Total pages in book: 54
Estimated words: 54383 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 272(@200wpm)___ 218(@250wpm)___ 181(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 54383 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 272(@200wpm)___ 218(@250wpm)___ 181(@300wpm)
“Red Roof Casino and Mini Resort,” a familiar deep voice says. “This is the manager, Jeff, speaking. How may I help you this afternoon?”
“It’s Easton, Mr. Jeff. I’m just returning your call.”
“It’s your dad again, son. I need you to come get him as soon as possible.”
“Do I need to bring him a change of clothes?”
“Not this time.” He sighs. “Just come get him out of my casino.”
“I’m on my way.”
I wave to the security guard once I pull into the casino’s parking lot.
“Where is he, Redmond?”
“Fifth floor, Blackjack tables. Take the east elevator.”
“Thank you.”
I take the elevator and hold back a breath as it rises floor by floor. I also mentally thank the casino manager for never letting my father’s true colors bleed into the local press.
When the doors glide open, I anticipate seeing him in his usual state: sweaty and slumped over in a chair, but he looks good today.
I smile, prepared to ask if this is his attempt at telling me he’s trying to get sober, but then I notice the sea of navy blue and red balloons behind him. The banner that reads “Congratulations, Easton! Courtesy of Ole Miss.”
What the fuck has he done?
My father rushes over to me, and a photographer snaps a picture of us.
“What is this, Dad?”
“A private party to congratulate you on maintaining the honor roll while achieving such an amazing high school football career.”
“Why is this being done with Ole Miss though?”
“They’re my alma mater, so they just offered this.” He smiles. “Don’t question it.”
“I told you I’m going to the University of Alabama.”
“There’s nothing wrong with making the Roll Tide guys sweat a little,” he says. “Plus, Ole Miss has one hell of an offer that you could at least consider.”
“How much did they pay you to make me come here?”
“Nothing, son. I’m hurt that you would even think that about me.”
“How fucking much?”
“I said nothing.” He hisses through his teeth. Then he links his arm in mine and leads me into a hallway.
“Look, just smile while you’re here and have a piece of cake. Shake a few hands with the athletic department executives, and then you can leave.”
“I’m leaving now.”
“They gave me five thousand dollars guaranteed, but they’ll give me twenty if I can convince you to come take a tour and speak to the coach during a sponsored weekend trip.”
“Bullshit.” I push his arm away. “You’ve lost way more than that during a gambling weekend, so there’s no way you sold me out for that amount.”
“It’s true, son.” He pulls out a mini bottle of hand sanitizer and takes a sip. “This is just vitamin water.”
Right…
“Can we go back out to the party now, Easton?”
“No,” I say. “I don’t believe you’re telling you the truth.
“I really am.” The look in his eyes tells me that he’s lying his ass off.
The door opens, and Tully steps between us wearing an Ole Miss t-shirt and matching sweatpants.
“Is everything alright in here?” she asks. “People are starting to talk.”
“You knew about this, Tully?” I look at her.
“Yeah, I figured the extra content would be good for our account and make Alabama invite us back to woo us some more.” She’s delusional. “You looked totally surprised when you say the banner, so we won’t need to edit anything.”
“Tell Ole Miss to fuck off,” I say to them, stepping back. “I’m not interested and I’ll never be interested.”
I storm up the steps and slam my bedroom door shut. I don’t want to talk to anyone for the rest of the fucking weekend.
Opening my drawers, I rummage around for my boxing gloves so I can hit something for the rest of the night.
I manage to find one of them before a faint sound outside catches my attention.
Plink! Plink! Plink!
I walk over to my window and see Scarlett standing in my backyard with a hand full of rocks.
Teary-eyed, she stares at me for several seconds before throwing another.
I push up the window, thinking she’ll come up so we can finally talk, but she hurls a new rock.
Then another.
“Fuck you.” She hits my chest with one. “Fuck you.”
I step onto the ledge and climb down, all while she keeps hurling them at me.
“Fuck you, Easton Rush.” She cries as her last rock hits my shoulder. “Fuckkkk you.”
“Stop this, Scarlett.” I grab her wrists and pull her close. “Stop.”
“I hate you,” she whispers. “I fucking hate you.”
“I miss you, too.”
“You haven’t called or groveled or anything.”
“You haven’t given me a chance to…” I kiss her lips. “Give me chance to,”
“No.” She tries to pull away from me, but I tighten my grip. “I wasted my first time on you…I hate that I gave you my virginity.”
“You what?”
“You heard me. I wasted my first time on you.” She looks into my eyes, and her irises reveal that she doesn’t mean what she’s saying.“You didn’t deserve it.”