Real Players Never Lose by Micalea Smeltzer
Teddy
Smoothingmy hands down my light blue oxford, stiff from the dry cleaners, I inhale a shaky breath and then knock a few raps on Vanessa’s door. Nerves zip through my body, wondering if we can truly pull off this dinner with my parents.
They live near Nashville, so we’ll have an hour drive each way, but at least on the way there it’ll give me time to prepare. I’m going to be dragging Vanessa into the lion’s den, and I’m terrified she’s going to get gnawed on like a juicy piece of meat.
I hear a snicker over my shoulder, feel eyes on me from some of the other residents on this floor. I turn, putting on a charming smile and wave at the group of girls before I knock again.
The door opens this time, and her roommate stands there with narrowed, shrewd eyes like she’s sizing me up. “She’s almost ready. You can wait on the couch.”
She lets me in, quickly closing the door. No doubt the chicks out there were trying to get a peek inside.
“Danika, right?”
“Mhmm,” she hums, crossing arms over her chest. The gesture pushes her breasts up, and I quickly divert my gaze. Fake relationship or not, I’m not going to be checking out Vanessa’s roommate when she’s a room away. “What are your intentions with her?”
“Um.” I blink a few times, taken off guard. “Excuse me?”
She puts her hands on her hips, her angular face framed by black hair. “Listen, Vanessa and I aren’t best friends. We’re kind of complete opposites, but she’s a nice girl and I like her. I don’t want to see her get hurt by some douchebag popular guy, okay? She deserves more than that, so all I’m saying is if you plan on hurting her, just leave. You’ve never dated before, but I did some asking around and apparently you haven’t been as loosey-goosey this year—”
“Loosey-goosey?” I mouth.
“I’m not done,” she plows right over me. “Vanessa isn’t the kind of girl you use for some quick fun. Don’t hurt her. I know how to get rid of a body.”
I swallow, eyeing her warily. “Um … you’re kind of scary.”
She grins. “Good.”
The door to Van’s room opens and she steps out. Her dark hair is curled, hanging past her breasts, and she wears more makeup than her usual. The dress she chose is a pale pink with long sleeves and ends past her knees. A black coat is slung over her arm and she holds a pair of heels in her hands.
“Do I look okay?” she asks me hesitantly. “I was trying to keep it modest, and to be honest, that’s kind of hard with big boobs like mine and oh my God now I’m rambling. But I wanted to look nice to meet your parents and—”
“You’re always gorgeous,” I tell her honestly, “but damn you look beautiful tonight.”
Her cheeks pinken.
“You’re meeting his parents?” Danika asks in surprise.
Vanessa’s eyes dart between her roommate and me. She bends, slipping her shoes on. “Yeah, why?”
“No reason. You two kids have fun.” She gives a little wave and shuts her bedroom door behind her.
“That was weird. Have you slept with her?”
I put a hand to my chest. “I swear to you, I have not fucked your roommate. She’s just protective of you.”
“Of me? Why?” She gives Danika’s closed door a baffled glance.
I shrug. “Beats me.” I take her coat from her and hold it open so she can slip her arms inside. “But we have to get going. We’re going to hit traffic.”
“Right,” she sighs. I don’t know what makes me do it, but I lean in and kiss the corner of her mouth. It’s the closest I’ve gotten to her lips since Harvey’s. She freezes, blue eyes darting up to mine. “W-What was that for?”
Taking a step back, I shove my hands into the pockets of my dress pants. “No reason other than I wanted to.”
She touches the skin I just kissed and lets her fingers drop. “Right.” Her cheeks turn a lovely shade of pink and I can’t help but wonder if she’s thinking of what that real kiss was like. “I guess I need to get used to that, huh?”
“Well, it will look weird if I don’t kiss my girlfriend. Everyone knows I’m a hands-on kind of guy.”
Her shoulders lift with an inhale, and she grabs a purse I didn’t even notice. “I guess we better go, huh?”
“Time to face the firing squad.” I groan like I’m in physical pain at the thought alone.
Wide, panicked blue eyes meet mine. “Is it really going to be that bad?”
I place a hand on her lower waist. “You have no idea, babe.”
