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Twenty Eight

Hailey

Dad: You need to end this “relationship,” I won’t have you running around with that lumbering oaf. In fact, you’ll be picked up by one of my drivers this Sunday. You better be there and ready. Do NOT embarrass me.

Did I really just read that?

The muscles in my stomach clenched in an attempt to contain the queasiness burning its way through my bloodstream and into every inch of my body. It was no use, this feeling couldn’t be contained, it burned like wildfire. A heavy weight pressed down on my lungs, constricting my chest, and I felt like I would be sick.

The door burst open with such force it almost hit the wall, and Ella stormed in, making me jump up like a scalded cat. Apparently, I wasn’t the only one feeling a strange energy.

We stood there, motionless, staring at one another in bewilderment.

“Why do I feel like we look like that Spider-Man meme right now?” I asked.

Ella’s head jerked back a little, and her eyebrows shot up. “What?”

“You know, that meme where all the Spider-Mans are facing each other and pointing at each other.” I finger-gunned in her direction, and we burst out laughing at the same time at my lame gesture.

“Oh God, I needed that. Thanks, girl.”

I waved her off. “Me too.”

Ella slumped backward onto her bed, her long dark-red hair in her trademark high ponytail fanning out behind her and a steep crease between her eyebrows. I dropped down next to her, and we stared at the ceiling in silence for a moment, then I nudged her with my foot.

“Sooo, what’s got you so worked up?”

“Ugh, it’s something completely stupid, and I shouldn’t be upset about it at all, but … I don’t know, I guess I kind of had higher expectations for college. Maybe too high?”

“Care to be more specific?”

Ella slapped my stomach, and I squealed. “Don’t get cute with me. What I meant was that I thought I’d be able to blow off some steam here. You know, enjoy college life and all that. Sow my wild oats. But no matter who I start talking to, they either ghost me right away or dump me after the first date. It’s like I’m cursed or something.”

This time I gave her a slap in the stomach. “Don’t you think you’re being a little dramatic? Our life in college has only just begun.”

“Nah, not really. ”

I snorted. “Oh, nonsense, just wait. It’ll work out.”

Her slender finger poked me in the side.

“Knock it off.” I chuckled before slapping her hand away.

“Sooo, what’s got you so worked up?”

“It’s complicated.” I groaned.

“C’mon,” she needled, “how bad can it be?”

“Pretty damn bad. I’m not used to talking about things like that.” My face was still burning hot, so I put my arm over my eyes so I wouldn’t have to look at her. I didn’t think I’d be able to get this out if I had to look her in the face.

“Ohhh, now I’m curious. Spit it out.” The mattress shook as she moved.

Before I could change my mind, I blurted, “My dad is an absolute asshole.”

“Your … dad? Anything specific happen, or is it general assholishness?”

“Both, sort of. He’s never liked Colt, from the second he met him. I know my dad, he’s always wanted to see me with a different kind of man, and he’d rather I was engaged to someone appropriate right now so he could get some kind of benefit out of it.” Huffing, I expelled air from my lungs.

“Wow, yeah, sounds like a real asshole if you ask me.”

“Anyway, he heard that Colt and I are together now, and he’s freaking out about it. He’s been texting me every day saying I don’t know what I’m doing and that Colt is a bad choice. I don’t know, it’s just weird. He even threatened that if I didn’t go on these ridiculous dates he keeps setting me up with, he’d pull my school funding. You know who he set me up with last time?”

“Who?” she asked, her eyes wide with intrigue.

“Fucking Nico, you know that jackass from the diner I told you about? Ugh! Now I have to somehow explain to Colt why I have to go on a date with some random douche, and I haven’t even told him about my dad’s threat and all the messages he’s been sending. I don’t want to drag him into this whole mess. We’re supposed to fly home for Thanksgiving, and I have no idea how to handle it if my dad treats Colt like shit. I wouldn’t put it past him.”

“What about Colt’s family? And your mom?”

“Colt’s family is great, I really hope we get to spend most of our time with them. My mom is … not like my dad, but she does let him manipulate her. He knows how to wrap people around his finger, and I honestly think my mom has gotten so comfortable in the life they lead that she’d ignore a lot to keep it.” I lift my arm from my face and lean on my elbows.

Ella sits up and shakes her head. “Sometimes, people do the strangest things.” She tightens her ponytail and leans forward, resting her elbows on her thighs.

“I guess you’ll just have to wait and see—”

“Funny, I think that’s exactly what I just told you.” I nudged her with my elbow.

She regarded me with a demonstrative sideways glance before continuing. “Whatever. Like I was saying, I guess you’ll just have to wait and see, and if he’s a dick, just stay with Colt’s family and steer clear of him.”

