Page 35 of Restricted List (New York Stars #2)

thirty-four

Rory

“Merry Christmas, Dad!” I say happily as I shrug off my coat after walking through the door. I haven’t seen him since he talked to Cole, and I’ve spent the past couple of days figuring out how to act like I don’t know that he asked him to spy on me. Faux happiness is what I’m going with.

“There’s my baby girl,” he says as he steps into the entryway, coming over and wrapping me up in a tight hug.

“Dad, I’m twenty-six. How long are you going to call me that?”

He laughs as he loosens his hold on me. “You’re always going to be my baby girl, Rory. Just like I’ll always be your Daddy.”

I have to bite my lip to hide a smile. When I’m with Cole, Daddy and baby girl take on a whole new meaning.

A far more fun meaning.

I can’t wait to see him tonight.

“Is that Rory?” I hear an older woman’s voice ask from the living room.

“Nana!” I shout, running off as my dad chuckles behind me.

She meets me at the end of the hall, and I immediately throw my arms around her.

“I thought that was you I heard,” she says, hugging me back happily.

“I had no idea you were going to be here,” I say, a bright smile on my face. “Is Pap here, too?”

“He’s raiding the snacks in the dining room,” she laughs. “Goodness, we missed you so much, Rory.”

“I missed you, too. It’s been too long.”

I haven’t seen my Nana and Pap in a few years now since they live in Colorado. And while they may be my mother’s parents, I’ve always had a great relationship with them. The apple fell far from the tree with her.

“Jane said she’s sorry she couldn’t make it.”

I sigh and shake my head. “Nana, you and I both know that isn’t true.”

She lets out a deep breath. “I still hold out hope that one day my daughter will realize how spectacular her own daughter is. She did send a gift with us, though.”

Every time she sends a gift, it proves how little she actually knows me. I can’t imagine this will be any different.

Nana gives me a sympathetic look as I sigh. “I know she’s not the greatest with gifts, Rory, but maybe this year is different.”

“I’ll believe it when I see it,” I mutter under my breath as she steers me away from the entryway and into the living room where my Pap is now waiting for us.

“There’s my favorite granddaughter!” he says, lighting up as he sees me.

I smile and take a seat next to him. “I’m your only granddaughter, Pap.”

“Because my other kids were evidently only capable of making boys,” he laughs. “Too much damn testosterone.”

He wraps an arm around me as I lean my head on his shoulder. “I’m so glad to see you both.”

“Come out to Colorado sometime then. You know where to find us.”

“I’m in Colorado every season,” I chuckle. “But we’re usually too busy to get away during the series. That and taking care of Sage keeps me occupied.”

“How’s her dad?” Nana asks. “Lane, right?”

“Yeah, Lane is her father. He’s good. Stressed, of course, but I think that just comes with being a single dad.”

“He seems like a nice guy,” Pap chimes.

“How close are you?” Nana asks, her look indicating she’s wondering if there’s something more.

“We’re friends, but that’s it. He’s like a brother to me. He literally calls me Aunt Rory to his daughter.”

“Now that’s what I like to hear,” my dad bellows as he enters the room.

“That Lane is like a brother?” I ask.

“Exactly that.”

I roll my eyes and scoff. “That’s because you’re weirdly obsessed with me not dating one of your players.”

“Not quite, baby girl. I don’t want one of my players dating you , not the other way around.”

“Isn’t that a bit much, Paul?” Pap asks, raising his brow.

“Find them in the clubhouse after a game, Dave, and you’ll know what I mean.”

“That’s not any different than what I said,” I chide. “Either way, I can’t be with a baseball player. I’m in my mid-twenties and still have my dad making decisions for me.”

“Come on, Rory,” he pleads. “It’s not like that.”

“It’s exactly like that.” I stand now and brush past him. “I need some fucking wine.”

I hear my grandparents going to bat for me as I hurry to the kitchen, grab a bottle of Merlot, and pour myself a large glass.

I’ve been here ten minutes, and my dad is already reminding me that I don’t have the final say in my own goddamn love life.

I’m tired of it.

He wonders why I’ve been secretive lately, but did he really give me any other choice?

I’m not giving up on my relationship, so if he can’t learn how to let me live my own fucking life, he can just stay in the dark.

Apparently, he likes it there.

Dinner is awkward, but only my dad, my grandparents, and I know why. The rest of the family that shows up is completely clueless. I’m able to distract myself enough by talking with all my cousins, but I can still feel the tension in the air.

We open gifts after eating, and things feel a little less tense since we enjoy doing this every year with the family.

It’s a fun time. The gifts are nice, but the company is even better.

However, I was right about one thing.

My mom still doesn’t know me at all.

She got me a T-shirt.

A Denver Wildcats baseball T-shirt.

A size small Denver Wildcats baseball T-shirt.

I haven’t worn a fucking small since I was in middle school.

I can’t even claim it’s the thought that counts when she clearly put absolutely no thought into it whatsoever. One glance at me would’ve told her that would never fit me.

It’s disappointing, but I’m used to it. She’s disappointed me my entire life.

Her parents are amazing people—at least I got them out of her.

When the gifts are all open, we relax by the fireplace, drinking and enjoying ourselves before the family starts dispersing. Most of my cousins have kids now, so there are some tired children here.

I pour myself one more glass of Merlot to wind down, thankful that I’m just taking a cab to Cole’s later. I’ve already had too much to drink, so I’m not driving anywhere.

My dad finds me in the kitchen, walking over to join me.

“I’m sorry for earlier, Rory.”

I let out a breath. “Thanks, Dad.”

“You know why I feel that way, though.”

“I do, but that doesn’t mean I’m okay with it. I’m not going to pretend to be okay with it, either. I want to make my own choices. It’s not like I’m going after one of the players-” A blatant lie, of course, “-but I don’t want my dad to dictate who can and can’t be with me.”

“You’ll understand when you get older,” he sighs.

I turn on my heel, spinning to face him with a scowl. “When I’m older? I’m not a fucking kid. I’m a grown woman.”

“A grown woman that won’t tell her dad when she’s seeing someone.”

My hands are on my hips now. “Do you think there might be a reason for that, Dad? That maybe I don’t want to open up as long as you try to control what I do?”

“I’m not controlling you, Rory. I’m looking out for you.”

“Call it whatever you want to make yourself feel better.”

My dad sighs and takes a moment to gather his composure. “Look, I know it seems like I’m being overprotective, but it’s out of love. I don’t want to see you hurt.”

Tears prick the corners of my eyes. “The only one hurting me right now is you.”

“Rory…”

I down the rest of my wine in a large gulp. “If you ever want me to be honest and open up, you’re going to need to back off. I’m an adult woman, and I want to be treated as such. Until then, I’ll be keeping things to myself.” I start walking off before deciding not to let the anger overtake me entirely. “I love you, Dad. Very much. You know I appreciate everything you’ve done for me. But this is something I won’t compromise on.”

He follows me out of the kitchen and into the entryway, where I shrug on my coat and pull on my hat.

“Are you really going to leave like this?” he asks, pleading with me to stay.

I wrap my scarf around my neck before kissing his cheek. “Merry Christmas, Dad.”

And I slip out the door.