And my father was here.
“Alonso,” Maverick said.
“Funny finding you here,” my father said.
“Let’s be nice,” I said. “I love him.”
My father growled. “I’m sort of glad I have you both here like this.”
“Oh?” I asked.
“Maverick, I wanted to talk to you,” my father said.
“If you’re going to try and convince me not to love your daughter…”
“Coach fought the league on the suspension,” my father said.
“What?” Maverick asked.
“He went to the league and said he disagreed with it. The league approached me and I backed him up.”
“You don’t want me suspended?” Maverick asked.
“No,” my father said. “You did something that was…” My father groaned. “It was a little bit noble.”
“It was amazing,” I said. “It needed to be done.”
“Yeah,” my father said. “It’s hard to resist.”
“I would do it again,” Maverick said.
“Please don’t,” my father said. “I just wanted you to know that Coach and I went to bat for you.”
“And?” Maverick asked.
“The suspension is being upheld,” my father said.
“What?” I asked. “Why?”
“It’s fine, sweetie,” Maverick said to me.
“This is not fair,” I said.
“It doesn’t have to be fair,” Maverick said. “I did what I did.”
“Also,” my father said. “I am not even considering trading you.”
“Why?” Maverick asked.
“You’re too valuable to the team,” my father said. “There’s a lot I could get for you, Maverick, but it’s not worth it. The team would suffer.”
“I’m not going to hide things,” Maverick said. “No matter how much that bothers you.”
Maverick grabbed my hand.
I leaned into him and hugged his arm.
My father’s lip curled again.