by Jordan Ford
“Um…at a club in Brazenwood.”
“Right.” Dad’s laughter can’t be contained. It booms down the hallway, making me flinch. Pulling me into a hug, he lifts me off my feet. “Oh, Max. I always love the way you’re such a kidder. Coming up with this elaborate lie so I won’t punish you for skipping school today.” He plunks me back on my feet, all traces of humor gone. “Now, that’s not a phone call I enjoy getting from the school. Where have you been?”
“I…” Looking to the floor, I try to muddle through my confusion. Here I am, being all brave, and Dad wouldn’t even believe me. “I came home.”
“Yes, but why?”
“I wasn’t feeling well.” This is partially true. I’ve been feeling sick ever since letting Cairo down.
“Well, you should have gone to the nurse and had Mom or me pick you up.”
“I know.” I keep staring at Dad’s black shoes. “But you’re both working now and I didn’t want to bother you. I just walked home. I’m fine, really.”
“It’ll be the nerves. Saturday’s a really big day, but you’re capable of playing the kind of game that will get you selected. I just spoke to the scout again this morning. He’s very excited to meet you.”
I try to rally the courage for a second attempt at the truth, but Dad steamrolls it with a sharp lecture.
“I am disappointed you skipped school, Max. You’ll be getting detention. What a waste of your time. Now I covered for you today. You can have the afternoon off and I won’t make you go in for practice. A little rest will probably do you good.”
“But Dad, I have a clash. There’s this audition.” I rub my forehead, trying to find the courage to look up and face my father head on.
“That’s enough, Max.” Dad’s voice dips with warning. “The joke’s over. Look at me!”
I force my eyes up to meet his steely gaze.
“That game is your top priority and it will not be clashing with anything else. You understand me?”
“But I don’t want to—”
“You don’t have a choice. I don’t know where this stupid audition excuse is coming from, but you have been working your whole life for this, and I won’t let you throw it away.”
“But—”
“No! You need this.” He bends down, getting in my face and making sure his expectations can’t be missed. “You’ve worked too hard to give up on a dream the way your uncle did. You need this.”
My voice is barely audible as I try really hard not to be a coward. “Please, Dad, just hear me out. It’s not my dr—”
Dad’s phone interrupts me, the loud ring cutting off my confession.
I slump against the wall as he yanks it out of his pocket and barks, “Hello!… Oh, hi, honey. Sorry… No, I’m fine…”
I glance at Dad’s face and shrink back. His already dark expression grows blacker as he storms past me and heads for the bedroom.
Curiosity makes me trail after him.
“He did what?” Dad snaps while popping open Mom’s jewelry box. “Shit!” He then moves to his sock drawer and lets out another string of curses. “It’s gone! It’s all gone!” He closes his eyes with a heavy sigh. “Yeah, yeah, I know… Don’t worry. Leave it to me. I’ll handle it.”
I cross my arms when Dad turns to face me. He’s switched into police mode, his blue eyes sharpening as he studies my face.
“That was Mom. Apparently someone sold her diamond earrings to a pawnshop in Cullington. Her new boss was going on about how excited he was that he’d found these awesome diamond earrings for his wife’s birthday, and what do you know…”
My lips part in surprise.
“She’s just gotten off the phone with the pawn shop owner.” Dad’s lips bunch, his expression taking on a dark edge. “Is Uncle Conrad home?”
“No.” I swallow and look him in the eye. “I don’t know where he is.”
“You were home early. Did you see him?”
It’d be so easy to tell him the truth right now. But I’ve just tried to be honest and he completely ignored me. So you know what, screw it! Let Uncle Conrad have the head start he needs. Let him disappear to Mexico.
Hell, I want to disappear to Mexico right now!
“No, I haven’t seen him,” I murmur.
Brushing past my dad, I slip into my room while he mutters something under his breath and then tells me, “Stay put. I’m going into work for a little while but I want you here when I get home.”
