Strike Out (Barlow Sisters Book 2)

by Jordan Ford

  Her sad blue gaze hits me right in the heart. She looks like a lost kid right now.

  Her cheeks flame red for a second and she stares down at her lap.

  “Max…” My sigh weighs a ton as I rake my fingers through my hair. “I just want you to be happy.”

  “No, you want me to play at that audition,” she croaks.

  “Yeah, because playing makes you smile like there’s a sun inside you, busting to get out.”

  Her forehead bunches and she squeezes her temples, finally murmuring, “Dad’s booked a scout to come and see me for the final game of the season.”

  “Okay,” I murmur. “So that’s what’s stressing you out? That’s why he’s working you so hard?”

  She looks up with glassy eyes. “The game’s the same day as the audition. I didn’t tell you because I thought I could fit both in…until Austin told me the audition’s in the afternoon.”

  I can’t hide the flash of emotion ripping through me.

  Her eyebrows bunch as she fights her tears. “I don’t think the game’s going to be over in time.”

  “When does it start?” I croak.

  “At three.”

  I close my eyes and can’t help a deflated sigh. We’re due at the club at three-thirty. I don’t know what time we’ll be up but all the contestants have to report at three-thirty, then you just wait around until you’re called. We could be on at four or six or eight. I just don’t know.

  “You…you lied to me.”

  “No.” Max shakes her head. “I’ve never… I mean, I seriously thought I could do both, you know? And I didn’t want to worry you…or let you down.”

  Gritting my teeth, I press my lips together to try and hold in the hurt. She looks like she’s about to cry, and I’m not going to go yelling out my frustration.

  She may not think she lied to me, but the fact that she didn’t say anything feels like a lie! She should have just been upfront about it, especially with me. I’m not some scary policeman! I’m her boyfriend!

  Her teeth skim her lower lip, which trembles when she opens her mouth. “I can see how pissed off you are.”

  Squeezing my eyes shut, I scrub a hand down my face and will my voice to come out soft and even. “I’m not…mad, I'm disappointed.”

  Her face bunches with a look of agony. “Dammit, I wish I could split myself in half and be two people—the baseball girl for Dad and the band girl for you.”

  “I don’t need you to be anything for me,” I whisper. “I’ll like you no matter what choice you make.”

  “Then why are you so disappointed?” A tear escapes, trailing down her pale cheek.

  I swipe it with my thumb, rubbing the moisture against my finger. “Because it kills me knowing that you are happier when you play guitar than when you play baseball, but you will not admit that to your dad.”

  “How am I supposed to let him down like this? He’s expecting me to get some scholarship. He needs me to. And my team is expecting me to be there, to play and help them win.”

  “Yeah, so you guys can go into the playoffs and your season will keep going. And then, hey, if you’re lucky, that scout will see you and think you’re awesome, and then you’ll be offered the chance to join some college team. Is that what you’re waiting for, Max? Is it going to be easier to tell your dad the truth then?”

  I’m fully aware that my tone has been darkened by a heavy dose of sarcasm, but I can’t help flashing just a little emotion.

  She’s throwing her life away because she’s too afraid to stand up for herself.

  Lurching out of my chair, I start unplugging the amps and tidying up the music room. Homeroom will be starting soon and Dad likes everything locked up on time. We’re supposed to be back down here at lunch, practicing for the audition. I’m already dreading it. Latifa’s been fluctuating over the whole Max thing, but just last night, she admitted that having another girl around has been kind of nice. And now I’ll have to tell her that Max won’t make it to the audition…because she’s playing frickin’ baseball! Tifa won’t get it. She’ll just hear that someone else in her life has let her down and those walls will go straight back up again.

  I take the guitar Max hands me and gently place it in the stand before turning back and grabbing my bag.

  “I’m sorry,” she whispers.

  Stopping by the door, I rest my hand against the frame and keep my eyes on the ground. “You know, I love everything about you, Max…except for the fact that you’re a coward.”

