Page 38

He shuffles around the car, waving one last time to Sienna, Zander, and Zoey, who are standing on the porch.

“Byeeee!” Zoey waves furiously.

I smile and wave out the window, then notice Carson watching me from the living room window. I blow him a kiss while Dad’s not looking, and his lips twitch.

As soon as the driver’s door pops open, I settle back in my seat and refuse to look at the house again. “So, you gonna take me to church, or am I allowed to go back to my dorm?”

Dad gives me a little side-eye, starting the engine with a huff.

“Where do you want to go?”

“To my dorm. I want to have a shower and?—”

“You should be having a bath. Soak that leg.”

I roll my eyes and want to argue with him, but he’s right.

Dammit! “Okay, fine. We’ll go back to your place and I’ll take a bath, but then you have to promise to take me back to my dorm afterward.

I don’t want to have to stay for lunch and face the inquisition about the party and why you and Mom think I should spend my days permanently locked away like Rapunzel. ”

“Oh stop,” Dad mutters. “We’re not that bad.”

I scoff and shake my head.

And then, to prove my point exactly, he murmurs, “You sure nothing’s going on between you and McAvoy?”

“Dad!” I lightly slap his arm.

“Well, what? You slept in his room last night!”

“Because he offered me his bed.”

“And why would he do that?”

“Because he’s a nice guy.”

Dad glances at me like I’m the one acting crazy.

“He is,” I assure him. “He was really sweet to me last night.”

Images of his rage-filled face as he fought with Fleischer flash through my brain, but I quickly cut them off, remembering how sweet and gentle he was with me. That look on his face when he confessed that he liked me was so sweet and?—

“You know he’s trouble, right? He might have done something nice for you last night, but you can’t trust that kid. He’s unreliable. He drinks. He gets into fights. He’s reckless and stupid and?—”

“Dad, stop.”

“I don’t want you getting involved with anyone on my team.”

“I know!” I flick my hand in the air. “Everybody knows!”

“Well, good.”

“Oh, come on. Your rules are ridiculous. You can’t bench one of your players for dating me. And besides, everyone at Football Frat is so nice. I thought you’d be happy if I ended up with one of them.”

“You’re not dating one of my players,” Dad growls. “End of story. I’m the coach.”

“And you’re being a really bad one for behaving this way.”

Shit. There goes that hurt look washing over his face again.

Closing my eyes with a soft sigh, I mumble, “You’re not a bad coach.

When it comes to football, you’re an amazing coach.

But you can’t control their lives this way.

They’re college football players, not grade-schoolers.

If you want them to respect you, then maybe you should start showing them a little respect too. ”

“I do respect them. Of course I respect them! I care enough to think about every aspect of their lives, not just football.” He huffs, clenching his jaw as he looks out the windshield.

“I’m trying to teach these guys how to be men who can succeed in the world.

And I don’t need them getting distracted, and I don’t want you getting hurt.

Some of these guys are after one thing and one thing only.

I’m not putting my daughter through that, so you should be thanking me that I’ve taken it off the table. ”

Dammit!

He’s so not going to be okay with me falling for Carson.

But it’s happening. I’m falling hard and fast. And I don’t want to stop.

Stealing a look at my father, I try to figure out how to play this. He’s obviously not going to be talked down, but maybe I can talk him around just a little.

“Look, I get it, okay? You’ve always been a protective father.

And coach. You care about us, and that’s a good thing.

” I swallow, scrambling for the right words.

“But I really enjoyed hanging out at Football Frat last night and this morning. They’re nice, and…

I can imagine becoming friends with these people.

I’m sorry if they aren’t the friends you want me to have, but I’ve been shut away for so long, and I’m having to start all over again.

Please don’t make this harder than it already is. ”

Slowing to turn the next corner, Dad shoots me a sad smile. “Things with your roommate tough, huh?”

“No, just…” I shrug. “Not flowing like I thought they might. We had a good time about a week ago, but then this week she’s been kind of quiet and distant again. She’s certainly no Hayley.”

He nods. “Sorry it’s not the smooth sailing you wanted it to be.”

“No one ever promised an easy ride.” I shrug. “But I know that if I quit and move back home with you guys, I’ll regret it. I have to find my way, Dad. I have to get my life back.”

Pulling into the driveway, Dad cuts the engine and gives me a long, soft look. Reaching for my hand, he lightly squeezes it and murmurs, “You will, kiddo. If anyone can, it’s you.”

I smile at him, glad the tension has dissipated for now. I guess all I can hope is that he’ll warm to the idea of me being friends with some of his players… and then one day, when he finds out about me and Carson, the meltdown won’t be quite as severe.