* * *
“Holy fucking shit!This is where you grew up?”
She eyes the Grecian manor home that’s sorely out of style with the typical Nashville homes and mansions. But that’s my father for you. He wanted something that threw wealth in people’s faces as soon as they rounded the long driveway and the house came into view.
“I mean, yeah, when I was here. I was mostly at my boarding school, so this doesn’t really feel like my childhood home the way I’m sure other people feel about where they grew up.”
Her full lips turn down into a frown. “That’s really kind of sad.”
My grip on the steering wheel tightens as I continue up the long drive. “It’s all I knew.”
For a long time, I didn’t realize life could be any different. Not until I came to Aldridge and saw that not all families are like mine.
“My hands are so sweaty.” She goes to wipe her hands on her dress, but I quickly grab them, stopping her. “What are you doing?”
“Just hold my hand in yours. We can both have sweaty hands.”
She throws her head back and laughs, the sound light and mystical, so carefree despite her nerves.
“That’s … unexpectedly sweet of you.”
“I have my charms.”
I pull around to the back of the house and park in front of the massive garage that actually extends underground and houses my father’s antique car collection.
“Are there any last-minute things I should know before we go in?”
“I think we’ve covered most of it. Even if we’d started dating when I told my dad, there would be plenty of things we’d still be learning about each other.”
“Fake.”
“Huh?” I look over at her in confusion.
“If we’d started fake-dating when you told him.”
I shake my head. “Right.”
She looks down at my hand in hers, rubbing her thumb gently over my injured knuckles. “I still can’t believe you went all the way to Georgia just to deck Tristan in the face.”
“It wasn’t a big deal.”
She straightens, her eyes steady on mine. “It was, Teddy. No one…” She chokes up a bit. “No one has ever done anything like that for me. I’ve never had someone to defend me.”
“Well,” I clear my throat, “now you have me.”
She releases my hand and glides her fingers through her hair before undoing her seatbelt. I can feel her trying to put up walls and it’s fucking annoying. Can’t we at least be friends?
“Let’s get this over with,” I grumble, opening my car door.
I hurry around the side and open her door before she can. A tiny smile dances on her lips as she steps out. Closing it, I lock up the car even though it’s unnecessary. No one that isn’t expected stands a chance of getting onto this property.
Taking Vanessa’s hand, I lead her over to a side door and enter a code.
“This place is a like a compound,” she mutters.
“You have no idea.”
She looks around in awe and maybe a little horror as I lead her through the mansion.
Shiny marble floors. Rows and rows of columns. Massive chandeliers. We pass room after room, her eyes growing rounder. I wonder if it looks as ostentatious to her as it does me. My mom isn’t as bad as my father, but she’s still all about the show and flashing their wealth in the faces of others. Growing up, I loved everything money could buy, until I got old enough to realize it can’t buy you things of real value.
“Have you ever gotten lost in here?” she whispers under her breath.
“Yes,” I admit, laughing a little at how absurd it is.
You should grow up in a home, not a museum, but that’s all this is.
“Did you ever have any pets?”
I snort. “And have muddy paws running amok in this place? Absolutely not. But like I said, I was at school most of the time and during the summers we traveled. Even for most holidays we weren’t here.”
“That’s…”
“Sad?” I supply.
She looks up at me with a melancholy expression. “I was going to say depressing, so yeah, same thing. I can’t imagine growing up with such coldness.”
“It’s all I know.” My voice is a little gruff, my throat clogged with emotion. “Besides, it doesn’t matter. I have my friends. I have you.”
“Y-Yeah,” she stutters, that flicker in her eyes like she’s not sure if I’m being serious or just playing a part. It shows how much she still doesn’t know me yet, because I have a hard time being anything other than real.
We get closer to the formal living room where I know my parents will be waiting. A staff member gives me a head nod as he walks past and Vanessa gasps.
“Yes,” I sigh heavily, “we have full-time staff.”
“I swear this place is as big as Disney World.” She looks around and around trying to take it all in, my grip on her hand tightening because whether she knows it or not, she’s my lifeline right now. Not because she’s playing the part of my fake-girl, but her presence is a soothing balm to having to deal with my father.
“It’s pretty big,” I mutter in agreement.
