Page 34 of The Curveball
“Well, I don’t need to convince you.”
“You might want to reconsider.” He chuckles like a villain. “Funny you should mention Marks. For two years, I’ve received invitations to a fundraiser hosted by the Vegas Kings for top businesses, celebrities, and their investors with deep pockets. I believe it’s headed by your . . .boyfriend. Some charity foundation.”
My throat tightens. Griffin’s foundation. “Wh-What about it?”
“I’ve never attended. The holidays are always busy times, and I’ve put it off. But I might be inclined to attend this year if my daughter is dating the host. In fact, if this is real, Wren, if you’ve finally broken out of this shell you keep yourself in, I’ll pledge a donation to his foundation.”
“What kind of donation?” I whisper.
“If you’re dating Marks, that makes him connected to our family in a strong way. For family I don’t hold back. I’ll match what he’s raised to-date in one donation. I wonder what that would mean to yourboyfriend.”
If he keeps saying the word boyfriend in that tone, I’m going to cut my ears off.
But it’s a shot to the gut. I’ve dug a hole. One I thought my dad would balk at and skim over in a desperate attempt to get off the phone. No. My luck would not be so great. Dating a successful man caught his ear, and I should’ve known. Now he’s made me an offer to keep digging my pit of lies. I’m not sure I can refuse.
This kind of money could make a huge difference for the Future All-Stars.
To match the millions Griffin and Parker have raised—I can hardly comprehend it.
My eyes blur with tears, emotion clogs my throat. Not because my dad is a manipulative jerk, but I can imagine the pure elation on Griffin’s face, knowing he’d have so much more to spread joy to children across the country with.
He'd probably demand balloons and cake. Maybe he’d pick me up and spin me around. I can definitely see Griffin losing his mind, whirling through all the things he could do with such a pot.
My hand presses to my heart. Little by little the truth took me from behind, that he’s a bright spot in my life. A verbal sparring match I enjoy more than I want to admit. A golden retriever I tried to ignore, but he kept coming until the ice melted off my heart.
We’re . . . friends.
Griffin matters. This would be everything to him, and Iwantit for him.
“Okay, Dad,” I say, completely ignoring the fact that I’ve lied and now have to keep this lie going. “Come to the fundraiser with your wallet, and I’ll prove it—”
“No,” he interrupts. “Bring him to the birthday.”
My tongue doesn’t fit in my mouth anymore. “Yeah. Sure. It’d be great if you’d simply believe me, but fine.”
“Forgive me, Wren, but men like him don’t settle down with just anyone.”
I roll my eyes. “Well, he did. Griffin fell for little, boring, poor me.”
My dad balks. “You have more financial resources than you’d ever need if you’d take them.”
“I’m not working for you, Dad. Wouldn’t be healthy.”
I can practically feel the heat coming off his face through the phone. “The birthday, then.”
“Yep. We’ll be there.” If Griffin doesn’t kick me out for dragging him into a complete farce first. “My professional baseball player boyfriend and I will be so disgustingly sweet you’ll need to leave the room.”
One can hope.
My dad finishes the phone call with a brisk farewell. I’m still spinning. What have I done?
I’d love more time to stew over my enormous storytelling faux pas, but I’m startled back when a throat clears behind me.
I jump around, throwing my foggy head back into a tailspin. A woman with a long pink box in her hands stands in Griffin’s entryway.
“Hi.” She grins a little slyly and lifts the box a bit. “I’ve got your cookies.”
CHAPTER12