Right as Raine (Aster Valley 1)

I tried not to feel like a ho-bag. In what universe was three hookups in six years some kind of promiscuous pattern? And since when was a man’s sexual pursuits anyone else’s business to judge? Especially his father?

The fact I was even in here making my case made me ill.

I stood. “Never mind. I thought if I told you how much he meant to me, it might make a difference. I can see this is a simple case of double standards. What’s fine for the straight player isn’t okay for the gay one. Nothing I say is going to change your mind.” I bit back the part about haters being haters and bigots being assholes.

“I resent your accusation. I have supported you since the day you came out. Hell, I recruited the first out player to make a name for himself in football for Christ’s sake! This isn’t about his being gay. This is about him dating my son. If you care about him, if you love him like you say you do, you won’t pursue this.”

I glared at him. “If you care about me, if you love me like you say you do, you won’t ask me to give him up.”

“This isn’t about you. This is about your life and his football career. What, are you going to put your own damned dreams on hold for him? How many more years, huh? And what about him? Do you honestly think you’re more important to him than football? Jesus, Mikey. The man is a Heisman winner. He was the Super Bowl MVP last year. He is going places in this league most players don’t even dream about, and you think a dalliance with you is worth throwing all of that away for? Besides, there’s no happy future for you with someone like him. Even if you were a woman, I’d tell you to walk away. This man lives, eats, and breathes football. The next ten years of his life will be spent doing something you don’t even like. He needs to stay focused on his career, and you deserve better.”

“Bullshit. You’ve never told a single player of yours to walk away from someone they loved. In fact, you claim married players are ten times more reliable and stable.”

“Now you’re talking marriage?” he shouted. “Are you fucking kidding me?”

My face ignited, and I tried not to cry. He made me feel like I was stupid for even thinking a man like Tiller might want to marry me one day. And maybe I was. Maybe I was assuming way too much about what was happening between us.

I felt like a fool.

“You say you care about him and his career,” I continued, “but you’re planning on playing him Sunday even though the medical professionals said another hard hit before he’s fully healed could result in a permanent injury. Explain that to me.”

“I don’t have to explain shit to you, Michael. But I’ll tell you what. You walk away from Tiller Raine and I’ll sit him this weekend. I’ll give him another week to rest before putting him in. How’bout that?”

My jaw dropped. Was he seriously bribing me with Tiller’s health?

“Not only that,” he continued, “but I’ll green-light this little cookbook project of yours that you didn’t see fit to inform me about before using the Riggers’ name to get yourself a publishing deal.”

I stared at him in shock. “I don’t need your permission to publish a book.”

“No, you certainly don’t. But you need my permission to get endorsements from the Riggers and Raine. The legal department was contacted by the publishing house just last week. It seems they needed approval before being able to present you as the personal chef to Rigger superstar Tiller Raine. And without being able to mention your Rigger clients, good luck selling books.”

A hot tear escaped and slithered down my cheek before falling into my collar. I clenched my hands and teeth together so hard, I felt numb.

My father sighed. “Listen, Mikey. I don’t want to fight with you. Believe it or not, I want the best for you, and I’m proud of you. It sounds like you took the bull by the horns with this book deal. But I can’t have you say you’re a professional chef to our star wide receiver when you’re really nothing more than his boyfriend. Do you really want your relationship to keep you from this dream of yours? Think it through. Do you want to put your own damned dreams on hold while you’re in the shadow of his?”

I didn’t say anything. I could barely breathe, much less continue to argue. He always made me second-guess myself. It made me feel powerless and small.

“Just slow it down, okay? Get out of town for a little while and get some perspective. Maybe head out to the Galveston house your mom arranged. Let Tiller get back to work and focus on staying healthy and getting us to the Super Bowl. Maybe after the season we can reassess.”