Free The Games We Play Vol. 3 (Riley Grayson) by Elizabeth Nelson

constantly fighting about him never being here, about his job, and money. Even though we weren’t struggling anymore, your father just couldn’t seem to let it go and come home and be the father I needed him to be. Or the husband I needed him to be either. He’s been working every moment he can to make sure we never fall like we did before.” She looked over at Ali. “Even to this day, though he’ll never admit it, I think he still has that fear of losing everything. Together, we decided not to ever put ourselves in a position like that again.”
    Her mom took a deep breath, blowing it out slowly. Ali’s hands felt clammy and sweaty. She wiped them on her jeans and continued to stare at nothing.
    “After Jada, we decided we didn’t want any more children, so Paul had a vasectomy.”
    Paul. Why would her mom refer to her father by his first name? She’d always just called him Dad.
    And then it slowly began to sink in. The entire world tilted on its axis in that moment. Ali felt the color drain from her face and her mouth go slack jawed. “What? So you mean to tell me . . .”
    Her mother looked at her and gave a sad nod. “Paul is sterile, Allison. He can’t have children any longer.”
    “But—” Ali stood and paced the length of the room. “I was, I mean, I’m younger than Jada. I was conceived and born after her.”
    “Like I said, there were a lot of problems in our marriage. We’d lost our way and weren’t connected. I turned elsewhere for the attention Paul—”
    “Dad!” Ali shouted. “He’s Dad!”
    Ali’s mother ignored her anger and continued. “I turned elsewhere for the attention I wasn’t getting at home. I had an affair, Allison, and as a result, I conceived you.”
    “Oh God,” Ali whispered. She flopped down on the bench near the far side of the sun room. Her stomach twisted on itself and she wanted to hurl. “So that means . . .”
    “Paul isn’t your biological father.” Her mom walked over and tentatively sat near Ali, reaching out a comforting hand.
    Ali jerked away from her touch. This was all too much. She couldn’t process it, couldn’t fathom how any of this was true. “Who is then? What’s his name? Do I know him?”
    Her mother abruptly stood. “That really doesn’t matter, Allison.”
    “No you’re wrong, Mom. It does matter!” Ali hated it when her mom ignored her.
    “When Paul—Dad—found out about my infidelity, he was justifiably angry, but he didn’t turn his back on me like I expected. He stood by my side and did the right thing. You may not have his genetics, but he is your father.”
    “So, what? He’s now out cheating on you to even the score?” Ali crossed her arms over her chest and gave in to the tears that were choking her words off. “This is so fucked up.”
    “Allison!” her mother scolded.
    “No, Mom. Damn it. I just found out my entire life has been a lie and you want me to act like it doesn’t matter? I’m sorry. I can’t do that.” Ali felt the tears flowing freely down her cheeks and she drew a shaky breath.
    “Don’t be so dramatic. Your father has always treated you like his own.”
    “Bullshit!” Ali laughed bitterly and shook her head. “It all makes sense now. The way he always favored Jada over me, the way he always let her do things that I never could. He may love me like his daughter, but he was a hell of a lot more strict with me than he ever has been with Jada, and don’t you dare try to deny that.” Ali pointed at her mother.
    “Fair enough.” She nodded. “He was a little harder on you, but it was always out of love. You have to know that.”
    Ali turned her back on her mom and tried to calm herself and gather her thoughts but that was nearly impossible. How could her mother drop this bombshell and expect Ali to just accept it like it was no big deal? It wasn’t fair. And Ali was so angry at her parents for lying to her all these years. They had no right!
    “Does Jada know?” Ali asked, turning