“You and I have always fundamentally disagreed on that, Dad. Do you know a lot of doctors are married before they even enter medical school? Or they get married during their internship? Or residency? People can actually juggle a medical career and a personal life.”
“People can, yes. But it’s not easy. I just don’t want you diverting your attention away from what’s important—your career. And honestly, did you really think this thing with Tucker would have lasted? Him on the road half the season, you with your heavy schedule? When would you even see each other? It had to end sooner or later.”
A niggling suspicion hit her. Surely he wouldn’t. Well, yeah, he definitely would. She thought back to the timing of Tucker’s sudden disinterest, and it fit. She had to ask. “Dad, did you say something to Tucker that night he was over for dinner?”
Her father shrugged. “I might have. But only in your best interests, Aubry.”
“What did you say to him?”
“I might have, jokingly, of course, said that if he didn’t break up with you I’d send him back down to Triple-A ball or trade him.”
Icy-cold anger dropped like an anchor into the pit of her stomach. She laid her glass on the side table and stood. “How could you do that? And you know damn well that Tucker respects you as the owner of the Rivers. He would have never taken what you said as a joke.”
Her father stood and approached her. “I only want what’s best for you, Aubry. I always have.”
She backed away. “Don’t touch me. Don’t . . . God, Dad, how could you do this? How could you manipulate my life this way?”
Her mother came in. “What’s going on?”
She turned to her mother. “Dad threatened to trade Tucker unless he broke up with me.”
Her mother’s look was furious as she looked over at Aubry’s father. “You did not.”
“I thought it best the two of them not continue the relationship. You know how important her career as a physician is.”
Disgusted with her father, Aubry raised her hands in the air. “I cannot be here right now.” She walked across the room, kissed her mother on the cheek and left the room. She found her purse, grabbed her keys and said her good-byes to her aunt and uncle, claiming she had to get up extra early for her shift in the morning, then headed out the door.
She made it to the car and down to the end of the driveway before she had to stop and take several deep breaths. She raised her hands off the steering wheel and realized they were shaking. She had to get it under control before she got on the highway.
But how could she do that when her mind was filled with all the betrayal?
Her father, manipulating her life that way.
And Tucker, who hadn’t once told her what her father had said, but had obviously made his choice. He’d chosen his career over her.
Of course he did. His career was important to him.
But why wasn’t she?
And more importantly, why hadn’t he told her?
Maybe because she just didn’t matter to him as much as she’d thought. Maybe all these . . . feelings . . . had been one-sided. So his decision had been easier than she’d thought.
Tears pricked her eyes, one escaping to slide down her cheek.
“Oh, hell no.” She swiped the tear away. She was going to get angry, not pitiful and sad. She would not feel sorry for herself. And she absolutely would not cry.
She gripped the steering wheel, took several cleansing breaths, determined to be strong about this.
Men were pricks and she was a survivor of idiot men. She pressed calmly on the gas pedal and headed for home.
Or at least she thought she was going home. For some reason her car ended up in the parking lot of Tucker’s condo. It was late enough that he should be back home from the game. And lights were on.
There was no way she was going to let this rest, no way she was going to continue to let him avoid her. Not until she said what she needed to say to him.
She got out of the car and went to his door, her heart pounding with a combination of hurt, anger and just a little bit of trepidation.
She didn’t know what kind of response she’d get from him.
Maybe her dad’s ultimatum had been a relief. Maybe he’d wanted out, and that was why he’d been so easily avoiding her.
She shook her head and rang the bell. Tucker answered the door, his expression grim as he saw her.
“Aubry.”
“I need to talk to you.”
He raked his fingers through his hair. “Yeah, uh . . .”
She didn’t let him finish, just pushed past him and walked into his living room.
He shut the door and turned to face her. “Aubry, look—”
“Don’t bother,” she said. “My father told me he threatened to trade you or send you down to the minors unless you dumped me.”
“He did?”
“Yes. It was an awful thing for him to do. Why didn’t you come and talk to me about it right away?”
He cocked his head to the side. “Come on, Aubry. Did you really think I was going to run and cry to you because your daddy was mean to me?”
“So instead you’ve been avoiding me? You think that’s the better solution?”