Page 15 of Overdue Feelings

I hadn’t even made it down the street before I saw them—my parents—standing on my grandparents’ porch like they belonged there. Like they hadn’t ignored this house for years.

“Shit,” I muttered and parked my car in the driveway. Creek and Zae pulled up behind me and we got out almost in unison.

“Mom? Dad? What are y’all doing here?”

My mom turned. Her face said everything. She came to control the situation… to control me. My dad didn’t even bother hiding the disappointment.

“We came to talk some sense into you,” he said.

“Ares, baby,” my mom added, like I was still a kid. “We heard you shut down the practice.”

“I did. Last week.”

“What the hell is wrong with you?” My father snapped. “You worked your whole life for that clinic.”

“I can’t run it from Harvest. I’m staying and moving into grandma’s house once it’s ready.”

They both stared at me like I’d said something offensive, like this town wasn’t the only place I’d felt peace in years.

“You’re not staying here,” my mom said. “That’s not what we planned.”

“No, Mom. It’s not what you planned. Grandmama left me this house, and you never told me.

” I stared both my parents in the eyes. They didn’t have to say nothing.

I wasn’t looking for an excuse. I already knew why they’d done it.

They knew if I had known, I would’ve come back.

I would’ve stayed. That scared them more than anything…

me choosing Harvest over the path they’d carved out for me.

“My mother was wrong. She knew I hated this place. Knew I wanted better for you.”

“You let it rot,” I said. “You didn’t pay the taxes. You didn’t even show up to clean it out. You didn’t care what she wanted. You just wanted to control me.”

Creek stepped next to me and grabbed my hand. My mom’s eyes narrowed when she saw it.

“That girl,” my father said. “She was always the problem.” I stepped in his space.

“Her name is Creek,” I said.

“She had you obsessed. You couldn’t think straight. I wasn’t going to let you ruin your future for some stupid trio friend group.”

“Creek and Isaiah didn’t ruin my future,” I said. My jaw was tight now. “Y’all did that. You lied about Grandma’s house, and who knows what else you lied about.”

My father let out a long breath through his nose. “You had potential, Ares. We did what we had to do.”

“What does that mean?”

He looked over at my mother, then back at me. “You think you got into Howard University on your own, Son? Your grades were good, but not that damn good.”

My stomach dropped, and I could feel Creek’s hand squeeze mine.

“I called in favors. Used your grandmother’s life insurance money to pay a donor. Your mama made sure it was the only acceptance letter you received, so you’d have no choice but to move away from all the distractions.”

“You paid for me to get away from Creek,” I said slowly, still processing their words.

I’d never even thought twice as to why I’d gotten into Howard and nowhere else I’d applied.

“You paid for me to get into Howard. You faked denial letters!” I was livid at this point. They didn’t answer right away.

“We did what we had to do to make sure you didn’t waste your life,” my father admitted.

“She would’ve kept you here. Held you back. You had a chance to make something of yourself.” My mother cosigned.

“I did make something of myself.” I shot back. “I went to Howard. I got my degree. I opened a practice and built a life in New York. But somewhere along the way… I left me behind.”

“You don’t know what’s best for you!” my father said coldly.

“Nah, you don’t know what’s best for me.”

My mom blinked, and my dad jumped at the finality in my tone.

“I’m done letting y’all decide who I can love. What I can feel. I’m not leaving Creek. I’m not leaving Zae. And I’m sure as hell not leaving Harvest.”

“You’re throwing everything away.”

“No, I’m finally fighting for what I should’ve never let go of.”

They stayed silent, and I let them. Whatever they came for, they weren’t getting it.

I loved my parents, but I was done living my life for anyone but me.

Turning, I walked up the stairs hand in hand with Creek.

Zae following behind. I stepped into Gigi’s house, done with the conversation and the weight of all their plans.

“You good?” Zae was the first to ask.

“Nah, but I will be,” I said honestly.

Creek didn’t ask any questions, she just pulled me into her arms. I let her hold me.

“I’m sorry they’re like that,” she whispered.

“You didn’t make them that way,” I said.

“We got you, bruh.” Zae laid a hand on my shoulder.

I nodded. “Yeah.”

“I heard all that commotion outside.” Gigi’s voice cut through the air. Gigi stepped in.

“Tell those parents of yours they can get in line behind everyone else who disapproves of what y’all got going on.

” Creek snorted, and I laughed. “They forgot whose house this is,” Gigi added, pointing toward the freezer.

“Now somebody get the good strawberry shortcake ice cream out the deep freezer before it gets freezer burn.”

Zae moved quickly, grabbing the ice cream and handing out bowls while Creek grabbed the spoons.

“Y’all love each other real good. Let the town talk. This house? This family? It’s solid.” Gigi’s words hit hard, and just like that, the sting of everything else going on faded.