Page 36 of Go Deep

Chapter 15

Vince

“What the hell happened?” Eva looks up, startled, when I storm over to our table. There’s a low hum of conversation surrounding us like white noise. I pull out my chair and sink into it before picking up the highball glass of bourbon in front of me.

I’d always loved the rustic look of this restaurant, with its terracotta accents, dark wood furniture, and fragrant plants. But tonight, everything in my line of sight is bleeding a fierce shade of red, and I can’t concentrate on a damn thing other than the rage coursing through me.

The amber liquid scorches a path down my throat, heating my belly. After draining the last drop, I slam the glass onto the white linen tablecloth, taking a deep breath to calm my throbbing pulse since a twenty-minute drive did nothing to slow it down.

But I can’t blame it on anger at my dad alone.

This is on me.

I let him turn me into a goddamn puppet for so manyyears, keeping boundaries, never shaking shit up, always playing the role he wanted.

He never gave me a chance to be myself. Hell, he’d disown me if I ever showed him what’s underneath the designer clothes, the expensive cars, and the fucking bullshit façade.

Because he’s my father…my only living parent…I’ve kept it all locked up tight behind the smoke and mirrors. Only one person has gotten a real glimpse, and because of my fucking issues, I can’t let him see any more.

“If you’re asking me the question, then I suspect you already know the answer.” I rake a hand through my hair and lean back against the chair.

“He said he asked you to join him on the trail.” Eva picks up her wine glass and takes a sip.

I let out a sharp, humorless laugh. “He didn’t ask. He ordered. And that was after he forbade me to do a sportscasting gig with Gabe Kelly at Ohio State on Saturday. Like I’m fucking seventeen and he’s threatening to take back the car keys if I defy him.”

“He didn’t tell me that. He just said you booked something on the same day as one of his rallies.”

“He doesn’t give a shit about the rally. He was fine with me pimping him and my company out at the game until he heard who I’d be calling it with.”

“Gabe Kelly,” Eva muses. “Crusaders, right? Gay quarterback?”

“Yes.” I grit my teeth, heat rushing to my face at the mention of his name. It’s an involuntary reaction that is really starting to piss me off. “Will Ames called and said since we’re both alums, it’d be a good morale boost for the team. Dad heard Gabe’s name and blew a fucking gasket.”

“Oh, no,” Eva mutters, dropping her head so that her hairfalls in front of her face. I flip around to see who she’s trying to avoid.

Motherfucker.

It’s Bob Sinclair and his hoebag daughter, Kim.

“Shit, Vince. Why would you turn around? They’re definitely going to see us now.” Eva’s exasperated whisper barely resonates because it isn’t Bob and Kim whom I’m focused on. It’s the person behind them…the one person I’ve been simultaneously aching and dreading to see again.

Gabe Kelly.

I flip back around, my pulse punching a hole in my throat.

“Vince and Eva, what a surprise.” Bob claps a hand on my shoulder, and I clench my fists under the tablecloth. I want to blame this bigot bastard for ruining my chances with Gabe the other night, but I can’t.

Ilet him walk away.

Ididn’t stop him.

Ilet my father’s expectations trump what I really want…what I’ve been missing for so long.

It’s pathetic and sad. I’m a fucking grown man who doesn’t need anyone or anything. But my family is broken, and I can’t be responsible for crushing whatever’s left and shattering us completely. It would kill Eva, and that would kill me.

“Will you be joining us at the rally on Saturday?” Bob asks when neither Eva nor I respond.

“I’ll be at Ohio State,” I say through clenched teeth.

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