  It’s kind of harsh and maybe I shouldn’t have said it.

  But it’s out there now and I can’t take it back…because it’s the truth.

  Keeping my eyes down, I slam my teeth together and quietly leave the room, locking the door behind me. Max can leave through the music room; Dad’s already in there prepping for the day. Maybe he can talk some sense into her, because I sure as hell can’t.

  35

  From Hero to Villain

  MAX

  I can’t move after Cairo leaves the room. I’m frozen by his final words.

  You’re a coward.

  It wouldn’t hurt so much if he wasn’t right.

  I am a coward.

  I may be tough on the outside, but deep down I’m just a scared people-pleaser who’s too afraid to follow her own dreams.

  Dad’s never beaten me or treated me badly, yet still his expectations intimidate me. Why am I constantly fighting for his pride? Am I worried that if I don’t play ball he’ll suddenly stop loving me?

  I squeeze my eyes against the stinging tears. Pushing my fingers against my lids, I fight the battle and am just about to lose when the door behind me swings open.

  “Oh, you’re still here. That’s good, I wanted to speak to you.”

  Mr. Hale’s Scottish twang pings my body straight. I keep my back to him until I’ve blinked my tears away.

  “I’ve been thinking about you a lot over the last couple of weeks. Cairo is so excited that you’re auditioning for the rock festival with his band. Avia and I will be there cheering you on.”

  I give him a weak smile.

  “Anyway, it got me thinking. Everyone in Velocity has been taking music with me, so they have a huge advantage when it comes to pursuing it. I’m particularly thinking about college. Now I know applications have already gone out and you’ve likely been accepted somewhere?”

  I press my lips together and give him a noncommittal shrug.

  I’ve actually been accepted into both colleges Dad selected for me, but if this scout likes me on Saturday, it’ll seal the deal. I have to take the school that will give me some form of financial support.

  “Do they have music programs?”

  “I don’t know,” I croak. “I’m not really going to study music.”

  Mr. Hale gives me a long hard look, resting his hip against the window ledge before softly asking, “Why not? You’re a natural.”

  I suck in an awkward breath. “Mr. Hale, I…” Closing my eyes, I can’t even think of what to say.

  “Listen, Cairo’s mentioned that your family has very clear expectations for you, but I just don’t want you to feel boxed in. At the end of the day, it’s your life and you need to decide what you’re going to do with it.” Holding out a stack of brochures, he fans them with his hand and goes on. “All of these colleges offer stage one music courses. You can get in with no musical qualifications and quickly work your way up.”

  “Really?” I can’t help myself, reaching for the brochures before my brain can start shouting, “No!”

  “If you want, I’m happy to make a few phone calls and see if we can’t get you a late submission into one of these places. I don’t know how much luck we’ll have, but it’s worth a try.”

  I flick through the glossy brochures, skimming words like music theory, practical exams, theater, performance, passion, enrichment.

  All I can hear in my head is magic, magic, magic.

  “I guess I just wanted you to know that you don’t
have to study something someone else has chosen for you. There are opportunities for you to pursue your passion, Max-a-million.” He winks at me, obviously hoping for a smile, but I can’t muster it.

  Instead, tears try to attack me again, making my nose tingle and my eyes burn.

  “Excuse me,” I squeak before spinning on my heel and running out the door.

  The bell for homeroom rings as I burst out of the music room. When I reach the stairs, rather than dashing up and heading for class, I turn left towards the bathroom.

  I hide myself in a back stall and wait five full minutes before sneaking out through the gym.

  I make it to the back field without being spotted and don’t stop running until I’m two blocks away from school.

  I’m a miserable wretch right now and I kind of hate myself. The brochures in my hand are creased and starting to moisten with my nervous sweat. Easing my grip, I flatten them against my thigh and thumb through them again.

  It’s all so enticing.

  So terrifying.

  Licking my lips, I slow my pace to an amble and try not to think about how much trouble I’ll be in for ditching class. Thankfully both Mom and Dad are working today so no one will be home.

