Page 79 of The Breaking Point

“I don’t judge Brady for his past, but he has a lot of baggage, too. I would bet you a million dollars one of the reasons he sleeps around is because of something lacking inside him. Do you want to just be another notch on his bedpost?”

I felt a little sick to my stomach. When I’d decided to ask Mom her opinion on Brady and me dating, I had the stupid hope that she’d tell me to go for it.

Mom took my hand and squeezed it. “I’m sorry. I know it’s not what you want to hear. I just want to protect you. You need a stable man. And you know these athletes. They burn themselves out completely. They burn bright for a few years, and then ...” Mom shrugged.

“Brady might want to change.” My voice sounded small.

“Maybe he will.” I could hear Mom’s skepticism in her voice. “But there’s also the issue of your dad. He’ll never be okay with you dating a hockey player. He knows those guys too well.”

Mom’s expression was serious now. “And I’d worry that you dating Brady might hurt his career. He might be accused of nepotism, or that he’s dating his coach’s daughter for special favors.”

“What? That’s crazy! Everybody knows Brady isn’t like that.”

“My dear, when it comes to money and fame, people will do a lot of things. Even people like Brady.”

I hated that I was listening to this. I hated that I felt a bit of doubt bloom inside me.

What if Brady was allowing this because he’d realized that he could get special treatment if he got me to date him?

“You said yourself that Dad would freak out,” I asserted. “So there’s no way Brady would think he’d get anything out of dating me. He’d probably hurt his career more than he’d help it.”

“You’re probably right. And is that something you want to feel guilty about? What if your dad gets Brady traded to another team?”

I hadn’t considered that. Would Dad do something like that?

I winced inwardly. If Dad truly thought it was in my best interest to send Brady to Siberia, he’d do it. I knew my dad well enough to believe he was capable of that.

“I also just don’t see Brady as my son-in-law,” Mom remarked.

“We’re just talking about dating, not getting married.”

“Sweetheart, you and I both know that you aren’t the type to date casually. Brady is. And I’ll be honest, for that reason, I’d have a hard time trusting him.” She patted my leg. “I know you wanted to hear me say something else, but I have to be honest here.”

“I know.”

I understood where Mom was coming from, even if I didn’t totally agree with her. But her words made me pause, because what if I was heading straight into disaster? Was I letting this crush of mine block out the truth about Brady?

Brady isn’t a bad guy,I reminded myself. In fact, he was the opposite. Hadn’t he tried his hardest to stay away from me, but I wouldn’t let him? He’d always been protective of me as well.

And now he wanted to date me. If he didn’t care about me, why even bring that suggestion up?

I had a feeling that my parents simply misunderstood Brady. Just like the world would misunderstand if they found out that he’d been going to a sex club.

God, I couldn’t imagine the uproar if Dad found out about Brady and me going to the Scarlet Rope. He wouldn’t just banish Brady; he’d murder him.

Despite all my misgivings, I was still excited to go on actual dates with Brady. And, really, what could a date or two hurt? Maybe we’d realize we actually had nothing in common besides animal lust.

Sorry, Mom,I thought to myself after we’d returned home.But I can’t listen to you this time.

GRACE

I looked myself up and down in the mirror, frowning. “What about this one?”

Kelly lounged on her bed as I tried on outfits for my first date with Brady. Kelly just shook her head and waved a hand. “Next.”

I rolled my eyes but did as she commanded. Kelly knew better about picking good date outfits than I did.

I stripped out of the yellow sundress and put on a tight little magenta number.

---