Flopping back onto my bed, I cross my ankles and wrap my arms around my body as if I’m wearing a straitjacket. It may be invisible, but it feels pretty freaking real to me.
36
Too Late
CAIRO
Considering it’s only three o’clock, the club is seriously buzzing. Excited bands are already here waiting for their turn to audition. Like us, they showed up early, no doubt driven here by nerves and excitement.
Choosing to host this event was a good move on the club’s part. They must be making bank with the amount of drinks passing across the bar, plus they’re giving themselves a good name. Whoever owns this place is a smart businessperson.
Leaning my elbow on the table, I take a sip from my Coke and tune into Latifa and Roman’s flirting. Their giggling banter is only just hiding the nerves beneath the surface. I bet they have serious butterflies as they wait for this thing to start. Austin’s pretty quiet. He’s gripping the edge of the table and obviously trying to stay in some kind of calm, concentrated zone. I should tell him to save it; we’re not on for at least another hour, especially by the time they do the intros and everything. Even if we were up first, we’ve still got a long wait ahead of us.
I check my watch and stupidly glance at the main door.
What am I expecting? For Max to suddenly appear?
She’s not coming, in spite of the fact that Dad made me pack an extra guitar, just in case. “You never know,” he said.
He’s seriously delusional.
Max and I haven’t even spoken properly since our fight in the music room. She skipped out of school on Wednesday and then spent the last two days hanging with her sisters. I approached them at one point and had a brief conversation. Their Uncle Conrad left without so much as a goodbye. Even worse, he stole a bunch of stuff from their place. Max looked so gutted but she wouldn’t let me catch her eye. In the end, I shared a pained smile with Maddie, who could only shrug and mouth, “Sorry.”
I shook my head and backed away from them. It hurt like nothing else, but what was I supposed to do? Max won’t let me in, and why should she after I called her a coward?
Draining my Coke, I place it back on the table and can’t even muster a smile when Mom and Dad walk over.
“How you holding up?” Dad nudges me with his elbow.
“Yep.” I nod.
“Great answer.” Mom gives me a sympathetic smile and squeezes my arm. “I’m sorry she’s not here.”
“It’s okay.” I hitch my shoulder. “She made her choice.”
“It was the wrong one,” Dad clips, obviously just as frustrated as I am.
I shake my head and turn the other way. Talking about it won’t change who Max is and the fact that she’s not coming.
When I told the band about Max bailing, Latifa was pissed. It took some very sweet talking from Roman to calm her down. We spent until 2 a.m. last night doing yet another run-through without my girlfriend. It sucked, and everyone was in a foul mood when they left.
I’ve hardly slept the last few nights. I can’t switch my brain off and now I’m here, dog-tired and miserable.
I glance right and spot Luisa Garcia. She’s moving throughout the room, her hips swaying like she’s a model. She could have been. She’s absolutely stunning. She’s even got a Cindy Crawford mole going on. I had to look up who Cindy Crawford was when Mom made that comment, but she was right. Luisa Garcia is like a short Latina version of that stunning model.
“And if it isn’t my favorite band.” She clips over to us, a
broad smile on her painted lips.
I lean down and score myself a red lipstick kiss on the cheek.
“Hey, Luisa. What are you doing here?”
“My husband and brother have bought this place together.” She spins and beckons someone over. “They’ve been working hard to expand the business. Club Matrix has gone so well that we’re looking forward to doing the same thing here.”
Dad smiles at her. “Cool.”
She grins back and then turns when a tall Latino man with olive skin and a neatly trimmed goatee arrives.
“This is my brother, Tomas Santiago. He’s just moved here from Nevada.”
I hold out my hand to shake, but he just snickers and raises his eyebrows at me. “Nice to meet you all.” His accent is thicker than his sister’s. “Buena suerte.”
“Gracias.” I thank him for his good luck wishes but he’s turned his attention to something else.
