Page 19 of Leave Me Broken
Ignoring the annoyance that came with his attitude about it, I stand. “I’m going to work out. We can talk more later; you can ask any questions and I’ll try and answer to my full capacity.”
He nods slowly and I know that the conversation is over for now. Truthfully, I can’t wait to get out of this room and work off some steam in the gym. “You want to join?”
“I am still tired from the time change.”
Fair. I pause at the door when I hear him call for me.
“Papà?” I glance back to him. He seems more relaxed now but he’s still blushing, and I worry what he might say. I told him I’d answer any questions but I’m not answering anything about Payson that doesn’t involve us as a couple. If that’s what he wants to know, then he will need to ask her or just wonder. I hope he chooses the latter. I’d like to say there is no part of me that is worried about my son stealing my girl, but that’s not the case and it is very fucked up to even need to think about it. “Is Janelly single?”
My face splits into a huge smile. “Her name is Janelle, and yes, I believe so.” Which, I’m glad, because that guy around them early in the season irked me. “But she is in her last year of school.”
Parker seems happy with my answer and doesn’t seem to care about that fact. He falls back to the bed and I swear there’s a faint smile on his lips when I walk out.
Jailbird: Got room for one more this weekend? I don’t really want ot drive myself and—
I don’t need to see the reason she wants a ride. I just want her there.
Me: I always have room for you.
I’ll need to tell Luca and Parker. Luca won’t care but Parker is . . . a little on the fence about me and Payson. He knew I had a girl—I talk about her constantly, it was impossible to hide from my son—not that I would anyway—but he didn’t know that she was my player or that she’s seventeen. I hadn’t left them out on purpose, not truly, anyway, they are just unimportant compared to everything else about her. I would rather talk about the way her brown hair is always a beautiful mess, or the way her green eyes shine when she’s happy. I love the way her nose scrunches and how much she cares for the people closest to her. How no matter what’s happened in her life she is the most genuine person I know.
“Payson texted me,” I announce at the dinner table.
Luca pauses with a bite of zucchini pasta halfway to his mouth. Parker stiffens but keeps eating.
“She asked if there was room in the car for her on Saturday.”
“I don’t have a problem with that,” Luca says.
Parker shifts when we both regard him, waiting for his answer. “Parker?”
“I guess.”
Not a great answer, but not bad. I consider that progress. I will text her after dinner to confirm.
“Payson really is fantastic, nipote. You’ll see when you spend Saturday around her.”
He rolls his eyes. “Si, I have heard about how brilliant Payson is. Can’t wait.”
Things will be interesting but good. The sooner those two get along, the easier my life will be. As long as they don’t get along too well.
The gym is peaceful at five a.m. There is no noise besides the footfalls from Luca and me as we walk around preparing for practice. We’re not setting up the net because it will not be that kind of practice. We have a serious issue within the team; I don’t expect it to be solved today, but it’s time we take a step in the right direction.
Girls will show up soon. Anytime Alyssa and Payson are in a room together—especially when they go at each other, I worry what might slip from their mouths. I’ll eventually need to tell Payson everything, but I can tell that she’s purposely avoiding outright asking whatever she is thinking inside her head. I wish there was no need to worry—no reason to ask questions. I wish I was smarter and had asked for an ID despite being in a bar. Wish I didn’t drink so much that night, or the next time. But Alyssa has said nothing this far, so maybe I’ll luck out for once with her and she will let me tell Payson everything. Hearing it from me versus Alyssa might work out in my favor. I know she will hate me again, but in order to move forward, we need everything in the open. I don’t plan on telling her anything until after the season. I need her and Alyssa to work together, and if she finds out we fucked this summer—even if it was before we met—I know the odds of them being compatible teammates are slim.
When the door I have propped with a block of wood opens, Luca and I look to see who is the eager beaver that is here thirty minutes before practice. Relief washes over me seeing a sleepy smile stretching her pretty face. She rubs at her eye with a closed fist and yawns.
“Morning, boys.”
Yesterday we were at each others’ throats and today she’s smiling at me. I feel like I won the fucking lottery when her smile is directed at me.
Luca dips his head as she walks by him. “Ciao, Payson.”
“Come va?”
“Molto bene.”
“Very good?” she asks. I’ve heard him teach her a few words here and there, but I didn’t know she already knew how to say how are you in Italian. God, my girl is so bloody brilliant.