Page 53 of Roughing the Player
To no avail. She whirls on Kaylee, scowling. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
Confused, Kaylee says, “Tell you what?”
“That he’s your father.”
A look of horror rolls over Kaylee’s face. “What? No.”
“Here I made a fool of myself, blathering about how hot he is. And he’s your dad. You dad, Kaylee. This is so embarrassing.” Her complexion’s a mottled shade of red.
Kaylee turns to me, tears shimmering in her eyes. “Mom? Tell her, he’s not.”
I have to gain control of the situation, so I say the only thing I can. “Girls, go to Kaylee’s room.”
“I’m leaving,” Meghan says, and then she hisses at Kaylee. “I’m not speaking to you again. Ever.”
“Let me walk you home.” I offer halfheartedly.
“No, thank you. I live only three doors down.” And with that, she flounces out, slamming the door behind her.
The expression on Kaylee’s face breaks my heart. She appears frightened, confused. I need to explain things to her. But not now. Now I have to deal with Brock, who looks ready to blow. “Kaylee, please go to your room. We’ll talk later.”
She doesn’t move.
“Please, Kaylee.” I’m barely hanging on.
Brock waits only long enough for her door to slam shut before he erupts. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
I pray with everything in me that somehow I can bluff my way through this. “Tell you what?”
“That Kaylee’s my daughter.”
“No, she’s—”
He holds up his hand, palm facing me. “Stop. Just stop.”
Not much I can do but obey.
“She’s the spitting image of me. Same hair, same eyes. Same lick of hair sticking out of the top of her head.”
“Lots of people—”
“Fucking stop, Ellie,” he yells.
I pinch my lips together. “I don’t allow cursing in this house.”
“Oh, yeah. But you allow lies, deceit, betrayal.”
“I never betrayed you. We weren’t even dating. It was just one night.”
“That’s all it takes. That’s all it took.” He gestures in the direction Kaylee took. “Clearly.”
“I was your tutor.”
“We were a hell of a lot more than that. We were friends, Ellie.”
“No, we were not.”
He tangles a hand through hair the same shade as my daughter’s. “You told me you were okay.”
