Page 36 of Off the Rim
I shouldn't be surprised to see him. As little interest as he's taken in my life or activities the past few years, he sees my senior year at CVU as a business opportunity. He wants me forging connections with the other Alpha Omega Psi guys, especiallyAnderson Hearst. Apparently, Anderson's father is part owner of a tech development company my father would like to trade hand jobs with, or whatever it is these important guys do when they're behind closed doors, sharing secrets on how to run the world by screwing people over. Which explains his sudden interest in my college career or basketball.
That, and he found out I've been getting friendly with the enemy. Or who he perceives to be the enemy. I don't know what his issue with Marcus is. Is it because of his father? Because his father died six years ago. Or is it because he knows there was something between us?
"Involving yourself withthat boywill only drag you down."
"What are you doing here?"
"You've been ignoring my calls."
"I've been busy."
"With that boy?"
"What?" I deflect the question like I don't know who he's talking about. "I've been practicing and doing some volunteering."
"Volunteering?" He spits out, like the word is foreign or tastes bad.
"Yeah," I say, nonchalantly, as if it's a normal thing I've always done. "A nearby neighborhood got pretty wrecked during the storms last weekend. I helped pick up debris and repair houses?—”
"So the reason you missed out on your mother's dinner party is because you were busy picking up trash and rubbing elbows with parolees?"
"Why do you assume that anyone doing community service is a criminal?” Like I didn’t think the exact same thing. It really puts my attitude into perspective when I hear it come from my father’s mouth. I’m embarrassed. “Mostly I was here getting ready for the most important season in CVU's history, doing my best to make a good impression like you wanted me to."
"What I wanted is for you to make a good impression with the Hearsts, who were expecting to introduce their daughter to you."
Their daughter? Anderson's younger sister? I make a face. "Is she even old enough to drive?"
"No one suggested you get married tomorrow, son. Just meet the girl."
"I. Don't. Like. Girls. You know that, right?"
"What about Bianca? You liked her.”
“As a friend. She was an effective beard. One that you hit on when I brought her home to meet everyone, or did you forget how you made her so uncomfortable we had to leave early?”
“Ashton—” he growls.
"I just want to hear you acknowledge it, even once, that your son is gay. I'm not going to marry any of your rich friends' daughters. Ever."
"We've discussed this before, Ashton, and this isn't the time. We have a meeting with William Burke."
"Do you mean the discussions where you've insinuated that I marry someone of your choosing, then sleep with whomever I choose behind their backs? Because I don't want to be like you and mom."
"Keep your mother out of this, and keep your mouth shut. You will not embarrass me here," he hisses as Coach Burke emerges from the hallway.
"Mr. James, so nice to see you again!" The man lies through his teeth, kissing up to the almighty Ashton James II.
Goddamn I hate sharing a name with this asshole.
"William. We need to talk," my dad says, getting straight to business.
Coach's smile drops as he arranges his face into something more serious and professional. "Of course, right this way."
In Coach Burke's office, I sit in a seat opposite Coach, while my father looms behind me with his arms crossed.
"What can I do for you, Mr. James?"
"You can remove Marcus Vell from this team, effective immediately. I have tried to reason with you, but clearly you don't understand how serious I am. So I've taken things into my own hands to make sure you follow through."
