Dare You To (Pushing the Limits, #2)(138)

Chapter 73

Ryan

A YEAR AGO, I HAD MY LIFE      completely mapped out. It turns out, no one knows the future. I slip my arms      through the suit coat and readjust my shoulders so the jacket will fit properly      on my body. The bruises and cuts faded, but my ribs still ache by the end of the      day. Especially if I’ve pushed myself too hard.

“Your tie is crooked.” Mom leans one shoulder against the door      frame and gives a disapproving nod as she looks at my throat. “Come here.”

I inch away from my dresser and Mom undoes the knot.

“You look nice,” she says.

“Except for the tie.”

Mom’s lips tilt up and she slides the tie to measure it against      my chest. “Except for the tie. How do you feel?”

“Good.”

Lines worry her eyes and she strains to hold the smile. “I know      the doctor cleared you to start practicing, but I think you should wait another      week or two. Just to be sure everything healed correctly.”

Mom expertly weaves the tie into a knot and tightens it up to      my throat. She stares at it for a second before letting her hand touch my      cheek—a rare physical gesture for both of us. “I’m glad you’re okay.”

She withdraws. “I talked to your brother again this morning. He      asked how you were doing.”

Mark knows how I’m doing. We’ve talked on the phone every day      since I was released from the hospital. Mark must still be feeling awkward      talking to Mom and looking for the easiest conversation to have. I busy myself      with buttoning my cuffs. “What did you tell him?”

“That you’re stubborn like your father and wouldn’t tell me if      you were in pain.”

“I’m fine, Mom.”

Mom fiddles with her pearls. “If we had listened to you that      morning... If we had listened to you weeks before... If I had stood up to your      father when Mark told us...none of this would have happened.”

“It’s okay.” I wish they had listened to me the morning Beth      ran away. I wish they had listened to me weeks before when I told them I cared      for her. I wish Mom had stood up to Dad and kept Mark in our family, but none of      that happened. Even if it did, there’s no telling if it would have stopped the      nightmare in motion. Beth ran away because living in Groveton terrified her. She      would have run regardless of what happened between us and because I love her, I      would have followed.

Mom sighs and falls into social mode. “Mark’s coming home for      dinner on Sunday. I thought we could keep it simple. Just me, you,      Mark...hopefully your father.”

“Sounds great.” Even though we both know Dad will go into town      while Mark is home. Dad still refuses to acknowledge Mark exists. Nothing much      has changed in my parents’ marriage. Mom’s choosing me and Mark, and Dad dropped      the idea of running for mayor. But he’s still home and they’re still going to      counseling. As I said, who knows what the future might bring.

“Don’t forget the corsage.” Mom slips out of the room.

I grab my car keys, the red rose wrist corsage, and head out to      the garage. From the corner of my eye, I see Dad sitting behind his desk in his      office. We haven’t talked since that day in my bedroom and I guess today won’t      be the day either of us breaks our silence.

As I open the door to my Jeep, I hear the squeak of his chair      and footsteps against the cement floor. Dad walks to his tool bench and sifts      through the boxes of bolts and nuts. “Your mom told me you signed a National      Letter of Intent to play for the University of Louisville.”

My muscles tense in preparation for a fight. The letter      required a parent to sign with me and I asked Mom for help. “Yes, sir.”

“She said that you’re planning on playing with the team for a      year, then reassessing whether or not you’re ready to go pro.”

Feeling naked without my cap, I rub the back of my head. I      could go the easy route and give him a simple yes, but I’m done saying or doing      whatever it takes to appease him. “At the end of my freshman year, I’ll decide      if I’m good enough to go pro. I’m also going to major in creative writing. I      love writing and baseball and I want to give them both a shot.”

Dad slides a drawer full of nails closed and nods his head.      “Did you get her a corsage? Girls like flowers.”