  I squeeze my eyes shut and nearly trip over the curb before righting myself and turning left towards home.

  It takes me another ten minutes but I finally amble up my street and head for the back door.

  I don’t even know what I’m going to do when I get inside. Probably hide out in my room listening to music all day. Sounds good to me.

  Shoving the door open, I tuck the key back in my pocket.

  My sneakers squeak on the kitchen floor but the sound disappears when I reach the wood in the dining room.

  The house is so quiet with no one around. It’s almost unsettling.

  But then I turn the corner and the day that I thought couldn’t get any worse turns to complete and utter crap.

  “Uncle Rad?”

  My superhero jerks to a stop, his eyes bugging out as I tip my head and take in the bag he’s holding.

  “Going somewhere?” I murmur.

  “Uh, hey, kid. What are you doing home?” He tries for a smile but it falls away before it can even form.

  My belly pinches. “Are you okay?”

  “I just…uh, you know, I was hoping to be out of the way before anybody got home.”

  “You’re leaving?” It’s impossible to hide my surprise and disappointment.

  He winces and mutters a quick “Yeah, I gotta go.”

  “So, you’re bailing on me for Saturday? You’re sneaking out the door without even saying goodbye?”

  “Look, we both know Saturday’s a long shot anyway. I’m not a genie. I can’t have you in two places at the same time. I thought you accepted that when you found out the audition time last week?”

  I swallow, closing my eyes and willing the tears not to resurface.

  “Look, I’m sorry, okay? But I gotta split. I’ve been here long enough and um…” His expression buckles with guilt, which really confuses me until I notice another bag at the edge of the living room.

  I point at the green canvas duffle and frown at the black bag in his hand.

  “Didn’t you come with just one bag?” I raise my eyebrows at the one he’s clutching. “What’s in that one?”

  He runs a shaky hand through his sweaty hair. “Please, Max, you’ve got to understand. I need… I’ve got debts. They need paying and um…I’m outta time.”

  “Debts?” My eyes narrow as realization slowly dawns. It’s like the sun rising over a city, but as the darkness melts away it’s replaced by a burning light that hurts the soul.

  “Mom’s jewelry.” My voice trembles. “Maddie’s gold bracelet. You took them.”

  His shoulders deflate with shame. “They fetched a good price, but it’s still not enough.”

  My body jerks like he’s just shot me. “What else did you…?” I point to the black bag. My hand’s shaking. “What’s in there? What are you taking?”

  Closing his eyes, he droops his head and softly murmurs, “Your baseball card collection…and the emergency cash your dad keeps in his sock drawer.”

  My eyebrows pop high.

  I don’t know what to say.

  My Uncle Rad—my superhero—has just become a villain.

  “Please believe me, Max. I wish I didn’t have to do this, but these people aren’t like the bank. They’ve got metal bats and brass knuckles, you know what I’m saying?” His voice pitches with desperation “They will literally kill me and bury my remains in the desert if they find me and I don’t have that money. Armitage has served me well. This whole area has been good. You know, I even tried to win the money back so that I could pay them, but…” His face distorts with a look of desperation. “I couldn’t do it, and I’m just racking up more bills, so I can’t stay anymore. I gotta go before they figure out where I am.”

  The news is like a punch to the chest.

  I still can’t find my voice within the shock. All I manage is a disbelieving laugh.

  “I’m not a hero like my big brother. You know, I wanted to be, but I just can never make things work out. I can’t hold a steady job, and the jobs I do get don’t pay too good. Things have been tight for months and I was getting desperate. I don’t want to sleep on the street. Gambling seemed like a good option. I won big to start with and life was getting easier, but then I got caught in this cycle and now I can’t seem to stop. I don’t know how to stop, Max. And I’ve borrowed…I’ve borrowed so much and now I’m…I’m dead if I don’t go. They will shoot me in the head. Do you understand?”