My head falls back, my chest heaving with a frustrated breath, and I purse my lips. “Guess that’s probably the best plan. I just still can’t believe he would say things like that. Today, he seriously demanded I end it. Yeah, right, as if.” I scoffed.

“He didn’t say that.” Her eyes got huge as I swiveled my head in her direction .

“Yes, he did.”

“Yup, I’d be furious too if I were you.” Her hair swings back and forth as she shakes her head in disbelief.

I sit up, clucking my tongue and stretching my arms over my head before rising to my full height. “It is what it is. I have to finish getting ready now; I’m supposed to meet my study group in half an hour. Lost track of time with all the bitching.”

“Right, I completely forgot. Well, have fun.”

I smirked. “Sure, because as Ron put it, ‘That’s what Hermione does. When in doubt, go to the library.’ And that’s exactly where I’ll be.”

***

On my walk back to the dorm, I decided to call my mom and see what the hell was going on. Phone pressed tightly to my ear, I tried to control my breathing, but as soon as my mom picked up, her chirpy “Hi, honey!” shattered what little composure I had left.

“Mom,” I began, the words tumbling out, “do you realize what Dad is making me do? He’s forcing me to go on a date with some random guy — for what, just to please his business partner? Do you understand how fucked up that is?”

There was a pause, then the sort of sigh that always told me she wasn’t going to take me seriously. “Hailey, it’s just a date. It’s not like he’s asking you to marry him. Your father only wants what’s best for you.”

“For me ?” I snapped, the anger rising in my chest. “This isn’t about me. This is about him trying to secure his business deals. He doesn’t care what I want, and you just stand by and let it happen.”

“Hailey, calm down,” she said, her voice soft but dismissive. “ You’re overreacting. Your father is under a lot of pressure right now. This is really important for all of us. Can’t you see that?”

“ All of us?” I stopped pacing and planted my feet on the carpet. “Don’t bring me into this. I didn’t ask for any of this. I didn’t ask to be used as a pawn in his little power play.”

Her sigh this time was deeper, like I was the one exhausting her. “Hailey, if you just go on the date, everything will be fine. Your father has promised us a summer house in Italy if this goes through. Just think about it, Hailey. A villa on the Amalfi Coast! Doesn’t that sound amazing?”

Bile rose in my throat. “You’re seriously thinking about a villa right now?” My voice cracked. “That’s your priority? A house ?”

“It’s not just a house, Hailey,” she snapped, her tone sharpening. “It’s a chance for us to have a life that others can only dream of. Your father has worked so hard to get us here, and sometimes, we have to do things we don’t want to do in order to maintain it all.”

I blinked, the words cutting into me as they registered. “Oh. I’m sorry. Of course, it’s not just a house, and he’s doing all of this for our benefit. From where I’m standing, all he’s done is turn this family into his personal chessboard, and you’re perfectly fine being one of his pawns.”

“Don’t talk to me like that,” she hissed, her voice suddenly cold. “You don’t understand the way the world works, Hailey. You think life is about love and happiness, but it’s about stability. Making smart choices.”

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. “So you’re saying going on this date is the ‘smart choice ’ even though Dad knows I’m already dating someone? ”

There was hesitation on her part, and her silence spoke louder than words would. “Hailey … your father doesn’t think Colt is a good match for you. Not long term. And, well …” She lowered her voice, as if telling me a secret. “You have to admit, Colt doesn’t exactly fit the picture .”

I laughed bitterly. “You’ve let Dad blindside you into thinking money and appearances matter more than anything else. None of this is real. Not you, not him, not this life.”

Her voice softened, but I could hear the impatience creeping in. “Hailey, this isn’t about money. It’s about setting you up for the future. A safe and secure future. Your father’s just trying to help—”

“No, he’s not,” I interrupted, my voice trembling. “He’s trying to control me. And you’re letting him. I’m your daughter, Mom. Don’t you care about how this is making me feel?”

She was silent for a long moment, and I thought maybe, just maybe, she was finally getting it. But when she spoke again, it was filled with the same exasperation I’d heard a thousand times.

“I do care, Hailey. But sometimes, we have to put our feelings aside for the greater good. Just go on the date. It’s one night. That’s all we’re asking.”

My throat tightened. “No, Mom. That’s not all you’re asking. You’re asking me to pretend like I don’t matter. Like my feelings don’t matter.” I squeezed my eyes shut, willing myself not to cry. “And I’m so tired of it.”

Her sigh was sharp, as if I was the unreasonable one. “You’ll understand someday. I just hope you don’t regret being so stubborn.”

I was at a loss for words. As I ended the call, I stared blankly at the screen, my heart throbbing in my chest.

I wanted to scream. I wanted to cry. But I wouldn’t. Not over this . Not over her .

I threw the phone on the bed and sank down beside it, staring stone-faced at the wall. I wasn’t sure what hurt more — her complete lack of support or the fact it didn’t even surprise me.