Page 108 of Unwritten Rules
TATUM
Avoiding my father for two days should be classed as an Olympic sport. It’s not as easy as it sounds, especially when he’s done everything he can to corner me into discussing what happened at the game on Saturday. The best option for me was to stay locked in my bedroom and only come out when necessary. It made it easier when Dad went to work for the day, but he would be persistent again as soon as he walked through the front door.
He’s eager to clear the air, but the last thing I want to do is talk to him.
I know he means well and is trying to look out for me, but I’m not his little girl anymore who needs her father to protect her.
I flop back onto my mattress and stare at the ceiling, phone pressed to my ear. “Being unemployed sucks.”
“I know the feeling,” Raya murmurs on the other end of the line. “But on the bright side, now you’ve got some time on your hands to figure out what you want to do now. Are you going to stay in Sydney or move back to Barrenridge?”
The throbbing pain behind my eyes doesn’t ease up no matter how many times I rub at my temples. I’m convinced it’s caused by stress, but Raya pointed out I haven’t been drinkingmuch water these past two days, and I hate to admit that she’s right. But also, it’s likely from stress, too.
“I have no idea,” I grumble, blinking slowly. “I moved to Sydney because Barrenridge doesn’t have anything else to offer me. But now I’m back to square one of not knowing what the hell I’m doing or where to even begin looking for a job.”
“You’ve got time,” Raya reminds me. “Until you find something suitable, just live off your savings and hope for the best. I know the club paid you well.”
I groan and roll on my stomach, feet moving through the air above me. “I’m so lost, Raya. I don’t know what to do.”
“It’s what I’m here for, Tate. I’m going to help you through this and you’ll come out on the other side, I promise.”
My chapped lips roll together as I nod, despite my friend unable to see me. I miss working with the club. I had spent weeks getting to know the players, learning their histories and helping them in whatever way I could. The stability I had was ripped out from under me all because of that fucking photo.
What was a unforgettable memory with Sinnett, getting lost in each other’s quiet company and meaningful lyrics, is now the reason why I’m jobless and we had to end things between us.
Who would do something like this?
My gut feeling tells me it was Zoe’s doing—knowing her history with Sinnett—but without evidence to back me up, I’m shit out of luck.
“How are you doing?” Raya asks when I don’t say anything, lost in my thoughts. “You know… with the whole Sinnett thing.”
“I miss him,” I admit quietly. My chest aches each time I picture his inky, messy hair, his smile that has my insides melting or his calming presence. “A lot.”
“I know you do,” she murmurs. “But don’t be too hard on yourself, okay? It might not seem like it now, but you did the right thing. In that moment, you were looking out for Sinnettand his career, no matter how painful the fallout of that decision was.”
Tears spring to my eyes and I blink them back, tired of crying. It’s all I’ve done the past two days. “I know. I just wish there was a better outcome, you know? One where we didn’t have to break things off and we could be happy together.”
It’s wishful thinking, I know. In a perfect world where we met under different circumstances, maybe things would be different. No rules would be holding us back and the fear of getting caught together wouldn’t be an issue.
“Has he tried to contact you?” Raya asks, breaking through my thoughts.
“Too many times to count,” I whisper. “I want to reply. God, do I want to check in with him to see how he’s doing, but I know I can’t. If I do, we’ll fall back into how it was before Saturday night and we’ll be right back where we started. Dad would lose his fucking mind, especially after he forbade me from ever seeing him again.”
“Why would he do that?”
I exhale a sharp breath and pinch the bridge of my nose, remembering Dad’s words from two nights ago. “He thinks Sinnett isn’t good for me. That he’s a player and I’ll end up hurt. But that couldn’t be further from the truth.”
“Have you tried telling him that?” Raya says, tone curious.
“I tried, but it fell on deaf ears.” My eyes flutter closed. “No matter what I say or do, I won’t be able to change his mind.”
Raya exhales a low breath. “Gosh, this is all so messed up. I wish I knew what was going on in that head of his.”
“Your guess is as good as mine. But since I’m refusing to talk to him, I don’t know what he’s thinking.”
“You need to talk to him, Tate,” Raya urges. “Clearing the air is better than letting the clouds brew until a full-blown storm is raging in the distance.”
“I know, I know,” I rasp out, chest tight. “I’m just not ready yet.”
