Game On the Verge

by Jamie Summer

  “Promise me you’ll make this right. Okay, Tyler? Or at least try to. I know there’s no telling what Jo will do, but promise me that you will talk to her and explain why you did what you did, stupid as it was.”

  “I will.”

  “Good. And good luck.”

  “Thank you. And thank you for stopping by, Mom.”

  She smiled and gave me a quick kiss on my cheek before walking down the hallway.

  I closed the door, hoping my mother’s intuition was right and I wasn’t setting myself up for an disaster of epic proportions.

  Jo

  The drive to my parents’ place took me forty-five long minutes. I turned up the music in the hopes of drowning out my worries, fears and anger, but it didn’t work. By the time I got there, I was more confused than I cared to admit. I was still in shock about the way Tyler had broken it off with me the day before. While my heart was still a mess, I knew part of the reason was my family. And Charly. That was why I had decided to pay them a visit. Even if Tyler and I were through, he still didn’t deserve the kind of treatment he got from them.

  I typed in the code, the iron gates opening. I drove up the driveway, the park-like scenery reminding me why I loved growing up here. It had everything I could have wished for. A beautiful area of fields, flowers and streams. A house so big I didn’t know the extent of it, even after all this time.

  Yet looking at the mansion now, I knew the beauty didn’t make up for the cruelty my mom occasionally had toward me. The coldness radiating from her when I asked her to play or read to me. My dad was different. He had always been different.

  I parked the car and got out, smiling at my dad standing on the doorstep. The security cameras had probably alerted him to my arrival. “Jo, baby. Is that you? What are you doing here?” I didn’t blame him for the surprised look on his face. It had been a while since I’d been here.

  “Hi, Dad.” He held out his arms, and I went over to him.

  “Good to see you. I missed you.”

  His words caused guilt to wash over me in waves. I tended to forget that it wasn’t my whole family who threw stones my way. My dad was a gentle soul who liked everybody. My mom was the one who hated when things didn’t go according to plan. There were times I didn’t know why my parents got married in the first place.

  “Well, you know…”

  “I do, which is why I’m happy you’re here now. Wanna come in?”

  I nodded and followed him inside. The house was exactly as I remembered. Not a single item out of place, no dust anywhere.

  “Is Darla still coming by?” I asked.

  “She sure is. She misses you, too.” The housekeeper was another person I truly liked. “Do you want to have some chocolate milk the way you used to?” He smiled as he walked into the kitchen.

  I smirked. “Dad, I’m not ten anymore.”

  He stopped, turning to look at me. “Okay. No chocolate milk.”

  “Is Mom here?” I asked. He flinched at the harshness of my voice. “I’m sorry. There’s just something I need to talk to her about.” I didn’t want him to think I wasn’t happy to see him. Because I truly was.

  “She’s in her study, as usual. I think she’s on a business call, but I’m not sure. Just knock before you go in and you’ll be fine. She’ll be happy to see you.”

  I doubted that, but decided not to enlighten my dad on that theory. I took off my shoes before stepping into the hallway. My mom would have my head if I walked through the house with my dirty shoes on.

  I walked over to the huge staircase. My mom had made her office on the second floor, overlooking the fields in front of the house. As I walked up the steps, I tried to not let the memories of my childhood assault me. Or scare me.

  The door to my mom’s office was locked, but that wasn’t unusual. She never wanted us to know what kind of conversations went on behind those doors. I knocked, waiting, but there was no answer.

  “Mom?” I called out, waiting another few seconds.

  “Josephine?” A surprised voice replied. Moment later, the door opened. My mom wore a dark red business suit, which looked to be more fitting for a business meeting. “What are you doing here?” she asked, not opening the door wider.

  “Can I come in?”

  She hesitated before letting me enter. I walked inside, coming to a stop in front of her desk.

  “I’m surprised to see you here,” my mom said.

  “Are you really?”

  My mom arched a brow at me. “I don’t like your tone, young lady.”

  “And I don’t like the way you’ve treated my boyfriend.” I gulped as I said the words, the hurt of what happened still cutting deep.

  If my words bothered her, she didn’t show it. Instead, she tsked and walked around her desk, sitting on the black office chair. “I’m not sure I know what you’re talking about.” She picked up a few papers and seemed to scan them.

  “Yes, you do. How could you? I have always known you don’t approve of the life I lead, but threatening my fiancé, working on destroying his future… Is that how things work in this family now?”

  She sighed, as if exasperated. “Josephine, again, I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

  “You sent the media after us. You sent them to family functions, then had them print false stories about Tyler’s supposed ‘violent tendencies’.”

  My mom glanced up at me for a second before focusing back on the papers in front of her. “You know I have always wanted better for you. This man, this football player, surely can’t be what you imagine your future husband to be. Plus, you hadn’t even told us you had a boyfriend, much less that he asked you to marry him. As far as I’m concerned, you’re getting married to Charly. End of story.”

