Page 3 of Wicked Truths

“I just want Joey to be a part of a winning team since he’s a skilled player, and I want you to come work as the director of public relations.”

“You’re offering me a job?” I did not see that coming.

“I want the team and the family to be represented by someone that has our best interests in mind.”

“So you want me to be the middleman and lie about what’s really going on?”

“Francesca, there are things we do in life that others don’t understand. You don’t have to lie. You can deflect from the negative and talk about the positive things that our family does.”

Dad yells at someone in the distance, reminding me of the way Uncle Tony is always yelling when we are on the phone together.

“That’s all well and good, but you do remember that my ex-boyfriend is a player on the Savannah Sharks, right?”

Even though I broke up with Rhett Montgomery, I still track his career and game stats. But working that close to him has my heart pounding in my chest and my mind wanting to shut off.

“I’m well aware of your past relationship with him.”

“And you still want me to work as Director of Public Relations?”

“Yes, and I want you to start on Monday.”

I mull over both job opportunities I’ve been given today. I can work for Dad at the arena and occasionally work for Uncle Tony.

“Since I don’t have any job prospects here, I will agree to come work for you as long as I can be behind the scenes and stay as far away from the players as possible.”

“There will be times you have to interact with the players to smooth over their indiscretions, but I think they will be few and far between.”

“Then we have a deal. Also, can you pick me up from the airport this weekend since my car broke down and is in the shop? I’ll try to find an apartment that will allow me to move in on such a quick notice.”

“You can move back home, and we can carpool until you get a new car, or Joey can drive you.”

“Thanks, but no thanks.” I don’t want to be a twenty-five-year-old that has to move back into her parents’ house.

“Why? You would have privacy and be in your own wing of the house.”

His roof, his rules. That’s how it’s always been. Iwant the freedom to do whatever I want. I want to bring a guy over after partying all night.

The thought of bringing a guy over changes my mood in an instant. Truth be told, there’s only one guy I want to bring over, but that went out the window the second I walked away from the life I used to have.

“If I’m moving back to Savannah, I’d like to have my own place.”

“Then how about the new apartments that are a few minutes’ walk to the arena? I can send you the information.”

“There’s an apartment building near the arena? Where?”

The last time I attended a game at the arena, nothing was around except a couple of small houses and dozens of warehouses.

Mandy walks into the living room and plops down on the couch next to me. I can’t get up and walk away without seeming rude, but I don’t want to overhear my conversation with Dad about moving.

Clacking of a keyboard comes through the phone before Dad says, “I’ll send you the website and you can decide if you want to live there or at home.”

“If it’s really only a few minutes’ walk away, not a shitty place, and they have availability, then I’ll move in this weekend and start the job on Monday.”

Mandy gasps from beside me and sits up straighter in her seat as she eavesdrops on my conversation.

“I just sent you the link for the new apartments.Give it a look and I’ll see you this weekend. Just let me know when your flight lands and I’ll be there. We can have a nice family dinner.”

Dad is unusually chipper right now. Is he happy that I’m moving back to Savannah?