Luisa rolls her eyes at me. “Busy businessmen are never personable. That’s why they need me.” She winks and struts after him, no doubt drawing the attention of many hungry eyes.
I think she kind of likes it. Why else would she wear those skintight dresses and stiletto heels?
“Man, for an older chick, she is super hot.” Austin blows out a breath while my mom scoffs.
“Older chick? She’s probably in her early thirties.”
He makes a face like Mom’s crazy and retorts, “Thirty is old.”
“Boy, you will be thirty before you know it, and I am going to remind you of this conversation. So make sure you invite me to your thirtieth birthday party, okay?”
“As long as you’re still alive and kicking.” Austin winks and gets a short “Oi, you!” from Dad, followed by a light punch to the arm.
Mom chuckles and gives Austin an adoring smile.
He grins at her, wooed by her ever-present charm.
Man, my parents are the best. I love how they treat my friends. They’ve welcomed them all with open arms, let us practice in their garage, supported my every dream.
And here they are again—cheering me on, understanding my disappointment over Max.
I wish her dad would get it.
Maybe I should have stepped up, actually gone to see the guy and pleaded Max’s case. What kind of boyfriend lets his girl fight it out on her own?
I squeeze my eyes shut, berating myself for being such an idiot and wishing it wasn’t too late to do something about it. There’s no way I can make it to Armitage and back in time. I won’t bail on the band. We’ve worked too hard for this. I just wish Max could find the strength within her to stand up for herself. I want her to leave that game and be here with me.
Raking a hand through my hair, I close my eyes and lament the fact that it’s a fool’s hope.
37
The Last Hit
MAX
The game is underway. We’re two innings down and time couldn’t go slower if it tried.
I shouldn’t be here, sitting in the sun on this wooden bench.
But after Wednesday’s failed attempt at honesty, I didn’t see how the hell I could get out of this game. Dad’s been livid since Uncle Conrad split. He worked overtime the rest of this week, trying to find his elusive brother, but nothing so far.
He could have reached Mexico by now. Hell, he’s probably on some isolated beach sunbathing. While I’m stuck here.
I glance into the stands as Zane steps up to the plate. Dad’s sitting with that scout, chatting away like they’re best buds, no doubt trying to woo the guy.
I wish he wasn’t here.
“I wish I wasn’t here,” I mutter, thinking about Cairo.
He tried to speak to me at school but I couldn’t even face him. How was I supposed to admit that not only am I a coward, but that I’m a failure, too? I tried to tell the truth and I bombed. I’ve let him and Velocity down so badly.
I wish I was with them. There’s nowhere else I’d rather be than at Escapar nervously waiting our turn to audition.
I check my watch again, my spirit shriveling as I think about how they’ll be setting up to play soon…or maybe they’ve already played. The auditions are running all afternoon, ending with a huge dance party tonight.
I should be there.
“Batter up!”
“Get ready, Max. You’re next,” Coach Keenan barks at me.
I rise on autopilot, unable to reciprocate Maddie’s encouraging smile. I turn my back on it, put my helmet on, and grab a bat.
Kingston bunts the ball and gets to first.
Zane’s on second.
Coach will want me to get them both home.
Everyone will.
Except me.
“Yeah, Maximus!” Dad shouts. I glance into the stands. He leans across to the scout, saying something that makes them both laugh.
Mom claps and grins at me.
I turn my back on her smile too.
Tapping my bat on home plate, I lift it into position and get ready to smash the ball.
But when it comes flying through the strike zone, I completely miss it.
“Strike one!”
“Come on, Maximus!” Dad claps. “You can do better than that!”
I close my eyes, wishing he’d shut the hell up, while resetting for the second pitch.
“Strike two!”
My arm goes slack, the bat hitting home plate with a sad thud.
“I shouldn’t be here,” I murmur.
“You got that right, sweet cheeks.” The catcher chuckles. “Hit the damn ball or go home.”