  “But I don’t love Charly. I don’t even like him. After what he did to Tyler, I would even go so far as to say I don’t ever want to see him again.” My voice rose with every word. This conversation was starting to infuriate me, especially since my mom seemed to nonchalant about everything. “This is my life. My decision. Whom I spend my time with, whom I love, is my business, nobody else’s. Not yours, not Charly’s. Do you understand? I won’t ever marry that douche, no matter what you say.”

  She looked at me, her features calm. “Are you certain? If you marry this man, if you really want to go through with it, I’m not sure we can keep you in this family any longer.”

  I stared at her. “You’re serious?” She merely nodded.

  “Tyler Portsmith is beneath this family, beneath you. You deserve better.”

  “He’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me! He accepts me the way I am. With all my faults, fears and worries. Unlike my own mother.”

  “Your own mother has shaped the way for you. Has made sure you got the best education, the best opportunities.”

  “But I never wanted them. I wanted to work for everything, wanted to see where I could get on my own. Not with your money.”

  There was a knock. Before my mom said anything, the door opened.

  “Am I interrupting?”

  I threw my hands up. “You have got to be kidding me.”

  “Good to see you, too, Jo,” Charly said, a satisfied grin on his face. I wanted to smack it off. “Oh, I’ve seen that same expression on someone else’s face today. He also decided it was better not to go through with it in order to save his career.”

  The mention of Tyler made me stalk over and come to a stop right in front of him. “You’re a piece of shit, do you know that?”

  “Language, young lady,” my mom called out. I just glared at her, livid.

  “I can’t say I’m surprised you would stoop so low. It fits you, actually. But know this. Your whole charade did not get you any closer to marrying me.”

  “I wouldn’t be so sure about that,” Charly countered, and something about the way he said it made me take a step back.

  “What did you do?” I asked.

  “Why would you think I did anything?”


  “You can spare me your fake innocence.”

  “The only fake thing is your relationship with this douche you supposedly wanna marry.”

  I watched Charly for a second, trying to gauge whether he was fishing. “There is nothing fake about our relationship.” My voice was strong and stern, leaving no room for doubts. I saw Charly’s face falter a bit, as if second-guessing whether what Tyler and I had was fake.

  But things changed. At least they did for me.

  And the revelation only confirmed what I already knew. There was no going back. I wanted this relationship.

  He shrugged. “Well, even if it’s not fake, I don’t think this thing between you two will last much longer.”

  Fear gripped me at the confidence behind his words. “Why? What did you do?”

  “Not much. Just pointed out to Tyler what would happen if he didn’t leave you alone.”

  Iciness spread in my veins. “What. Did. You. Do.” Then everything suddenly became clear. I took a step back on a small gasp. “You forced him to choose between his career and me?”

  Charly had the audacity to smile. “It was so easy.”

  “You’re a horrible human being. I can’t believe you.”

  “I merely pointed out how he is a lesser person compared to us.”

  “I want to say I’m surprised by this, but sadly, I’m not. Believe me, this isn’t the end of it. If you come close to Tyler, his family or me again, I will make sure that precious reputation and money you care so much about will mean nothing. I have connections, too, and if you threaten me or the people I love again, I will use them.”

  “Josephine, Charly is a good man. You would be wise not to threaten him, accepting he’s the perfect man for you.”

  How my mom could still be so delusional was beyond me. Then again, money and reputation had always meant more to her than family.

  “What’s going on up here? What’s all the yelling about?” My dad entered the study without knocking.

  “Nothing, my dear. Go back down,” my mom said sweetly, wanting to get my dad out of the room, but he wasn’t having any of it.

  He stood his ground and fisted his hands at his sides. “You guys were yelling. I want to know what about.”

  I was surprised, considering he usually gave in to any request my mom sent his way. He was that in love with her. The kind where love truly made you blind.

  Not so much right now, apparently.

  “Well, Mom thinks it’s okay to threaten my fiancé in order to get him to back off so she can force me to marry this douche over there.” I gestured at Charly.

  My dad furrowed his brows. “But I thought everything was settled. Your mother told me you thought things over and even met up with him a few times. That you guys were growing closer and you finally saw why we thought he was a great catch for you.”

  Fury overtook me again, the warmth erasing the iciness in my veins. I swung to face her. “You told dad what?” I asked, my voice rising again. “Seriously? Lying to your own husband? And you didn’t think he’d find out the moment I came to visit?”

  “I’d hoped you would come around and it would never come to that.”

  “Jesus. Just how far out there are you?”

  “What is going on, Jo?” my dad asked.

  “I found someone, Dad. Someone I truly care about. These two thought if they spread lies in the tabloids in order to get him kicked off his football team, our relationship would be over.”

  “Wait. Who is this guy you care about? And why haven’t I heard about him until now?”

  “That truly doesn’t matter now, does it?” my mom asked, but my dad held up his hand, glaring at her.

  “I love you, Martha, but you went too far this time. This is our daughter’s life we’re talking about here. Whatever you conspired to do, you need to stop. All you’ll accomplish is alienating our daughter from us, and frankly, that’s the last thing I want. I miss her. I know she doesn’t come around anymore because of how you treat her. So, please, just stop. She’s a grown woman. Let her be with whomever she wants. If it’s not Charly, that’s fine. We shouldn’t have pressured her into this whole thing in the first place. I had my reservations from the start, but you thought it was a good idea, so I went with it. Not anymore.

