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“I’m not going to allow this.” Dad glares at the bushes that line the path from the driveway to the side door of the house.
His eyes fly to mine. Hard and unwavering. “Go pack your bags, Zoe. I know that he’s out of town on a trip right now. We’re going to get your things packed and then I’m going to take you back home where you belong.”
I shake my head and stand up. My chest aches.
The last thing I want is to fight with my father again, but I know I have to. If there is one thing that I’ve learned in my time away from home, it’s that I deserve the life I want.
Even if I have to fight for it.
“I’m not going to be moving back to your house.” I tuck my hands in the pockets of my linen trousers. “I like it here, Dad. I have a good marriage with a man I love.”
“You don’t know what love is. You’re too young, and he’s years older than you. Do you really think that this is going to work out? You’re in two different parts of your life.”
Dad scoffs and stands up, looming over me. “You’re going to go pack your bags right now, Zoe. I’m not going to let you ruin your life like this. You’re coming back home where I can keep you safe.”
“No. I’m not.” I smile and climb the stairs to the front door. “This is my home now. I love the life that I’m building with Christian, and I’m not going to give it up.”
“Not even knowing that your family is worried about your safety?”
“I appreciate that you’re worried about me, but you don’t have to be.”
He shakes his head, disgust and disappointment clear on his face. “You’re going to regret this.”
Dad takes off, heading down the driveway and to the road where a car is idling.
My heart aches as I watch him get into the car and take off into the distance.
Though I know that he thinks I’m making the wrong decision, he’s going to come around. One of these days, he’s going to see how happy I am with my life now, and he’s going to support me. Right?
Right now, he’s just being overprotective because he’s worried about me. Even though there is no reason to worry.
If he just spends a little more time with me and Christian, he’ll see that he needs to let go and be happy for me.
At least that’s what I tell myself as I head to the studio to pour everything I’m feeling into a song.
27
CHRISTIAN
The rain is pouring down as I send a message to Zoe and step off the plane in Georgia.
The tension that I’ve been feeling for the last couple of weeks starts to fade as I take my bag from the pilot and head over to the waiting SUV.
Alessio and Jovan grin at me from the front seat as the back door flies open.
Billie throws herself out of the car and pulls me into a big hug, despite knowing that is the last thing I want. She laughs even as my arms hang down by my sides, and I don’t hug her back.
“One of these days, Christian, you’re going to be as excited to see me as I am to see you.” Billie steps away to take my bag, her wet hair hanging down in her face.
I hold my bag out of her reach and head for the trunk. “I can carry this on my own, thank you.”
Billie rolls her eyes and follows me to the trunk, not caring about the way her mascara runs beneath her eyes. “So, how are things going with the wife?”
I toss the bag into the trunk and shake my head. “We’re not going to stand here and discuss my love life.”
“You know that I love to talk about your love life.” Billie smirks as we get into the back of the SUV where Hadley is waiting.
“I want to talk about your love life too,” Hadley says with a grin as I squeeze in beside her.
