38. Valerie

38

VALERIE

“Valerie, girl. How are you doing sweetheart?” Dad’s words slur the slightest bit on the endearment, making me chuckle.

“I’m great, Dad. But how about you? Your team is going to the freaking Super Bowl!” I’m walking down the street, on my way back to my apartment from where the taxi dropped me off at the corner of the one-way road.

I left Will, Henry, Adam, and Derek at the bar where we’d watched the game about half an hour ago. The men were just starting a game of pool when I told them I was leaving. I needed to talk to my dad, and now that the game’s been over for a couple of hours, I figured I’d be able to finally get him on the phone.

Dad laughs cheerfully. “It’s incredible, right? This has been one hell of a season.”

That’s putting it lightly.

The Rough Riders had to bust their ass to make the playoffs, and then each game they played in the post-season tested every aspect of their play.

The conference championship game was no different.

The Texas team came out on top, but it was a hard-fought battle. Now, they have two weeks to prepare for the game of their lifetimes.

“I miss you, Vally Girl.”

Amusement at the unfamiliar nickname makes my lips twitch. “Dad? Are you drunk?”

“No, I just had a couple of glasses of champagne with the team.”

It sounds like he had more than a couple of glasses, but I’m not judging him. He has every reason to celebrate.

“You need to book your plane tickets to LA for the game,” he says without preamble. “Or will you drive? I have no idea how far it is from San Francisco to LA.”

My smile falters.

“I can’t go to the game, Dad. I don’t have tickets.” I reach my building and enter the access code into the keypad on the exterior door.

“Didn’t I tell you? The owner is buying a box for all the coaches’ families. I’ll have a ticket for you.”

“Oh, wow.” That’s… unexpected.

“So you’ll come?” He presses. I hear a chorus of cheers come through the phone. He must still be at the Rough Riders facility.

“You’re busy, Dad. Let’s talk about this later.” I step inside my building and wait for the door to close before starting to climb three flights of stairs to reach my floor.

“No.” His breath comes in huffs before I hear the telling sound of a door closing. I imagine he’s in his office. “You’re coming to the game.”

“I don’t know Dad…”

“Valerie,” his voice hardens. “I didn’t insist on you coming back for the holidays. I understood you wanted to stay in California to continue to help the startup. But this is the Super Bowl. There’s no guarantee my team will ever get back here again.”

“Don’t say that, you’re a great coach.”

“And you’re too smart to think flattery will distract me from this conversation.”

I clamp my lips together and then exhale. “Dad… I don’t know. The company just landed a huge investor and we’ll be busy figuring out what to do with the funds these next couple of weeks.”

“The game is taking place in California. And it’s a Sunday. You can take off one day for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

He’s right.

I can.

But the thought of finding myself in the same state, let alone stadium, as Carter Jones while knowing he and I have no reason to interact makes me want to cry myself to sleep. Again.

I stop outside my apartment, staring at the gold numbers nailed to the center of the door. “This situation is complicated, Dad.”

I won’t just be watching my father’s team play, but I’ll be watching my ex play in the most important game of his career. And I won’t be able to talk to him.

Just thinking about it is torture.

His voice softens, “I know it is, Valerie. I understand. When your mother left me, it was hard for me to go anywhere I thought she might be. I couldn’t stand the thought of what would happen if I ran into her.”

My heart aches in my chest when I register the pain in my father’s voice.

Even after all these years, the hurt my mom caused lingers. I guess I know where I get my gentle soul from.

Dad clears his throat. “But even though I understand how you feel, I can’t let you make this decision without at least trying to convince you it’s a mistake. Time is going to heal your pain. And when it does, you’re going to regret not going to this game. So, I’m asking you to try. Just… try to overcome this. For me. And for yourself.”

I exhale a heavy sigh.

Well, shit.

How am I supposed to say no to that?

“Okay.” I unlock my apartment door.

“Okay?”

I step inside and lock the door. “Yeah. Okay. I’ll come to the game.” After everything this man has done for me, it would be so selfish to deny him this request.

“That’s great, Valerie.” His mood instantly brightens. “I’ll ask around and see if anyone has an extra ticket for the box so you can invite Megan to sit with you.”

“That would be awesome.” Just because I’ve agreed to go to the game doesn’t mean I think I suddenly have the strength to watch my ex from afar without losing my composure. Having my best friend there will be able to help me hold it together.

I hope.