Maybe one of the kitchen staff is named Ryan, I don’t know. It just sounds like the exact opposite of what he’d do.
Dad leans over and gives me a kiss on the forehead. “You should get some sleep. I expect you out of bed early and out running to make up for your infraction tonight. I expect you to put everything you have into beating those guys the rest of the camp. Don’t get sidetracked, Pumpkin.”
“I am sorry about tonight, Dad.”
“I know you are. Now get some sleep.”
Dad leaves, and I fall back on my bed, the springs of the crap mattress squeaking underneath me. My eyes burn and now they’re dry from crying. In a way, even though I got caught out of bed, I feel better about having told my dad some of the things that are on my mind.
Before I change into my pajamas, I pull my phone out and text Hayes that I’m fine. I leave out the fact that Lake turned us in. Like my dad said, I have to be better than them to beat them.
And if that’s what I have to do, I’ll do it.
15
The rest of the weekend goes smoothly, mostly because I stay to myself. I get up to run early on Sunday and my dad shows up. It makes me smile when I see him stretching out by the main building when the birds have barely started chirping. He’s making an effort, and that makes me extremely happy. I feel closer to him than I have in months.
Chase messages me, but I tell him I got busted on curfew and that I have to toe the line for a couple days. I think this is the lacrosse team’s last week here anyway and since I’ve told him a few times now that I’m not interested in anything with him, maybe we’ll both feel more comfortable around one another if we’re just friends without the possibility of anything more.
My dad takes me off camp grounds on Sunday for dinner. Just him and I, and it feels like old times. If my mom were here with us, everything would be perfect.
Monday morning, though, I’m thrown back into it all. I show up for breakfast early. I eat by myself, and then I’m out on the grass warming up for the morning run while the rest of them walk by to grab their meals. Hayes comes up to me, looks around for my father while Lake narrows his gaze at us. I ignore him, but I do hide a smile at the black and blue shiner around his eye. “You sure you’re okay?” Hayes asks.
I put Hayes off all Sunday, telling him pretty much the same thing I told Chase. I also had time to think about what he said, and he was right to stop us from kissing. I want to make sure I believe it first. If he keeps talking to me in front of Lake, that’ll come sooner rather than later.
“I’m good. I’m more than good, actually.” I lower my voice. “And don’t worry about my dad. I think you’ll be fine.”
“Oh, your dad came and talked to me already.”
“What?” I gasp.
One corner of his lips tip up. “Not about the curfew, though he threw that in, too. It was about you and me.”
I’d had my foot in my hand, stretching out my muscles, but I drop it to the ground. “He did?”
He nods. “He asked me if I’d been a part of any of the bullying you received this year. I told him not directly, but that I also didn’t do as much as I could have to stop it.” There’s no trace of a smile on his face now. “I don’t think he likes me very much.”
My eyebrows raise. I’ve never seen my dad not like anybody. Except maybe the media back in the day. “I doubt that’s true.”
“You didn’t see his face, but it’s okay. I deserve it.”
A voice interrupts us. “Hey, Dale.”
I look past Hayes to see Jacquin walking up to the main building. I give him a small wave, and then look back up at Hayes who’s watching Jacquin like a hawk. Why the hell are all the Ballers possessive assholes? Next thing I know they’ll be claiming me again.