Read Online The Games We Play Vol. 3 (Riley Grayson) by Elizabeth Nelson - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Elizabeth Nelson
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hugged Ali before Ali left the room.
“Thanks, girl.”
CHAPTER 7
Ali sat in her parents’ living room and looked back and forth between them. She’d really hoped to talk to her mom alone, but that wasn’t going to happen. She twisted her hands in her lap, sighing heavily. She knew this was going to be difficult, but now it was just getting awkward and making her feel like a fool for even getting herself involved in her parents’ relationship.
“Allison, sweetie, are you all right? You look very pale. Are you ill?” her mother asked with concern.
“No, I’m not ill.” Ali smiled. Her response was a half-truth. At least she wasn’t physically ill like her mother assumed, but her constant flashbacks of her dad with that woman were making her want to vomit.
“Then what’s wrong?” her dad asked. “You’re starting to worry us.”
Ali gave another heavy sigh. She couldn’t even look at him without seeing him in her mind’s eye with that other woman. She wanted to yell and scream in his face, ask him what his problem was, why he didn’t love Mom and how he could do such a thing and think he could get away with it. She wanted to pound her fists against his chest and slap his face. She wanted to do so many things to him but she couldn’t. She didn’t have it in her. All she could do was tell him to leave. “Dad, would you mind if I talked to Mom alone? This is kind of private girl stuff.” She laughed nervously.
Her father sat motionless for a moment, clearly not wanting to grant her request. He had always been an active participant in Ali’s life, overbearing in many regards. His love was often mistaken as dislike, and as a result Ali’s relationship with him was never as easy as it was with her sister. Then, after another few moments, he said, “Allison, you’re not pregnant are you?”
“What?” Her eyes widened. “No. Of course not! Jesus H. Christ, Dad!”
Her dad shrugged his shoulders and held up his hands as if saying his assumption wasn’t entirely off mark. Her mom shot her a fierce look, disgusted by her language choice. When everyone’s emotions calmed, both of her parents sighed with relief.
Ali shook her head. Of course they’d automatically assume she’d make a mistake like that. They always assumed the worst. That was real nice. Her father stood with a nod. “I’ll be in my study.” He kissed her mom on the top of the head and left the room.
Ali wanted to scream at him not to touch her, not to act like he cared when he obviously didn’t. What a phony. But she kept her mouth shut, like she did most of the time around them, and waited until he was out of earshot. “Do you think we could go out to the sun room?”
Her mom cocked her head to one side. “Honestly, Allison, what’s going on with you? You’re acting crazy.”
Who do you think I get it from? she wanted to say. “Mom, please?”
Ali stood and went to the sliding glass door that led to a screened in room overlooking the backyard. She remembered how her parents would sit out here, side by side, holding hands while Ali and Jada played in the yard. She had so many good memories of her parents and they all seemed to flood back suddenly. Family summer barbecues, playing catch with her father while her mother sat smiling at her kids; tons of memories and none that Ali wanted to remember in light of this new information. How naïve Ali had been to think she had this perfect, loving family.
Ali’s mom stepped out into the sun room and closed the sliding doors behind her. “Okay. What’s going on? Are you in some sort of trouble?” Her mom motioned for Ali to take a seat next to her.
The concern in her voice tore at Ali’s heart, and before she could stop it, tears spilled down her cheeks. “No.” Her lips trembled. “I don’t know how to say this, Mom, so I guess I just need to say it.”
“Oh honey.” Her mother stood and pulled Ali into her chest for a hug. “Whatever it is, you know you can
“Thanks, girl.”
CHAPTER 7
Ali sat in her parents’ living room and looked back and forth between them. She’d really hoped to talk to her mom alone, but that wasn’t going to happen. She twisted her hands in her lap, sighing heavily. She knew this was going to be difficult, but now it was just getting awkward and making her feel like a fool for even getting herself involved in her parents’ relationship.
“Allison, sweetie, are you all right? You look very pale. Are you ill?” her mother asked with concern.
“No, I’m not ill.” Ali smiled. Her response was a half-truth. At least she wasn’t physically ill like her mother assumed, but her constant flashbacks of her dad with that woman were making her want to vomit.
“Then what’s wrong?” her dad asked. “You’re starting to worry us.”
Ali gave another heavy sigh. She couldn’t even look at him without seeing him in her mind’s eye with that other woman. She wanted to yell and scream in his face, ask him what his problem was, why he didn’t love Mom and how he could do such a thing and think he could get away with it. She wanted to pound her fists against his chest and slap his face. She wanted to do so many things to him but she couldn’t. She didn’t have it in her. All she could do was tell him to leave. “Dad, would you mind if I talked to Mom alone? This is kind of private girl stuff.” She laughed nervously.
Her father sat motionless for a moment, clearly not wanting to grant her request. He had always been an active participant in Ali’s life, overbearing in many regards. His love was often mistaken as dislike, and as a result Ali’s relationship with him was never as easy as it was with her sister. Then, after another few moments, he said, “Allison, you’re not pregnant are you?”
“What?” Her eyes widened. “No. Of course not! Jesus H. Christ, Dad!”
Her dad shrugged his shoulders and held up his hands as if saying his assumption wasn’t entirely off mark. Her mom shot her a fierce look, disgusted by her language choice. When everyone’s emotions calmed, both of her parents sighed with relief.
Ali shook her head. Of course they’d automatically assume she’d make a mistake like that. They always assumed the worst. That was real nice. Her father stood with a nod. “I’ll be in my study.” He kissed her mom on the top of the head and left the room.
Ali wanted to scream at him not to touch her, not to act like he cared when he obviously didn’t. What a phony. But she kept her mouth shut, like she did most of the time around them, and waited until he was out of earshot. “Do you think we could go out to the sun room?”
Her mom cocked her head to one side. “Honestly, Allison, what’s going on with you? You’re acting crazy.”
Who do you think I get it from? she wanted to say. “Mom, please?”
Ali stood and went to the sliding glass door that led to a screened in room overlooking the backyard. She remembered how her parents would sit out here, side by side, holding hands while Ali and Jada played in the yard. She had so many good memories of her parents and they all seemed to flood back suddenly. Family summer barbecues, playing catch with her father while her mother sat smiling at her kids; tons of memories and none that Ali wanted to remember in light of this new information. How naïve Ali had been to think she had this perfect, loving family.
Ali’s mom stepped out into the sun room and closed the sliding doors behind her. “Okay. What’s going on? Are you in some sort of trouble?” Her mom motioned for Ali to take a seat next to her.
The concern in her voice tore at Ali’s heart, and before she could stop it, tears spilled down her cheeks. “No.” Her lips trembled. “I don’t know how to say this, Mom, so I guess I just need to say it.”
“Oh honey.” Her mother stood and pulled Ali into her chest for a hug. “Whatever it is, you know you can
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