Page 142 of Forever Offsides
“No, you’re just a filthy slut, aren’t you? How many old men’s cocks have you been fucking behind my back?”
“Hey,” I bark, standing between her and him. “Don’t talk to her that way. Back off and get control.”
“Fuck you, Dad. If you can even call yourself that. How long?” he demands again.
I meet Quinn’s eyes and sag a bit. “I met her when I interviewed in Boston back in March. I didn’t know who she was. She didn’t know who I was.”
“Since March?” he growls, dragging his hands through his hair and pacing back and forth between the bed and the window as if he’s coming unglued. “And who the fuck cares that you didn’t know who she was then? You know who she is now. You’ve known it for months.”
“I don’t know what to tell you,” she says contritely. “We didn’t want to hurt you. It wasn’t about that.”
He scoffs. “Bullshit it wasn’t. You’re telling me this wasn’t all about revenge? You fucking my father is a hundred percent meant to hurt me. Why? Because you knew I brought a girl to my room when we were traveling? Because I broke up with you over a text? I have to say, I never thought you’d be such a vindictive bitch, but here we have it.”
“Cut it out,” I snap.
Russel jabs a finger in my direction. “Don’t tell me what to do. You betrayed me. She’s my ex-girlfriend. My fucking girlfriend.”
“Rus—”
“On what planet am I your girlfriend?” Quinn interjects. “Why do you keep calling me that? I’ve given you no reason to. I’ve told you I didn’t want to get back together with you. I’ve told you we were over. I’ve told you this multiple times. I’m not your girlfriend, and I haven’t been in over four years. Check your delusions about this.”
“You and your people need to stop telling me I’m deluded.”
I don’t know what that means, and Quinn seems at a loss too.
Russel shakes his head, rage climbing up his face. “You don’t get it. You’re my girlfriend because that’s how I need it to be. But more than that”—he climbs back over to me—“you’re my father. Do you know how sick and twisted that is? What? You can’t get your own pussy you have to take my sloppy seconds? Or did you think this would finally be bonding material for us?”
“I get that you’re upset, and you have every right to be, but you need to calm down. It just happened. We tried to stay away from each other.”
He snorts sardonically. “Oh yeah, I can see you tried real hard.”
“We care a lot about each other,” Quinn states emphatically. “It wasn’t about hurting you.”
He laughs caustically, his hands going to his hips as he glares at us. “Oh, it sure as hell is about me. What kind of piece of shit father does that to his son?”
I stare down at the floor. He’s not wrong to ask that question. It’s one I’ve asked myself over and over again. I don’t know what to say as guilt consumes me.
“Russel, neither of us was trying to hurt you.”
It’s weak at best.
“Shut the fuck up. Do you have any clue what you’ve done? What this could cost me?”
He charges toward Quinn, and I side-step to get in his way, holding my hands out to stop him. “Russel, what are you doing? Calm down.”
He ignores me and talks directly to her. “Leaving you four years ago was the best thing I’ve done for myself. Yeah, I loved you. I did. I won’t lie about that. But I knew you’d suck me down, and truth be told, the moment I hit Dallas it was like breathing a breath of fresh air. I was free from you. So smart,” he mocks. “So obnoxiously perfect. Do you know how miserable it’s been to pretend to want you again?”
That jars both of us back. He’s been so good at pretending. A perfect liar, I had no clue it was all an act.
“Then why did you?” she asks incredulously. “I’ve been trying to shake you off me for months.”
“Because I don’t have a choice!” he shouts, his hand slashing through the air.
“That doesn’t make sense,” I say, my hands on my sides, my head tilted as I study him.
“I needed her for my image. To start getting endorsement deals back because I owe more money than I have left, and if I don’t pay up, he’ll collect on my body.”
“What?” both of us cry. I know what he earns, and it’s not a small amount.
