It was kind of gag worthy, but at least Aunt Farrah seemed to enjoy it. After a while, Aubry had had enough, so she went into the den to pour herself a glass of whiskey. This night called for hard liquor.

Her dad was in there.

“Avoiding the party?” she asked.

He turned to her and smiled. “I needed a break.”

“I’ll drink to that.” She walked over and her father poured a whiskey for her, then handed her a glass while he poured one for himself.

She took a sip, letting the liquid burn its way down. Mmm, so good. Maybe she should get blitzed tonight so she wouldn’t have to think about Tucker.

Then again, since she had to report to work early tomorrow, maybe that wasn’t such a good idea.

She sat on one of the leather chairs across from her dad. “The party’s nice.”

“It is. I can’t believe Davis and Farrah have been married forty years.”

“You and mom aren’t too far behind them. Only a couple more years.”

Her father smiled. “I know. I think I’ll take her to Europe for our fortieth. Do a month-long trip and see Scotland, Ireland, England, France, Germany, Portugal and a few others. She’s talked for a lot of years about doing that.”

Aubry beamed a smile at her father. “Oh, Dad. She’d love that.”

“Good. Don’t tell her. I’ll surprise her.”

Now this was love, and her father constantly surprised her with how thoughtful he was, especially when it came to her mom. He could be a ruthless businessman one minute, and a sweet, considerate husband and father the next.

She really loved him.

“Where’s Tucker tonight? Since the party started late, I thought maybe he’d show up after the game.”

Her smile died. “I . . . don’t know.”

“Problems between the two of you?”

“Again. I don’t really know, Dad. He’s been distant lately. We’ll talk or text, but we haven’t seen each other. Like at all. And he keeps making excuses as to why we can’t be together. I think we might be breaking up.”

Her father was silent for a moment, studying his glass of whiskey before answering. Then he looked up at her. “I’m sorry, honey. But maybe it’s for the best.”

She frowned. “Why would it be for the best?”

“Oh, you know. Your career is so important. You should focus your attention on work and studies. And the possibilities of a fellowship. Not on romance. Plenty of time for that later.”

“You and I have always fundamentally disagreed on that, Dad. Do you know a lot of doctors are married before they even enter medical school? Or they get married during their internship? Or residency? People can actually juggle a medical career and a personal life.”

“People can, yes. But it’s not easy. I just don’t want you diverting your attention away from what’s important—your career. And honestly, did you really think this thing with Tucker would have lasted? Him on the road half the season, you with your heavy schedule? When would you even see each other? It had to end sooner or later.”

A niggling suspicion hit her. Surely he wouldn’t. Well, yeah, he definitely would. She thought back to the timing of Tucker’s sudden disinterest, and it fit. She had to ask. “Dad, did you say something to Tucker that night he was over for dinner?”

Her father shrugged. “I might have. But only in your best interests, Aubry.”

“What did you say to him?”

“I might have, jokingly, of course, said that if he didn’t break up with you I’d send him back down to Triple-A ball or trade him.”

Icy-cold anger dropped like an anchor into the pit of her stomach. She laid her glass on the side table and stood. “How could you do that? And you know damn well that Tucker respects you as the owner of the Rivers. He would have never taken what you said as a joke.”

Her father stood and approached her. “I only want what’s best for you, Aubry. I always have.”

She backed away. “Don’t touch me. Don’t . . . God, Dad, how could you do this? How could you manipulate my life this way?”

Her mother came in. “What’s going on?”

She turned to her mother. “Dad threatened to trade Tucker unless he broke up with me.”

Her mother’s look was furious as she looked over at Aubry’s father. “You did not.”

“I thought it best the two of them not continue the relationship. You know how important her career as a physician is.”

Disgusted with her father, Aubry raised her hands in the air. “I cannot be here right now.” She walked across the room, kissed her mother on the cheek and left the room. She found her purse, grabbed her keys and said her good-byes to her aunt and uncle, claiming she had to get up extra early for her shift in the morning, then headed out the door.

She made it to the car and down to the end of the driveway before she had to stop and take several deep breaths. She raised her hands off the steering wheel and realized they were shaking. She had to get it under control before she got on the highway.

But how could she do that when her mind was filled with all the betrayal?

Her father, manipulating her life that way.

And Tucker, who hadn’t once told her what her father had said, but had obviously made his choice. He’d chosen his career over her.

Of course he did. His career was important to him.

But why wasn’t she?

And more importantly, why hadn’t he told her?