Page 31 of The Sweet Spot

Every muscle in my body locks because of all the things I was expecting him to throw my way, that last one wasn’t it.

When I don’t respond, he moves into the seat next to me. “So how about we start with you working here?”

His words may seem calmer now than a moment ago, but it’s not often that Dad loses his shit, and I’m still treading carefully, waiting for another bomb to blow.

“You didn’t forget anything. I was just hoping your offer to work here still stands because I’d like to join the Crucible family.” Okay. That wasn’t so hard.

“Kid.” He takes my hand in his. “You are the Crucible family. If you’re ready to work here, I couldn’t be happier. But I want you to think about it. Because working here just to piss off your mother isn’t a good enough reason.”

“That’s not it. I promise. Mom switched me over to the Kings without talking to me about it. She did it without my consent. And while I understand I’m her little girl and she thinks she knows best, she doesn’t get to make that choice for me anymore. I’m a grown woman, Dad. I haven’t lived at home in years. I don’t ask you guys for anything. I earn my own money. Pay my own bills. Earned my own degrees. And live my own life,” I argue. “I loved my job. And I’m damn good at it. I decided the timing was finally right for me to work at Crucible, and I gave them my notice. That’s the story.” Maybe not every single detail but all the details he needs to know.

“What if Max told you that you could stay on with the Revolution with no chance of you ever being moved to the Kings? Would you still want to work here? Because Max is willing to add that to your contract to get you to stay.” Yup. Knew there was another bomb waiting to be tossed.

I think about that.

Would I stay?

I look around this office and smile at the pictures covering Dad’s walls. So much of our history in one room. I guess my answer is pretty easy. “No. It’s time. I’m ready to work for Crucible.”

“Well that’s one thing done then. You’re hired. But before you go jumping up to hug me, I want more answers, and your mother isn’t giving them to me. So it’s your turn. How the hell did you end up trading condos?”

I sit, filling Dad in on the rest of the weekend.

Well, not all of it, but all I’m willing to share.

It’s not until he’s hugging me goodbye that he squeezes my shoulder and looks away. “Have you thought any more about getting tested, Brynn?”

I shake my head and kiss his cheek. “Love you, Dad. See you soon.”

It’s not the answer he wants, but it’s the only one he’s getting today.

DEACON

“Slow down, brother. So now she’s going to give you full custody of Kennedy?” Ripley kicks his legs up on my balcony and pops the top open on his beer. I wasn’t expecting him when he knocked on my door earlier tonight, but I probably should have been surprised he managed to wait a few days before he showed up here. “I mean, I’m kinda surprised Isla wasn’t more of a bitch about it.”

I lean against the railing and look over at the harbor. Definitely gonna miss this view. “She’s not a bitch, Rip. She’s trying to do what’s right for Kennedy. We all are. It’s just not easy.” Anxiety is a bitch, and my poor kid has been dealing with it her whole life.

The fucker chokes on his beer. “If she was doing what’s best for Kennedy, she wouldn’t be going to Japan.”

“You know it’s not that simple,” I argue, but he mimes like he’s jerking off.

He was never a big Isla fan.

“Remind me why the hell you came back from Jersey?” I ask as I flick my beer cap at him.

“Beer’s better in Boston. And I couldn’t let you say goodbye to this place alone. We had some good times here.”

“You mean before you got traded to Nashville,” I goad him, knowing he fucking hates his new team.

“Listen, asshole. I’m a free agent as of a month ago. I can go anywhere I want if the offer’s right, and coming back to Boston is top on my list of wants.” He looks at me over his beer. “Now tell me what’s top on your list of wants.”

I turn around and lean against the wrought iron, leaving the city and the bay at my back. “What do I want? Well, Doctor Phil, let’s talk about what I want.”

Fuck... it’s been so fucking long since I’ve let myself really think about what I want, I’m not even sure where to start.

“I want Kennedy to be happy. I want to make sure she’s taken care of and happy. I want my daughter to not be in a constant state of stress and anxiety that has her closing in on herself, shrinking her world until it’s just her in a room, alone.” My jaw clenches at the thought of that happening again. Because it wasn’t all that long ago that my little girl had a breakdown when she had to switch schools, and I never want to see that happen to her again.

“I want Isla to trust me with Kennedy. Fuck... I want to trust myself with her. I want to trust that I’m making the right decisions for her. And how the hell am I supposed to do that when I’m going to be away from her for half a season?” I crack my neck, my frustration growing higher and higher until it’s at a boiling point. “I don’t know how I’m gonna do it, man. How am I gonna leave her?”

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