She hasn’t even seen anything but the maze of halls. There’s an indoor pool. Two outdoor pools. A tennis and basketball court. A guest house that’s the size of a regular house. There’s even a bowling alley in the basement.
My dad’s deep voice booms as we round the next hall, my grip on Vanessa’s hand tight enough to cut off circulation, but if it’s bothering her, she doesn’t say.
“My parents are very formal,” I hurriedly whisper under my breath. “Just refer to them as Mr. and Mrs. McCallister.”
She tugs on my hand, urging me to stop in the hallway. I tuck her against a column, using my body to shield her from staff walking by and my parents if they’d happen to leave the living room.
A jolt runs through me when she places her hands on my cheeks. “We’re in this together. You and me. Right?” I jerk my head in a nod. “Good.” She leans up on her tiptoes, still not tall enough in her heels to reach my ear. “I’ve got you.”
I swallow thickly when she falls back to her regular height, her eyes holding mine captive. She sees how much I hate being here, how much I don’t want to do this or put her through this, and she’s still got my back.
I don’t know what fucking miracle sent her my way but I’m eternally grateful for it.
Raising her hand to my lips, I place a gentle kiss to her knuckles, not missing the tiny gasp that catches in her throat.
“Teddy, we know you’re here!” My father calls out in that commanding voice of his, the one that demands that you do what he wants and do it now.
A staff member gives a tiny whimper as she runs by even though he’s not shouting at her.
For now.
I’ve never brought anyone here. Not my friends and certainly not a girl since I’ve never dated. But Vanessa is about to face the lion’s den with me, and I know she thinks the favor she’s doing pales to the money I shelled out for her school payment, but she’s wrong.
I count to three, and then the two of us walk into the massive formal living room. There’s a grand fireplace that’s the center focal point of the room and my father paces in front of it, a glass of brandy gripped loosely between his fingers.
“There you are. Took you long enough.”
“Yes, well, it’s been a while. I got lost in the halls,” I snap, sarcasm dripping from my words.
My mom stands from the couch, her dress rippling around her long legs as she glides toward us. “Ah, it’s so nice to meet you. I’m Lenora, Teddy’s mother. My son lacks manners and didn’t tell us your name.”
She takes my mom’s offered hand and says, “I’m Vanessa. It’s really nice to meet you. Teddy speaks highly of you both.”
Across the room my father makes some sort of noise that’s too dignified to be called a snort, but close enough, and downs his brandy. “I highly doubt that. Teddy doesn’t think too fondly of us.”
My mom frowns, and I feel a tug of guilt. She’s not perfect, but she’s not him, and I don’t like hurting her.
My father crosses the room in a few long strides.
“It’s nice to meet you Mr. McCallister.” Vanessa extends her hand to him and he looks down at it as if it’s a wild snake, ready to strike.
“I’d say ‘likewise’ but considering my son has never brought home a woman before and just so happened to conveniently announce he had a girlfriend when I caught three naked women in his room, you’ll find that I’m a little lacking in the believability department. My son doesn’t do monogamy, especially not with someone so…” He looks her up and down. “Inferior and lacking in good breeding.”
Good breeding? For fuck’s sake.
I snarl, my lips pulling back from my teeth. “Don’t talk to her like that.”
“Hmm,” he hums, his eyes glassy. It’s obvious he’s already a few drinks deep. “Are there some feelings in that heart of yours? Ones that don’t revolve around chasing tail and getting into as much trouble as possible?”
Vanessa squeezes my hand and when I look down at her I find that her shoulders are straight and there’s a fire in her eyes. She refuses to be affected by anything my father says, and while I’m grateful for that, it doesn’t lessen the anger I feel because he has no right to spew his hateful shit.
Cocking my head to the side, I level him with a challenging look. “I learned from the best,” I tell him. “After all, I was only six when I first caught your secretary with her legs in the air on your desk.”
My mom squeaks, her hand flying to her chest. She’s not surprised by my confession. She’s well aware of my father’s multiple affairs and tolerates them because it means she doesn’t have to deal with his unwanted advances and can go on spending the family money. Sometimes I wonder how she ever tolerated him long enough to make me.