I glance down at him, making sure he sees my heated glare.
He snickers and shakes his head while setting up for the next throw.
Gripping the bat, I focus on the pitcher and find my zone. When the ball comes flying, I connect with a sharp snap that sends it flying over the wall.
Cheers rise up in a loud chorus as I sprint around the bases. All three of us get home and I manage a small smile as I high-five my teammates and head for the dugout.
“All right! That’s my girl!” Dad shouts behind me.
I press my lips together, refusing to turn back and acknowledge him.
I didn’t hit that homer for him.
I did it for me.
Because I want to end on a good note.
That was my last hit.
Determination pulses through me as I step into the dugout and start shedding my gear.
“What are you doing?” Chloe asks.
I glance over my shoulder to make sure Coach isn’t watching.
“I’ve got to go.”
“What?” Holden steps up, having heard my soft comment.
I glance at him, hoping a little of what I’m really feeling shows through. “I shouldn’t be here, and I should have been honest about that a long time ago.”
“But you’re so good,” he whispers.
“My heart’s not in it.” I blink as sudden tears try to burn me.
An arm snakes around my shoulders and I look right to find Maddie smiling at me. “It’s okay, sis. We’ve got you covered. Just go.”
“Yeah.” Chloe grins. “Go for it.”
“Thank you.” I kiss Maddie’s cheek before lurching forward and kissing Chloe.
She giggles and shunts me behind her, putting on an innocent smile when Coach turns around to see what we’re doing.
“Max just needs the bathroom.” She points at me and I sprint off before Coach can object.
My cleats echo on the concrete as I make a beeline for the locker room.
Yanking out my hair tie, I grab my bag of stuff and haul it over my shoulder.
I’ll get changed at the club. My plan was always to sneak there after the game to find out how Velocity went. They probably wouldn’t let me near them, but if I can make it in time for the audition, all will be forgiven, right?
Nerves slam inside my stomach like a painful game of pinball.
Sprinting for the parking lot, I start digging around for the keys and ha
ve to slow to a stop.
“Shit!” I yank out my clothes, dumping them on the ground as I scramble to find them.
When the bag’s empty and there’s still no sign of the keys, I finally concede that Maddie must have them.
Which means I have to try and sneak back down to find them, which will just delay everything and possibly get me caught.
Fighting the desperate frustration surging through me, I snatch my clothes and then jerk to a stop when someone calls my name.
“Hey, Max!”
I spin around and gasp. “Uncle Rad?”
“You okay?”
Letting out a surprised laugh, I bob my head and sprint over to him. “What are you doing here?”
He gives me a pained smile. “I couldn’t do it. I got all the way to the border and I just couldn’t cross.” He sighs, his broad shoulders slumping forward. “What kind of asshole steals from his family? I’ve done some shitty things in my life, but this is an all-time low. I just couldn’t get that look on your face out of my head.” His eyes glass over as he tries to give me another smile. “Out of all the people I know, you’ve always adored me the most, and to see that disappointment in your eyes… You thought I was a loser. And I am, but I gotta make things right with you before I take off.”
My lips rise of their own accord and I wrap my free hand around his shoulder, squeezing him to me in a brief hug.
“I know you’re in deep shit right now, but we’re gonna make it right, okay?”
He sniffs and nods.
Stepping back, I lightly pat his cheek and say. “And if you want me to keep adoring you, you’ll do me a huge favor right now.”
“Get you to that audition?”
“As fast as you can.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He salutes me and runs around to the driver’s door.
We fire out of the parking lot and I’m soon getting changed in the back seat while Uncle Conrad tells me about how bad the last few days have been for him. Sleepless nights. Constant torment.
“I felt like I couldn’t breathe properly. Not until I turned around and started heading back. If I don’t make a stand now, I’ll be running for the rest of my life. I can’t live a lie anymore, Max. And as scary as your daddy is, I’m gonna man up and ask him to help me.”