  “Please, whatever plan you have put in motion, stop it. Your relationship with your daughter isn’t worth it.”

  It was the most I had heard my dad talk in ages, and I was reminded why I was so much closer to him than my mom. He cared. I mattered to him.

  “You have no idea who she got involved with, Peter,” my mom whispered.

  “Well, from all your shouting, I have a feeling it’s a football player, which isn’t a bad catch, if you ask me. However, I don’t care who he is, as long as he makes our girl happy.” He glanced at me with a small smile. “Judging by the grin on her face, I’d say he does.”

  I touched my face. I hadn’t even noticed.

  He looked back at my mom. “So stop whatever you’re doing and just let her live for once.”

  Silence descended in the room. It was rare to see my mom and Charly speechless, but it went to show what kind of impact my dad’s words had made.

  “If you insist.”

  Charly faced my mother, eyes narrowed. “What? You’re gonna just give in to him? Seriously?”

  “He is right about one thing. This charade isn’t worth losing my daughter over.”

  My eyes widened. It was the most motherly thing my mom had ever said to, or about, me.

  “You wanted this as much as I did. I can still move forward without you. I have—”

  “Charles, stop. We both know I would squash you in a second. If you truly want to try, go ahead, but don’t say I didn’t warn you,” my mom said in a low voice, the threat clear.

  “You are all going to regret this,” Charly said, then stomped out of the room, leaving me alone with my parents.

  “Thank you,” my dad said to my mom. “It was the right thing to do.”

  She merely nodded, then walked behind her desk again. “I have some things I need to do. If you’ll excuse me…”

  We were clearly dismissed. I took my dad’s hand and together, we walked out of the room and down the stairs. I glanced up at the closed door of my mom’s office. I knew things between us were far from perfect, but for the first time, something akin to hope glimmered within me. Maybe there was a way to make our relationship work again.

  “Can I have that chocolate milk now?” I asked my dad then, and he nodded with a smile.

  “After this? I’m throwing in some Bailey’s, too. While we drink it, you can tell me all about that new boyfriend—or even fiancé, if I remember correctly—of yours.”

  Tyler

  After my mom left, the guys gave me another earful. It was like they were channeling her thoughts.

  In the end, they agreed that I needed to talk to Jo, because there clearly were unresolved issues between the two of us.

  I tried denying it, but it was no use. I was a bad liar, and they knew it. Whatever I felt for Jo, it wasn’t something I could just push aside, no matter how hard I tried.

  How did I not notice? How did it happen so quickly? I mulled it around in my head and tried to find something to go against it, but every time I thought about Jo, the look of devastation on her face last night, my chest hurt.

  And that had never happened before.

  “Wow, it’s packed in here,” Devon said as we entered the bar. I still wasn’t convinced talking to Jo during her work hours was the best way to go, but the guys—and my mom—made it clear I couldn’t wait any longer.

  Fine.

  I spotted her right away. When her gaze met mine, the look of disgust on her face told me everything I needed to know.

  She hated me. And she had the right.

  “Let’s go sit down,” I said.

  Something in my voice must have alerted Devon and Gavin to the fact I wasn’t in the mood for a discussion, so they walked to a co
rner in the back where there was a tiny bit of room left. The stench of alcohol and sweat penetrated the whole bar, but I wasn’t bothered by it. It was a smell I had gotten used to coming here.

  “I’ll get our drinks,” Devon said.

  When he returned, I took a long sip, welcoming the cold liquid courage running through my body. I knew Jo had every right to feel the way she did about me, but it still hurt more than I wanted to admit.

  The guys started to talk about the game the day before and the upcoming practice. While I commented occasionally, my attention was on the fiery redhead behind the bar, serving drinks with a wide smile to the patron standing in front of her.

  Whenever she saw me, though, the frown was back on her face.

  “You know, if you continue to stare at her, it won’t change a thing. You need to actually talk to her,” Gavin commented after an hour.

  “Do you see the death glare she’s giving me?” I sounded whiny, but couldn’t help it.

  “Well, from what I’ve heard, you can’t really blame her. That’s exactly why you need to talk to her and explain what is going on,” Devon added. I rolled my eyes at his optimism. I wasn’t sure Jo even wanted to talk to me.

  Then again, I had never been one to back away from a challenge. I wasn’t going to start now. It was about time I took my life in my own hands. I took another sip from my beer, took a deep breath and walked over to the bar.

  Jo ignored me for a while, and while I could have been content watching her work, it wasn’t why I came here today.

  When Jo passed for the tenth time without acknowledging me, I leaned forward. “We need to talk.”

  When she showed no reaction and continued to serve drinks, I took another shot.

  “Jo, we need to talk. I need to explain myself.” I said it louder this time. I noticed the guys around me giving me suspicious looks, probably gauging my intentions toward their favorite bartender.

  “Got nothing to say.” Her voice was loud, trying to drown out the others around her. “So get back to your buddies and enjoy the evening.”