  It’s kind of hard to talk, but I manage to rasp, “Who are they? Who do you owe?”

  “Aw, you know, a few different guys, but the uh…the Santiagos. They mean business, you know? They’re the scary ones.” His voice is trembling, his body shaking like an earthquake is trying to rip him in half.

  “How much do you owe?” I croak.

  “Well, those guys want fifty grand. At least that’s what it was a couple of months ago. Their interest is pretty steep, so…”

  His voice trails off and for the first time in my life the guy looks like a loser—a pathetic, sniveling loser.

  “They haven’t found me yet. I mean, that’s why I came here. It was easy to lay low, but now I’ve got guys in Cullington that are gonna want to get paid. And that’s real close, you know, so it’s time for me to move on. I’ll head south. Maybe I’ll cross the border into Mexico and get lost in South America or something.” He sucks in a shaky breath, remorse seeping into his bright eyes. “They can’t find you, okay? I don’t want anything bad happening to you guys. You’re good people. You’re strong, you’re decent. You’re not a coward like me.”

  His final words rush out on a shaky breath as he grabs his stuff and makes a beeline for the door.

  “Dad can help you,” I blurt. “You’ve got to tell him. He’ll want to help you.”

  “I can’t.” His guilty gaze brushes mine before hitting the floor. “You understand that, right?”

  Yes! But I don’t want to!

  I want him to drive to the police station, to lay it all bare and for Dad to forgive him and fix it. That’s what Dad does. He fixes things.

  “I’m sorry I let you down, kid. I’m really gonna miss ya. You were always my favorite.” Uncle Conrad flashes me a half-hearted smile, and then he’s gone…out the door to go sell all our stuff and desperately try to scrape together enough money to disappear.

  I should call Dad right now.

  Maybe he can somehow protect his little brother.

  Or maybe Uncle Conrad will end up in jail and those debt collectors will make sure he never sees the light of day again.

  Closing my eyes, I fall back against the wall and slowly slide to my butt.

  Wrapping my arms around my knees, I press my chin against them and finally let the tears fall free.

  I don’t know how long I sit there for.
It’s long enough for my butt to start aching, but I can’t stop staring at the wall, lamenting Uncle Conrad’s betrayal and swift departure, and crying over my final words with Cairo.

  I’m a coward…just like my uncle.

  But look where that’s gotten him—running away from people who will shoot him if he doesn’t pay up. He’s addicted to gambling because he’s miserable, desperate.

  I don’t want to end up like that, trapped in some life that’s destroying me. I don’t want to be so desperately unhappy that I start doing stupid stuff…acting out.

  Maybe if Uncle Conrad had just found his way. Found a passion that could motivate him. Maybe he would have been all right.

  I can’t do this.

  I can’t go to college and play ball.

  I need to find my way now. I need to stop this train.

  The thoughts empower me enough to rise on shaky legs and stagger to my bedroom. I lie down on my bed and listen to music while I stare at the ceiling and keep thinking.

  I think so damn much and so damn hard that my head is killing me by the time Dad walks into the house.

  “Anybody home? Max! You here?”

  I sit up with a gasp, ripping off my headphones and lurching off the bed. Fear pulses through me as my achy head reminds me of my resolve.

  You can do this, Max.

  Dad’s just stepping out of the living room with a confused frown when I appear in the hallway.

  The second he glances my way, I quickly blurt, “I can’t play at the game on Saturday.”

  Wow! I did it! I said it!

  Aw, crap, what’s going to happen now?

  Dad’s lips twitch like I’m playing a prank on him. Walking towards me, he lightly slaps my shoulders and holds me steady. “I see you’ve got a case of the jitters.”

  “No, it’s not that.” I suck in a breath. “Truth is, there’s somewhere else I want to go. You see, I’ve been secretly learning the guitar for the past few months and I have an opportunity to audition for a rock festival with this band from school.”

  Dad lets me go, his eyes still dancing with amusement as he crosses his arms. “Where?”