Page 52 of The Player Penalty
I ignore Jason’s dig. If he wants to be bitter, that’s fine with me because I’m bitter too. His career ended because he cheated, not because of me. “How is Mom?”
“Same as ever,” Jason says.
Eager to please my father and ready to explain away his actions. Dad isn’t cruel; he was making a joke. It’s fine because that’s the way it has to be. We misunderstood, so be quiet before he gets angry.
I grew up trying to please Julian Murphy Senior. Jason succeeded. He should have been the one to carry on the name, not me. I would have made a great Jason — or Mark or Bill.
“How about you?”
He loudly sighs into the phone. “Working. Is there something you wanted?”
“Nothing, just checking in.”
“Okay, then I’m going to go. Enjoy Texas.”
What does that mean? Are they watching me race, or is he still following my career?
The line is dead, so I’ll never know.
I wipe my face, telling myself to forget the call ever took place and concentrate on tonight.
Only a few more hours.
∞∞∞
Everything is perfect, or near enough.
I first laid out candles before deciding they would be a fire hazard and then switched to incense. It stunk, so I settled for a can of old-fashioned air freshener. Now, the bedroom smells like baby powder, a debatable improvement.
The bedsheets are washed, a spare toothbrush sits on the bathroom sink, and a fresh pack of condoms rests on the bedside table.
I rub my jeans one last time, and the front door opens. Lily is only fifteen minutes late, which makes her early.
“You look amazing,” I say, taking one of her bags. “You brought your backpack.”
“I’m struggling with a paper in my child psychology class, so if there’s time, I hope to work on it tonight.”
There won’t be time, not tonight. “The one due next week? I’ll sit with you this weekend. Will that help?”
She drops her backpack by the door and nods.
This particular accommodation was an accidental discovery only because I arranged for her to be my fake assistant. It turns out she can better focus when I’m around. Distractions distract her, but a body keeps her focused.
“It will help, thank you. Also, I need to take my medicine tonight. Will you help me remember? I always forget, and tonight will be even worse.”
“You’re covered. Did you bring that planning container?” A pink one, with morning and evening slots for every day of the week. She showed them to me at a race once after forgetting them the night before, and I’ve been the backup plan since. “We won’t forget. Tonight or in the morning.”
“Good, because Dad is with Boone, and they fly directly to Texas after this.” Her devilish smile matches mine. “He thinks I’m working on a school project.”
“It’s a project, just not school-related.”
Since that first night here, we went to a movie and then to a nearby park, where we made out like a pair of horny teenagers. We only quit after realizing the windows were covered in steam, and over an hour had passed.
That first night in my trailer has turned me back into a teenager again, one who recently discovered girls while in the throes of puberty. Back then, I was desperate for almost any available girl. This time around, I’m only thinking about one.
“You look amazing.” Her black skirt and midriff top, combined with red lipstick and pulled-back hair, are an incredibly sexy look. After that white dress, the color choice can not be a coincidence. “There’s a bottle of wine in the fridge if you want some. The wine clerk said it was good, but who knows? It all tastes the same to me.” Bitter or sour or both.
“I’ll get glasses,” Lily says, pulling out two wine glasses from a kitchen cabinet.
