Page 49 of Playing Hard to Hate
This heroic moment comes just as Silver’s baseball career is on an upward trajectory, making it clear that his talents extend far beyond the diamond.
I forwarded the article to Tate and dialed her number as I merged back onto the highway.
“We’re all over the news,” she said before I could say hello.
“I just sent you an article. My agent is going to give my personal statement, and I’ve made it clear to steer the attention away from you. In case we can’t do that, I need you to lie low. Avoid going out unless necessary.”
“You don’t think I’m in danger, do you?” There was a hint of fear in her tone, and I, honest to God, wasn’t sure. I hoped not, but nothing was set in stone anymore, but I couldn’t tell her that.
“Just stay clear of the cleat chasers, Tate, but after what I saw this afternoon, you can handle them.”
She giggled. I fucking loved her laugh. “You aren’t funny.”
“And your nose is growing, Pinocchio,” I teased.
“I’ll see you Friday at the swim shoot.”
“No contact for five days? You know Steve Jobs invented these things called iPhones? Since we both have them, we can text all week, and the real kicker, it costs nothing.”
“Friday, Silver.”
She ended the call like that would mean her answer was final. There was no way I was going that long without talking to her.
CHAPTER 21
TATUM
PRESENT
Dustin was being unusually annoying this trip. Not only did he continue to press me for information about Griffin after he left, but he then wanted to go through every gory detail of last night, only to refuse to tell me about what sickness Dad had.He hadn’t changed at all.Not like I expected a miracle overnight or anything, but it would be nice if he got to the point of his visit.
He was also insisting on celebrating Mom’s life at dinner tonight. After the night I had, the last thing I wanted to do was sit with him at dinner and talk about Mom. The worst part is that until he walked through the door, I had forgotten what today was. Guilt swallowed me whole as I got ready for dinner, not that I had much appetite, but Dustin insisted we needed to do this.
I missed her so much.
I wished more than anything I could have told her about last night.
I longed to wrap my arms around her.
Today marked four years since she took her own life and fourteen years since Dad ruined our family.
While applying my makeup, I let my mind wander. It drifted over memories from the last twenty-four hours. The same fear from last night crept into my bones as I let my mind focus on those few horrific minutes. My hand shook as I swiped highlighter across my cheekbones.
If Griffin hadn’t been there, I might have died.
He’d been strong and commanding. There wasn’t an ounce of fear in his body like it had seized mine.
His tone was confident, his arms held me up when the world shattered, and now my heart was so confused.
He did things, said things—things that alluded to him caring about me, but how could he?How could he care when he’d treated me so terribly? How could he care for me when he’d been the one to leave?
“You ready?” Dustin poked his head into my room as I brushed the tangles out of my wet hair.
“Need ten more minutes,” I said, looking at him through my mirror. He nodded and disappeared, leaving me alone with memories I couldn’t seem to shake no matter how hard I tried.
Mom used to brush my hair as a little girl. She’d sing a silly tune and get louder as she put the hair dryer on. Together, we’d scream the lyrics to whatever song she had started singing, and all was perfect in the world.
I wanted to be that little girl again. The one whose laughter was endless, the one who didn’t see the failed marriage, the one whose dreams were endless, and her fears were only of spiders and snakes.