A muscle in my father’s jaw clenches, his knuckles white against his glass. He lifts it, downing the rest of the amber colored liquid. In a hushed whisper he grinds out, “You ungrateful little bastard—”
“Dinner is served.”
“Ah,” my mom jumps on the welcome distraction, “dinner. Let’s eat.”
Vanessa and I follow them into the dining room, sitting at the custom twenty-foot table. Every single thing in this mansion is larger than life, all for show.
The first course is set in front of us, and I inconspicuously use my pinky to point to the correct fork when I see Vanessa’s panic-stricken expression.
Silence reigns around us. My mom is probably scared to broach a conversation, my father is still recovering from our verbal sparring. Vanessa, by some miracle, doesn’t look like she’s ready to flee out the front door. Not that she’d even be able to find it since it’s so easy to take a wrong turn in this place.
Dinner is almost over, we’re waiting for dessert, when my father speaks again.
“How is it that you two met?” I open my mouth to answer, but he silences me with a glare. “I’m asking her. Surely she can speak for herself.”
I don’t think I’ve ever wanted to punch the arrogant son of a bitch more in my entire life. Vanessa might be here playing the part of my girlfriend, but I still feel protective of her and the last thing I want is for him to cut her down.
Vanessa clears her throat, her hands clasped loosely in her lap.
“I work at a restaurant, and Teddy came in for lunch one day. That’s how we met.”
My father pounces like a lion on its prey. “A waitress, I presume?”
“Y-Yes?” She stutters out her answer like a question.
His eyes swing to me, a glass of wine clasped in his one hand. He swirls it lazily as he stares me down. “A waitress.” He clucks his tongue. “You’ll find any way to defy us, won’t you? Does she know what we’re worth? Girls like her are only looking for one thing, you know.”
“And what exactly is it you think I’m looking for?” Vanessa asks through clenched teeth.
Something flashes in his cold gray eyes. The challenge. He likes the fight in her. Sick bastard. My hands clench into fists beneath the table. I want to deck him in the face, but that small voice in the back of my mind reminds me that I have to be on my best behavior. I can’t risk anything until I have my inheritance. While it’s in his control I’m helpless.
With a calculated smirk his gaze moves from me to her. “Money, darling. It’s all people like you are after.” He swings back to me, swirling his wine in the glass. “You are using protection, aren’t you? The last thing we need is an unplanned pregnancy, though I’m sure that’s what she’d like to secure a sizeable payout.”
Vanessa sits up straight, ready for a fight. “I don’t appreciate what you’re implying, sir.” The fact she manages to tack on sir in an attempt to sound respectful nearly makes me break out into laughter. “Need I remind you, I’ve only met you tonight, and you’ve barely spoken to me, mostly just spewed ridiculous rhetoric when you don’t even know me, nor have made an attempt to know me, so excuse me if I refuse to feel offended by what you think you know about me. Because, again sir, since it seems to beg repeating; you don’t know me.”
Silence.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen my father speechless, but Vanessa eloquently put him in his place. This is the moment when I’d break out into a slow clap if I didn’t know it would land me in hot water.
My father stares her down, his face growing redder and redder by the second.
“Ah, dessert!” My mom finally speaks up as one of the staff carries in plates of crème brûlée. It’s my favorite, and I know my mom probably asked specifically for it to be prepared. I appreciate the gesture, but the last thing I want is dessert.
“Looks great, Mom,” I say as if she was the one who made it, when I’m not sure she’s ever cooked a day in her life. When I was a small boy it was our cook Maggie who taught me how to bake. “But I really think we should get going.”
“What?” she blanches, spoon poised above the caramelized sugar surface. “No, please stay. Enjoy dessert and then we can—”
“You’re staying for dessert.” My father’s firm tone allows no room for argument.
Beneath the table, Vanessa’s hand finds my knee. She rests it there lightly in a reassuring way, silently telling me we can get through this.
“Fine, we’ll stay,” I grit out, resting my left hand atop hers and wrapping my fingers into hers.
I don’t let her hand go the entire time I eat my crème brûlée. My favorite dessert tastes like cardboard as I count down the seconds until we can get the hell out of there.
