Page 23
Story: Guarded By the Goalie
It’s a trick question, that I already know the answer to. “Sorry, Son. Not this one.”
Right.This one.He hasn’t watched a single game since I got to Wittmore.
“Too bad,” I say, proud of the team. “It was a good one.”
“Maybe the next one won’t be on during bible study.”
Unlikely. The man never leaves the church. One activity after the other, anything to keep the parishioners busy. Reverend Nolen Rakestraw may not be there for his son, but he’s always there for his flock.
“I called to talk about preparations for the holidays,” he says, moving on to the real motive for the call. “Have you practiced the piece I sent you?”
“A little.”
Not at all.
“I wanted to give you plenty of time before Christmas to learn the material and if you need any assistance over Thanksgiving, Reverend Boyce will be happy to help.”
“I’m only going to be there for two days, Dad, one of those Thanksgiving Day. Reverend Boyce doesn’t want to spend his day with me instead of his family.”
“I’m sure you two can make something work.” When I don’t instantly agree, he adds, “The congregation is expecting you to speak. It’s tradition.”
“I know. I’ll get it done. I always do, don’t I?”
“Not without testing my patience first,” he says. “How are your public speaking classes?”
“Good,” I lie. “You know, talk-y.”
My father thinks I’m majoring in communications with a focus on public speaking, but I switched to sports management after Freshman year. Idohave a minor in communications, which keeps me in enough classes for him not to fully notice.
“I hope you’re gaining a good knowledge base for when you return to Kingdom’s Reign.” His tone lightens. “Only seven more months and you’ll be back.”
“Yep, seven months.”
Fuck my life.
“I just wanted to check in. Make sure we were on the same page.”
That’d be a first. “Sure, Dad.”
“Next time, try to respond faster. Your mother and sister worry when you don’t.”
“I will,” I reply, pissed he dragged Shelby and my mom into this. They aren’t worried about me. He’s just obsessed with controlling all of us.
“Night, Son.” I brace myself for the next part. “To the Kingdom.”
I swallow and force out the words, “To the Kingdom.”
I don’t breathe for a full thirty-seconds after the call ends, until another text comes through.
Shelby: Thanks
Me: Sorry I missed it. Be Safe.
I stare at the text for a long time, hating that he still has this control over me, two-thousand miles away. But that’s how my father works, with leverage. If I won’t do what he wants out of an obligation to him, he knows I’ll do it to protect my sister.
The call leaves me rattled–pissed and frustrated–and I want nothing more than to blur the lines of reality right now to try to go back to that feeling from before, of hopped up adrenaline. I want to chill out, to have a drink. Take a hit. Lose myself in pussy.
I thrust my hand in my hair. Fuck the promise I made with Nadia. Fuck Cain and his easy road to the future and his perfect girlfriend he’s going down on across the hall.
Table of Contents
- Page 1
- Page 2
- Page 3
- Page 4
- Page 5
- Page 6
- Page 7
- Page 8
- Page 9
- Page 10
- Page 11
- Page 12
- Page 13
- Page 14
- Page 15
- Page 16
- Page 17
- Page 18
- Page 19
- Page 20
- Page 21
- Page 22
- Page 23
- Page 24
- Page 25
- Page 26
- Page 27
- Page 28
- Page 29
- Page 30
- Page 31
- Page 32
- Page 33
- Page 34
- Page 35
- Page 36
- Page 37
- Page 38
- Page 39
- Page 40
- Page 41
- Page 42
- Page 43
- Page 44
- Page 45
- Page 46
- Page 47
- Page 48
- Page 49
- Page 50
- Page 51
- Page 52
- Page 53
- Page 54
- Page 55
- Page 56
- Page 57
- Page 58
- Page 59
- Page 60
- Page 61
- Page 62
- Page 63
- Page 64
- Page 65
- Page 66
- Page 67
- Page 68
- Page 69
- Page 70
- Page 71
- Page 72
- Page 73
- Page 74
- Page 75
- Page 76
- Page 77
- Page 78
- Page 79
- Page 80
- Page 81
- Page 82
- Page 83
- Page 84
- Page 85
- Page 86
- Page 87
- Page 88
- Page 89
- Page 90
- Page 91
- Page 92
- Page 93
- Page 94
- Page 95
- Page 96
- Page 97
- Page 98
- Page 99
- Page 100
- Page 101
- Page 102
- Page 103
- Page 104
- Page 105
- Page 106
- Page 107