Redeem Me (Kin #6)(5)
Author: Jennifer Foor

Friday came sooner than I would have wanted. While Cameron yapped in the passenger seat next to me, I drove her Mercedes to Maryland. Sure, it was nice to be able to flaunt to people that my girlfriend came from money, but it was most definitely not why we were together. I hadn’t even become aware of her parent’s wealth until we’d been together for months. By that time I was too head over heels for her to even care what that could mean for my future. Besides, I’d never been raised to seek out some kind of assistance from someone with money. Sure, if I needed a good attorney I knew who to call, and probably wouldn’t have to pay a dime, but that’s as far as it went.

Cameron’s dad didn’t like me. It was no secret. If he had it his way he’d make sure his daughter wore a chastity belt until she was made partner of the firm. Fortunately for me, she willingly gave me her body with no regard for his set of plans for her. When we were together it was apparent that I became her number one, which left him to be pushed aside. No man of power would accept that his little girl had replaced him. It also didn’t help that I was not an aspiring lawyer, but instead a football player, with no real goals except for that. It wasn’t surprising that he lacked enthusiasm when it came to me. It was also not surprising that he took every opportunity to pull me to the side and let me know I was just a temporary fix in his daughter’s life.

Needless to say he was wrong.

I wasn’t just some college kid trying to get into his daughter’s pants. I wasn’t after her for the resources that her family held. I sure as hell wasn’t in it for any other convoluted reasons. I was with her because I loved her. We were together, because we loved each other.

End of story.

Except it wasn’t the end of the story; of our story. I was prepared to fight with that man until he knew for certain that she was my future. I knew, feeling it deep inside of my bones. Nothing anyone could say or do would ever change the way I felt about her, and I’d be damned if my stature in life was judged by how much money I made.

Just thinking about it made me grip the steering wheel extra hard. That man got under my skin even when he wasn’t trying.

Cameron got my attention when she nestled her head against my arm. “Are you still with me? I’ve been saying your name for the past minute.”

“Yeah, sorry. I was just thinking about your dad.”

“I told you he didn’t say anything about the photos that we were tagged in. He has no idea. I don’t even think he checks that page anymore.”

I turned to look at her before bringing my eyes back to the open road we were driving on. “That’s just it, Cam. You’re an adult, and he keeps you on some leash like you’re a child. He’s got your education hanging over your head, like he can take it away at any second. The man treats me like shit because I’m followin’ my dreams, but yet he can’t let his own daughter live her life.”

“What are you talking about?” I could tell this was out of nowhere, and I hated myself for bringing it up, but with the impending weekend planned with my estranged family, it was all coming full circle for me.

“I’m sorry, babe. Forget I said anything.”

Cameron fidgeted in her seat before responding. “Parker, this isn’t about me at all. It’s about you. I’m terrible with reading people, and even I can see that you’re freaking out over being around your family. I don’t get it. All you did was tell the truth. How could they shut you out and make you feel like an outsider for doing the right thing? Do they all just lack some kind of compassion? Are acts of kindness over sighted in your family?”

I wished that I could explain to her why they lost respect for me, but it was never going to happen. Cameron was never going to find out that I was the real father of my brother’s twins, or that I’d done everything in my power to have those children aborted before they were born. She’d see me as a cold-hearted snake; something I’d never be willing to let her view me as.

“Can we just drop it? I’m sorry for zonin’ out, but it ain’t about my family. We were clearly invited to attend the shower, and everyone will get along. There’s nothin’ goin’ on that you don’t know about. To be perfectly honest I was thinkin’ about how to convince your family that I wasn’t a piece of shit. You’d think after more than two years they’d see that I was serious about being with their daughter, but nothin’s changed. I’ll never be good enough in their eyes.”

“Are we really going to do this right now? Honestly, I don’t care what they think. You’re my boyfriend, not theirs. The choice is mine to make.”

“The same could be said about your career choice, you know?”

I’d hit a sensitive spot. She froze. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It means that you don’t have to be a lawyer. You don’t have to go to Harvard, spending the next eight years or so behind books. We could get married when we graduate, and start a family. When I make it big we’ll travel to all of my games as a couple. Can’t you just see it?”

“Don’t do this, Parker. I’m not in the mood. The last time you tried this it ended badly. How about we focus on our visit, and not this madness. I’m going to Harvard, and I’ll be an attorney, because it’s all I’ve ever wanted.”

I didn’t believe her.

What I believed is that my brilliant girlfriend had been brainwashed since birth into only one scenario. She’d follow in her parent’s footsteps, without fail. She didn’t even know what real love from a parent felt like. It was sad.

This visit with my family was making me a little crazy, but it was also reminding me of all the things that I still had left to lose.

Somehow, someway, I’d regain respect from my family, and prove to my girlfriend’s parents that there was more to me than just a football player.

Chapter 4

Cameron

Even though Parker wasn’t too keen on the visit, I was excited to be around his sister and the rest of his family again. It was important for me to figure out why they continued to push Parker away, when I knew for so long he was like a prodigy to them. His skill on the football field was so natural. I’d overheard people talking about the way he maneuvered his body around, and how they hadn’t seen it in anyone else in many years. That alone was something to be proud of.

I think sometimes Parker didn’t think about the fact that I was an only child, or perhaps he just assumed that I liked it being that way. Contrary to those beliefs, whatever they were, I hated it. Perhaps if I had a sibling I would have had someone to confide in. Maybe if I had a sister I could have learned how to act around someone my age. I would have known what it was like to play with a child in my own home. It would have been nice to share that kind of bond with someone. What kid wants their parents and household help to be her only friends?