Page 52 of Beach B!tch
"You better listen to me, girl! That crazy lady is some kinda loon, thinking she can waltz in here and take you from me. Do not talk to her, you understand me?" Spit was flying from his mouth as he yelled his demands at me.
A small part of me defaulted to the scared girl I'd once been, traumatized by being on the receiving end of this man. But a much bigger part of me drew strength from the people beside me and from the woman I'd fought to become the last few years. I was in a good place, despite the best efforts of my father to destroy me. Anger bubbled up, eating up the scared, replacing it with a calm confidence that felt right as it settled into the fabric of my person.
"Let's get one thing straight, old man. You don't get to tell me what to do anymore. You got that? Second, she can't take me from you, because I don't belong to you. Haven't belonged to you from the first time you hit me and told me I was worthless. Third, if it comes to light you kidnapped me away from my mother when I was just a baby, turning my childhood into a living hell when I could have been happy without you, I will do everything in my power to see you rot in jail." My voice started out shaky but got stronger and stronger with each word. I took a step closer to his stunned and confused face, making him stumble back a pace. "So, for the last time, I suggest you leave and don't come back."
His face passed red and entered the purple spectrum as he digested the extent of my anger and the strength I now exhibited in the face of his threats. His eyes darted left and right, taking in my Squad, gauging if his deranged warnings would fall on receptive ears. He must not have found what he was looking for. He refocused back on me, words dying on his lips at the look on my face.
But, like the asshole he was, he couldn't leave without a parting shot.
He lifted his arm to backhand me, his classic move. Unlike all those times as a child, this time I was ready for him.
I grabbed him arm and used his own momentum to twist it and force it behind his back. I kicked with my foot and took the back of his knees out, dropping him to the sand. Dean grabbed his legs and kept them pinned to the ground as I kept his arm twisted painfully behind his back. I got right next to his ear and said my goodbyes.
"Thank you for giving me life. There's literally nothing else to thank you for. Everything I am today is because of me and my resolve to prove you wrong. Now, I don't even care about that. Enjoy the rest of your life in prison after I press charges. Enjoy knowing you're alone in the world. I should know...that's how I felt my entire childhood. It's the greatest punishment I could ever leave you with."
I felt someone next to me, nudging me but letting me say my peace. Jack stood there with handcuffs ready. I released my father and let Jack take over.
Dean jumped up and wrapped his arm around me, pulling me away from the pathetic, crumpled form on the ground being read his Miranda rights. My girls flanked my backside and off we went.
I didn't bother looking back.
Dean
Brinley and Autumn were given an extra twenty minutes to cool off and regroup before the game started. Everyone saw what had happened and her fellow volleyball players came over to rally around her. After making sure she was as okay as could be expected, given the circumstances, I tried to fade a bit into the crowd as I struggled to get my own emotions under control. I couldn't help Brin focus if I was still vibrating with anger.
It was harder than I thought to hold myself back when her father talked to her like that. Every cell in my body screamed at me to charge in there and protect her from that asshole with my fists. But I also knew how much it meant to her to finally stand up for herself as an adult and say what she needed to say. I didn't want to take that moment away from her, which was the only thing that held me back.
Prior conversations with Stefan about his need to be as independent as possible and learning when to not step in and help him had gone through my mind. Sometimes letting the person you love stand on their own two feet was the biggest demonstration of love you could give.
I was so damn proud of her and how she handled the situation. She didn't back down, but she didn't lose her cool either. I could learn a thing or two from her about that. I glanced over to see her and Autumn's heads together, pep talking themselves into being ready to win this game. A bigger crowd than normal for an exhibition game had spread out towels and were staying for the match, most likely to give Brin support while she played.
I know Brinley didn't think she had very many friends, but from the outpouring of concern I saw, it was clear she had a big group of people that wanted to be her friend, if only she'd let them in.
"Okay BB, that was some badass shit earlier. But let's see if you can do that again out on the court, huh?" Bailey shouted her encouragement to Brinley. A wink and a fist pump in her direction provided the humor and focus that Brinley needed.
One last deep breath in and out, then I'd head over to my reserved towel spot next to Esa, Bailey, and Shasta. I had a hot volleyball girlfriend to watch kick ass.
Brinley
Autumn and I were packing up our gear after we won the match. We'd shaken our opponents’ hands, thanked the refs, and celebrated with the small crowd gathered. Now it was time to eat, rest, recover, and come back strong for tomorrow morning's game. My ankle was feeling great so that was one less worry for tomorrow.
One last game to win and I'd be a Pro. I almost couldn't believe I was finally here.
Despite the rocky start this morning, I was feeling light on my feet after that win. Clearing the air, saying what I needed to say, and then being able to refocus and win the match was like a weight off my shoulders. I was feeling like I could take on the world.
Dean materialized by my side, grabbed me up, bag and all, twirling me in the sand before setting me down with a kiss that promised a more intimate celebration once we were alone. His hands trailed down my hips and headed straight for my ass. At the last second, he paused, realizing where we were. His tongue, just slipping between my lips, retreated, teasing me and making me want more than he could give in public. He pushed me back firmly, even taking a step back to create distance, but keeping his hot eyes trained on me. The looks that boy could give...
"Let's ditch these people," he whispered. I'd forgotten where we were for a moment there, so it took me a second to comprehend what he meant.
"Soon, lifeguard," I responded playfully.
My cheeks were already pink from the sun and exertion, but they felt positively glowing after that kiss. Autumn whooped and hollered nearby before dissolving into a fit of giggles at seeing me hot and bothered. Shasta gave me an enthusiastic two thumbs up and a wink. I looked away in embarrassment to see Esa and Bailey handing out purple sheets of paper to people standing around at the tournament.
Dean followed my line of sight. "Those are invites to your party on Sunday. I think they're just inviting your fellow volleyball players, but you know those two. Anybody could show up."
"Oh my God, my apartment is tiny! They can't hand out invites to anybody and everybody!" When I said I wanted to be more social, I meant within reason, not hosting parties for all of HB and surrounding cities.
"You can try to stop them..." Dean looked at me with doubt written all over his face. I didn't seem him charging in there trying to talk sense into them. Big scaredy-cat.
