AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“What about utilities?”
Those are his first words since I walked into the room. I literally just told him we’re buying him a house and taking care of one of his monthly expenses, and he has the nerve to ask that question.
Is it any wonder why I don’t want to live with him anymore?
“We’ll figure it out,” I finally say dryly.
“You’re kicking me out of my own house?”
“Dude, I’m twenty-eight, and I’m still living with my dad. Wouldyouhave wanted to live withyourdad when you were my age?”
“No, but to be fair, my dad was an asshole.”
The thought that the apple didn’t fall far strikes through my brain, and it pulses a new fear that I’ve never once thought about before.
What if it’s a generational thing?
What if I’m destined for the same fate—to being an asshole to my kids the way my father is to the four of us? I don’t remember him being like this until I was an adult, but the truth is, maybe I was too blind to see it.
If it’s a cycle, I’ll break it, because the last thing I want is to turn out anything like him.
“Look, Asher, I like living with you. We have fun together, don’t we? I know you just got started on a new season, and I’m sure that’s where this is stemming from. Don’t make me uproot my entire life because you’re in flux right now.”
Is he right? I’m back to the question at hand, and that’s whether I want to settle here in Vegas. It’s part of why we live together anyway. I’m in the third year of a three-year contract, and while I know my brother will fight for me to stay here if this is where I want to be, there are absolutely no guarantees.
Is Vegas where I want to end up?
I don’t think it’s something I need to decide right now. I can always rent, and that’s probably what makes the most sense.
But I do know one thing for certain. I don’t want to live with my dad anymore.
“You’re right,” I finally say, and he grins as he nods at my acknowledgment that he’s right.
His face falls, however, on my next statement.
“I don’t want to uproot your whole life, so you stay here. I’ll move out.” I press my lips together and nod my head resolutely, and then I walk out of the room and head upstairs to start packing.
I don’t have any clue where I’m going to go, but it feels right to get the fuck out of here.
Practice the next day is brutal—likely because I didn’t rest up the way I should have. I’m off my game, and Coach Dixon walks over to the tight ends before practice is over. “Coach Bruce, I’d like a word in my office with you and Asher after practice.”
With Coach Bruce andme? I must’ve fucked up in practice more than I realized.
This is two days in a row that Coach Dixon wants to see me in his office. We had a quick meeting yesterday with a nice heart-to-heart about Terry Lawrence beating the shit out of me, so I can’t imagine what today might be about.
Coach Bruce is already in the office when I walk in after my shower. I sort of wish for the first time that I would’ve brought more reserved clothes to slip into after practice, but in my defense, I’m hardly ever called into a superior’s office after practice.
And today, it’s dinosaurs.
“What the hell are you wearing?” Coach Bruce asks.
“Dinosaurs, obviously,” Coach Dixon says.
I laugh, though Coach Dixon is one of the few people who doesn’t mock my sense of style. His daughter, too, come to think of it.
If anything, I think she likes it. I think she likesme.
Fuck, this is complicated.
