Page 37 of Leave Me Broken

The more seconds that pass, the more his ugly mug turns a deeper shade of crimson. “You will not bench my daughter.”

“Luca and I agreed. Our minds are made up.”

Chuck’s large nose flares and I bet if this was a cartoon, smoke would shoot from his red ears. What an unpleasant sight he is when angry. “I am the mayor of this town. My daughter will continue to play and that is final. I will make her apologize to poor Payson but removing Alyssa from her last year is not an option.”

Poor Payson? Fuck no. “Do not pity my player because of a choice your daughter made.” I roll my knuckles and lean across the desk so he has to bend his neck to look at me. “You may be the mayor and you can run this town from your iron throne but within those four walls, I’m in charge. I call the shots and I say Alyssa’s season is over. Actions have consequences and since you refuse to teach her that, I will”—I drop my voice—“and that is final.”

Chuck is shaking with anger when I turn for the door. The redhead from before jumps up and sprints over in front of me and pulls the door open.

I walk out without looking back.

No one has stood up for Payson. No one has been around or cared enough to advocate for her, so I will. I can’t punish everyone that has ever hurt her as much as I would like to, so Alyssa sitting the bench is the least I can do. It’s not like she doesn’t deserve it. Any other team, she would be kicked off. If this was professional, she would be in jail. I know if any legal stuff came up, Chuck would make sure nothing happened to Alyssa, so I will not convince Payson to press charges as much as I would like to. With Payson’s past, it might be better to keep her out of anything dealing with the law.

I want to smile thinking about the meek girl doing her best to hide her ankle monitor and failing miserably from the beginning of this season. If only I knew what was in store for us back then.

I pull the door open to find two people making out on the porch. The girl is blonde in a black silk robe and the guy looks like he rolled out of bed and threw on half an ill-fitted suit.

They don’t hear me and if they do, they don’t care or stop making out. I step around them, but as I do, a feminine hand snaps out and grabs my arm.

I look down almost expecting Alyssa but find an older version of her instead.

A semi-familiar face.

I swallow hard and fist my hands.

“You’re Ash, right?”

That voice. I step back and scowl, making her hand fall from my arm. The guy still has his hand possessively around the girl’s waist like he’s worried I will steal her away. Trust me, kid, I’m not interested. What he doesn’t realize is by tugging on the robe, he has loosened the tie around her midsection and the robe hangs open about two inches. I keep my eyes to her face because I have no interest in seeing her body. Again.

“You are. I remember you.” She laughs carelessly.

I cringe and turn for my car.

“You can come back anytime, you know! Just request Mercedes.”

“I won’t, thanks.”

Soft footfalls hurry after me, and all but running to my car doesn’t get me away quick enough before she is throwing her body at me and pressing herself to my front. “It’s not fair my sister got the real thing and I didn’t,” she pouts.

I push her off and throw my door open as a barrier, shielding her mostly exposed body. “I am not interested,” I snap. What the fuck is with the Burton girls not taking no as an answer?

“You’re kind of rude.” Maggie, I think Payson said her name was, twists her swollen lips from making out with the poor guy awkwardly standing on the steps. “There’s no way Payson Murphy’s pussy is as good as mine. I can promise that, Coach.”

It’s been a long day. That’s the only explanation as to why I snap a hand out, wrap it around her throat, and lift her so we are eye level. She’s on the taller side so her toes just barely leave the ground. “You and your sister keep talking about my girl in a negative way and you’ll find out how rude I can actually be.” I let her drop not caring if she falls or not. “Stay the fuck away from me and Payson.”

I fall into my seat and slam my door. Anger simmers deep inside me because this is yet another thing I’ve caused because of my stupidity. Alyssa causes enough problems without her sister doing the same. I know nothing about Maggie, but Payson seems to hate her even more than Alyssa, so I’m assuming she’s not the logical sister.

I slam a hand into my steering wheel. I keep causing drama for Payson. She has enough without me, yet I keep putting a fucking target on her back. I wish I was a better man to leave her and let her live a happy life without me—but I’m not.

My passenger door flies open and I’m ready to punch someone, I don’t care who it is. Until Jethro’s face is the one I see. I don’t particularly care for him but he hasn’t pissed me off, today. Besides, punching a lawyer probably wouldn’t work in my favor.

“What?” I snap so he knows I’m not in the mood.

“We need to talk.” He sounds equally angry but I think that’s just him. I have no clue what he wants to talk about, or what could have made him so pissed.

“I’m not discussing Alyssa and the season anymore. I’ve made up my mind and I don’t often change that.”

“It’s not about that.”

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