Page 25 of Scores Of The Heart

He stares at me, his face red and sweaty.

I don’t understand what he isn’t getting.

“But our families!” He declares, like that’s the answer to everything.

“You should have thought about that. I don’t want to marry you, Damon. It’s never going to happen now.”

He stands with his hands on his hips. “I‘ll make it up to you,” he pleads. “Just give me time.”

He's only saying it because both of us have been indoctrinated from a young age to believe that we are supposed to be together, as per our parents' wishes.

I doubt my dad does after all of this.

But I’ve seen the light, and I realized now that people aren’t who they say they are, no matter how long you’ve known them.

“I think you should go home,” I say, exasperated. “I really don’t want to talk about this anymore.” I stand up from the porch seat and walk to the front door.

“Cindy, you can’t do this, please!”

I turn to him over my shoulder as I clutch the doorknob in my hands. A part of me still loves him. Maybe I always will because of all the memories and the way we grew up as best friends. But this betrayal runs deep, he will understand soon enough.

“You did this,” I spout, giving him a pointed look. “Goodbye, Damon.”

And I walk back in the house, slamming the door in his startled face…

* * *

“Why don’t you meet us for drinks on Friday?” I ask Caitlin when I call her that night when I get home from walking Henry.

He sits snuggled up with me on the couch while I reheat a TV tray in the microwave.

I don’t normally eat that kind of food, but tonight I’m beat and can’t be bothered cooking.

“I wish I could, but Liam and I have dinner reservations. I’ll see you Sunday though for lunch.”

Yes, that’s right, we’re meeting up with Mom at Houston’s when I’d much rather have a Seattle Dog and watch a movie with Henry. I admit, I have been a recluse as of late. Though I have been going to some of the home games with the team. I love watching the game and the roar of the stadium.

I occasionally travel with them. That’s when Caitlin looks after Henry and he loves it because she dotes on him like he’s a child. Much like me in that respect.

“Can’t wait. I hope Mom is in a better mood this time.”

“Tell me about it.”

Caitlin has always been the one who’s gone against the rules and done her own thing. She’s always stood up to Mom, as soon as she was old enough to make her own decisions, anyway. I’ve always struggled in that department. Sometimes I wonder if I’m the daughter she wanted because the struggle between us has always been intense.

“Dad wants to have a family get together when the season is over,” I say. “It’s been a while.” Not that my mom would be there. It’s been a long time since they’ve been in the same room together. I don’t think they’re about to start now.

“Sounds good. We haven’t seen him in a while. At least he seemed to like Liam the last time they met.”

“Maybe Dad’s softening in his old age.” I laugh. But some things don’t change.

While he abandoned the church a while back, he’s still the protective, doting Dad he always was.

“Chance would be a fine thing.” She laughs, too. “See you Sunday.”

CHAPTER 6

Tyler

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