Page 77 of Rider Forbidden
He nods. “I'm sorry Robyn, I wish I didn't have to tell you this, but Jack is hurting - I’ve never seen him like this - its gonna affect his race tomorrow, he can't get you out of his head and he hates himself that he listened to your dad - that he didn't tell him to fuck off - but he did it because all the team would be affected, he knows that he'd have to pull from the race, he said he can't live with himself if he lets everyone down.”
“I can't believe this. My dad . . . I'm going to kill him! When did Jack tell you all this?”
He laughs. “That’s the thing, he has no idea he’s told me, last Saturday night when you left, he was so trashed, he was upset, he broke down and told me everything - but he was so hammered he doesn't remember, he doesn't know I know.”
“Wait, so nothing happened with the waitress?”
He looks confused and then it dawns on him who I mean. “Heidi? No way. He would never go there again - you thought that he did something with her?”
I shake my head. “Doesn't matter. Why didn't you tell me earlier?”
“I'm breaking Jack’s trust being here, but I can't see him like this - he’s hurting.”
“I'm going to kill my dad. How dare he do this!”
“I’ve not read this wrong right? You have feelings for him too?” Denny says.
“I love him,” I say quietly.
Denny beams. “I knew it!” he carries on, “I'm gonna tell the rest of the team in the morning, no one would want him to pick them over being with you, you know? We’ll talk to Jack and tell him if he wants to back out of the race - out of the season. We understand, we’ll pick up another sponsor next year.”
I nod. “I need to see my dad.” Eli is in bed, shit, I'm gonna have to wait until the morning - how am I supposed to get a wink of sleep after this?
He watches me pacing around the room. “Eli is in bed I presume, I can stay here, watch out for him if you want to go to your parents' house.”
“Are you sure?”
He nods. “Of course, if I'm honest that’s why I came at this time, so I could talk to you on your own and stay if need be.”
“Thank you so much.”
“I'm sorry I had to tell you this about your dad.”
I shrug, “It shouldn't come as a surprise to me anymore, I was stupid to think that he could have changed.”
My blood is boiling inside. I let my dad back in our lives and this is what he does. We are done. I should have known he would never change. Howdarehe interfere in my life like this.
I pull up to my parents' house – right . . . deep breath Robyn - you can’t go in all guns blazing. I make myself count to three slowly. In through the nose, out through the mouth - that’s how we're supposed to calm down right? It's not bloody working.
I let myself in their house.
Mum jumps up from the sofa. “Robyn - what’s wrong, what are you doing here at this time?” its nine pm but that’s late for mum and certainly late for visitors.
“I need to talk to dad. Where is he?”
“He’s in the study, sweetheart.” As per usual.
“Dad!” I bellow taking mum by surprise.
“Honey, whatever is the matter?” mum asks,
I narrow my eyes at her. “Did you know?”
“Know what?” she looks bewildered.
Dad walks in, I turn to him. “I know what you did,” I say quietly, my voice sounds scary, menacing. Well, I feel fucking scary and menacing right now.
He opens his mouth to speak. “Don't even think about saying you didn't do it, because I know you did.”
