Page 105 of Love to Hate You

The sound of glass shattering makes me flinch as I step into the kitchen.

“How dare you throw me out of my own house? The house I bought and paid for!” He thumps his chest with his fist. “Me!”

Mom’s wide eyes lock on mine. She’s never been one for confrontation. Being controlled and beaten down over the last twenty years has only made it worse. She’s a shell of the former woman she used to be.

It breaks my heart to see her like this. Reduced to a mouse when she used to be a lion. Filing for divorce is the first step to taking her life back. I won’t allow him to suck her back into his abusive dysfunction again.

Dad follows the direction of Mom’s gaze and swings around to face me. His cheeks are stained red and his eyes are wild with rage. “You!” He stabs a finger in my direction. “You ungrateful little shit! This is your doing, isn’t it? You talked her into this.”

“She deserves better than you,” I say.

His lips peel away from his teeth into a feral snarl as he emits a low growl and charges at me. I brace for impact. Five strides are all it takes to eat up the distance between us. Both hands hit my chest and knock me back a step.

“I should have kicked your ass out a long time ago,” he sneers, emphasizing the sentiment by shoving me again. “You think you’re so fucking special just because you’re being drafted by the NFL? Well, let me set you straight, you’re nothing! And you will always be nothing!” He throws an irate look at his wife. “Just like your useless cunt of a mother.”

The ugliness of his words makes me see red. I don’t give a crap what he says about me. He can call me every goddamn name in the book.

Hell, he already has.

But to call her that?

“I’d like to know what team will pick you up with two broken arms.” Just as he bites out the words, he lunges and grabs my left arm, giving it a vicious twist.

What the fuck is wrong with this guy?

Most fathers would be filled with pride if their kid had the prospects that I do.

But not him.

Before he can do any real damage, I twist away and slip out of his grasp. Normally, I hate when he gets shitfaced, but not this time. It allows me to evade him more easily. He’s unsteady on his feet and stumbles when I shove him away.

“You little fucker!” Spittle flies from his mouth as he takes a swing. I duck and he staggers to the side with the momentum of his arm.

I’m so focused on my father, anticipating his next move, that I barely hear the gasp. I glance away from the man weaving in front of me to see Daisy standing frozen in the doorway. Her eyes are wide with horror and both hands are pressed against her mouth as she watches the scene unfold. Any color filling her cheeks has been leeched away.

The moment our eyes collide, everything around me ceases to exist.

I don’t want her anywhere near this miserable excuse for a human being. Just as I step in her direction, Dad’s fist connects with my jaw. The impact sends me staggering back a step.

Both Daisy and Mom scream.

As much as I want to remove Daisy from the situation, I can’t. Instead of throwing a punch at my father, I close the distance and wrap my arms around his body in a bear hug. It would be so satisfying to beat the piss out of him, but I refuse to stoop to his level. Then I would be no better than he is.

And I am not my father.

With forced calmness, I meet my mother’s eyes. “Call the police.”

She freezes. I hate that this is even a decision for her. After everything Dad has put her through, it shouldn’t be.

“Mom,” I bite out. “Call the police and tell them that your husband, Philip Prescott, has violated the restraining order against him.”

She nods and explodes into action.

My command renews Dad’s energy. He screams and blusters, struggling like a trapped animal. But he’s drunk. His movements are sloppy and no match for my strength. As much as I want to forget that Daisy is here, I’m acutely aware of her presence. I don’t think I’ve ever been more humiliated in my life.

I can’t bring myself to look at her.

I’m about to order her back to the car, when I catch a movement from the corner of my eye. I turn my head and watch as Daisy lays a hand on Mom’s arm, gently pulling her in for a hug.

My heart cracks wide open as my mom clings to Daisy.

The words perched on my lips die as I watch the two women who mean everything to me embrace.

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