Page 66 of Pretty Broken Promises

I grab my purse and head out of the apartment. I have no idea where I'm going, only that I cannot stay here alone. In my haste to leave, I neglect to leave a note, something I think of on my way out the door, but don't turn around to correct. My phone is in my bag, and that will have to be good enough.

The neighborhood our apartment building is in is fairly quiet. There are a lot of parks that are in the surrounding area. It's getting dark outside, but it's not completely dark yet, so I still feel comfortable enough to walk up to one of the parks with a view of more of the city.

My purse is one of those crossbody types, and I have it slung around my neck over one shoulder. I barely notice it as I hike up the small hill to the park. Halfway up the sky opens and it starts to rain, not a light drizzle like it usually does in the summer, but a heavy spring type of rain. I toss my head back, hold my arms out to the side, and let the rain fall down on me, soaking me to the core. My thin T-shirt clings to my body, and my jeans become somewhat uncomfortable, but in a way that discomfort soothes me. I continue up to the park and find a bench where I can sit and let the rain reset my mood.

Sitting here getting soaked is the first time tonight I feel like I can breathe. I pull my knees up to my chest, rest my chin on top of them, and stare off at the city as the sun goes down, and the lights slowly flicker on. I'm aware that time is passing but not really concerned with how much of it is going by, just that I finally have a moment of peace.

ChapterTwenty-Seven

FORD

My entire bodyaches by the time I finally make it home. Each day camp has been going longer and longer. Every time I try and take a break to use my phone or to go home for dinner Coach Greer, or one of the other members of the coaching or tutoring staff, finds a reason to keep me there just a little bit longer. I've got my suspicions as to why they are trying to take up my time, but no concrete evidence.

In the beginning, I was not the only one being held late, but the last several days I've noticed I am the last one out the door. Tonight was the final straw.

At six o'clock our official tutoring session ended, and the guys started packing up their bags to go home. I decided I would follow along. Before I made it out the door Coach Greer waved me down.

“Ford, can I have a moment please?” he asked.

I crossed my arms and stood where I was, waiting for him to come to me.

We stared at each other for what felt like forever, but was probably actually several seconds, and then he gave in and came to me.

“Since you are new to the team, I would like you to spend some time after our study sessions, to study our playbook, and then I would like for you to watch some game tape of the teams that we are going to be up against first so that you can be prepared.”

“Won't those be from last season?” I asked.

He nodded. “Yes, but the ones that I want you to watch still have the same coaches. You should be home with enough time to get plenty of rest for the next day.”

“But conveniently, not enough time to spend any time at all with my girlfriend. I'm sure that's just a coincidence. It has nothing to do with the request that I appear to be single, right?” I asked, but it wasn't really a question. It was pretty clear they were keeping me busy for a reason.

He gave me a patronizing look, which I didn't buy for a fucking second, and then said, “Your personal life is your business. We only asked that you present a certain image to the public. Your public image helps to sell tickets and brings in revenue for the school. I didn't like asking you to do it any more than you liked hearing it, but we are both just cogs in this machine. Just like if I don't produce for them and follow their directions I won't get to stick around, if you don't follow their directions?—”

“Then my scholarship disappears and I'm off the team. Is that what you're trying to say without saying it?”

“Your job is to win football games and get fans in the stands. Think you can do that?”

I shouldn't have let his intimidation tactics work, but in that moment I wasn't sure what to do. So I spent an hour studying the book and then I spent another hour watching old game tapes.

Now all I want to do is grab my girl, fall into bed, and see how much of her day I can catch up on before sleep claims me and I pass the fuck out. I turn the key and enter a very dark and very quiet apartment.

“Tessa? Vixen, are you here?”

There's no answer. The lights are off in the bathroom. For a split second I have a paralyzing fear that I'm going to find her on the floor somewhere and a puddle of blood. I don't know what brings that image into my head, but there is this sense of anxiety and fear hanging around. Maybe that is my own because I can't find her.

I pull my phone out of my pocket and find a text from her from several hours ago.

Tessa

Call me when you get a chance. I’m going to work late so I don’t have to be home alone.

I exhale in relief, but then I do the math in my head. I know she started work at nine this morning. It's now about eight-thirty at night. Carol never lets her work that many hours in one day. I try Tessa's cell phone and it goes straight to voicemail. She often turns her phone off when she's at work, so I try the café next.

“Daily Grind Café this is Carol,” she answers.

“Hey Carol, this is Ford. Is Tessa still there?”

“No, I sent her home hours ago. Like around six. Did she not make it home?”

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