After the dishes are cleared, my father stands, undoing the button on his suit jacket. “I have some things to attend to in my office. I expect to see you both here next Saturday for dinner as well. In fact, why don’t we make this a regular thing since it was so … enjoyable.”
My mouth parts, and before I can utter a word, he’s gone. My shoulders cave in on themselves.
Yes, I roped Vanessa into playing the part of my fake girlfriend for the rest of the school year. I figured on the rare occasions I had to see my parents I’d bring her along, and on campus she’d keep other girls from breathing down my neck. But the last thing I ever expected was for my father to request weekly dinners.
I look across the table at my mom, noticing her stricken expression when he leaves the room.
“Mom,” I say, drawing her attention. “We need to get back to campus.”
“Oh, yes, of course.”
She stands from the table and I hug her, holding her a little extra tight.
“It was nice meeting you, Vanessa.” She surprises me when she moves in to hug her.
Vanessa appears just as shocked but returns the gesture. “It was nice to meet you too, Mrs. McCallister.”
“I told you,” she smiles gently at her, “call me Lenora. Be careful on the road, dear.” She pats my shoulder. “Let me know you get in safe.”
She strides from the room, leaving behind the heavy floral scent of her perfume.
It’s finally just Vanessa and me again, and my shoulders sag in relief.
Taking her hand, I say, “Let’s get out of here.”
She doesn’t protest as I drag her through the maze of halls back to the side entrance we came through. No words are exchanged between us until we’re in the car and I’m speeding down the driveway.
“I’m so sorry, Van.” I shake my head.
“You’re sorry?” She glances at me with a mystified expression.
I snort, gripping the wheel so tight I know I’m cutting off the circulation in my hands.
“Of course, I’m sorry. Sorry you had to witness that. Sorry he talked to you like that. It’s unacceptable and then for him to have the audacity to demand weekly dinners. No.” I shake my head adamantly. “It’s not okay.”
She places her hand on my tense knee. “You don’t need to apologize on his behalf. Besides, I’m the one who’s truly sorry. God, Teddy, no one should grow up with a parent like that. Your mom doesn’t seem horrible, but she doesn’t stick up for you, and I could never let someone talk to my child like that.” I don’t think she even realizes it, but she rubs calming circles around my knee. “I see now why you needed my help.”
I chuckle humorlessly. “I feel bad for dragging you into this mess.” Jerking the car off the side of the road Vanessa squeals in surprise as rocks kick up around the car. I slam it in park and shove my fingers through my hair. “It’s a fucked-up situation.”
“Hey.” She tugs on my right arm, pulling it loose from where I’m trying to yank my hair out. “Hey,” she repeats, taking my face between her hands and forcing me to look at her fully. “Did I ask for Tristan and my sister to do what they did to me?”
I scoff. “Fuck no. They were sick and twisted—”
“Exactly,” she says in that same calm tone like she’s consoling a child. “You didn’t ask to be born into your family. You didn’t ask to be treated like that, and you stuck up for me when you didn’t have to. I haven’t known you long, but it’s obvious you try to carry the weight of the world on your shoulders. I’m telling you that you don’t have to. I see now why you want to secure your inheritance.” She looks down, biting her lip. “I thought at first it was a greed thing, wanting as much money as you can get your hands on, but…”
I place my hand over top hers on my cheek. “I just want to get away.”
“I’m in this with you.”
Because she feels indebted to me.
“You don’t have to do this.”
I know our whole agreement was so I would look like I have my shit together to my dad. A girlfriend makes me look like I’m taking life seriously and settling down from my wild ways, but fuck, I didn’t think he’d treat her so poorly. So, yeah, I’m giving her an out.
She rolls her eyes. “You’re not getting rid of me that easily, and we’re not letting your dad win either.” She snorts and lets her hands fall from my face. I’m forced to let go of her, and I miss the warmth of her hand beneath mine.
What the hell is happening to me?
I can’t go catching feelings like some goddamn virus and definitely not for the girl already pretending to be mine.
Oh shit.
“What is it?” Vanessa probably senses the internal panic raging through my body.
“Nothing,” I mutter, glancing out the rearview mirror before I pull back onto the road. “It’s nothing.”