“Doesn’t look like nothing.” TJ sat forward on the couch, bracing his forearms against his jean-clad thighs.
“You’re the one who told me to keep an eye on him. He had a day off. We went for a drive and ended up at the amusement park.” She shrugged, thinking to make light of the situation. “We got hungry.”
She took a step back as his cheeks reddened even more.
“Do I look stupid to you? That,” he pointed to the paper again, “isn’t just being hungry for food.” He ran his hands through his hair. “Jesus Christ, Jessa. What have you done? You weren’t supposed to distract him. You were supposed to —” He stopped, pressed his lips in a tight line.
“Wait. What?” She dug her fingers into her hips. “What was I supposed to do, Dad?”
He stared her down, unmoving. “Don’t take that tone with me, girl.”
Jessa’s stomach turned as a thought occurred. “Do what, Dad? Answer the question.”
His gaze broke, dropping to his lap for a moment. It was long enough. Long enough to know something wasn’t right.
“You have to understand, Jessa. Garrett is one of the most important players to hit the circuit in a long time. He’s the real deal. Chances of us ever seeing a player of his caliber again are, well, slim to none.”
Anger replaced her apprehension. White, hot, liquid fury.
“You can’t be fucking serious.” She closed her eyes, trying to get a grip on the emotional breakdown she could feel coming. She couldn’t deal with this right now. “Please tell me that you didn’t send me here to get close to Garrett for the media attention.”
“Jessa. You’ll watch your language, young lady.”
She’d nailed it. The minute the words were out of her mouth, his face changed, his eyes frantic to lock on something other than her. She knew guilt when she saw it. She’d felt enough of it these last weeks to be a fucking expert.
Her laugh lacked any humor. “You whore out your only daughter and you’re worried about my language? There is something seriously wrong with your priorities, Dad.”
TJ surged to his feet. “I did no such thing!”
Jessa squared off with him. “Are you telling me you didn’t send me here to make nice with Garrett? You’ve warned me off every ball player to ever join your club, yet you send me here to what?” Her voice rose an octave. “To what, Dad?”
Her dad matched her stance and his chest rose and fell as he took a deep breath. “You’re making too much of this, Jessa,” he said after a minute. “You and Garrett are the same age. I like the man, so I thought maybe it would be nice for the two of you to know each other. I thought it would help Garrett feel more at ease his first time out.”
His expression passive, his gaze dipped down. There was something he wasn’t telling her. Her anger boiled over. Tears formed, blurring her vision. “Then what’s the problem? Mission accomplished. We know each other,” she spat.
His gaze snapped back to hers. “Maybe a little too well, from the looks of this picture.”
“Well, excuse me. You should’ve been more specific about my job responsibilities.”
He didn’t acknowledge the sarcasm that dripped from her voice. “What were you thinking? Garrett doesn’t need this kind of distraction right now.”
“Garrett doesn’t? Garrett doesn’t?” Jessa stuttered, unable to finish the thought. “Is that what this is about? You’re worried that I’ve distracted him?” Jessa fought against the insecurities that had plagued her whole life.
God, she was such an idiot. No matter what she did, she’d never measure up. She’d tried to be what he’d needed. She’d let him drag her to endless sporting events and business meetings. She’d devoted herself to the game he loved. She’d done it to have a place in her father’s life. She’d done it because she loved him. And it wasn’t enough.
She wasn’t enough. She was a distraction.
“Jessa,” her father warned.