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She scoffs. “You’re kidding yourself if you think this doesn’t affect everyone around you. What about your daughter? What sort of example are you setting for her?”
“That she can love anyone she wants and be in any kind of relationship that makes her happy,” I argue.
“A relationship? That’s what you call this?”
“Yes, because that’s what it is.”
She lets out an exhale through her nose and shakes her head at me. “I don’t think Felicity and Abigail should play together for a while. I can’t expose my daughter to…whatever this is.”
Bile rises in my throat as I fight the urge to scream or vomit. This isn’t fair. But it’s clear I can’t make her understand that.
I don’t respond to that. Instead, I just avert my gaze and mutter under my breath, “I think you should go.”
“Yeah, I do, too,” she replies, sounding angry.
She stomps out of my yard, but before she can leave, I call after her. “And for what it’s worth, Juliet, we’re not trying for a baby anymore.”
She presses her lips together and gives me a nod. I’m already feeling sick from the response, as she adds, “At this point, I think that’s probably for the best.”
Her words sting and there’s a burning behind my eyes, but I won’t let her see me cry. My sister and I have definitely butted heads before. We don’t always see eye to eye. But I never expected this.
For some reason, I felt as if she would have had my back before anyone. I expected my mother to be the one so appalled. Not my sister. But it always was them against me. Now, I truly feel it. I have no doubt that my mother will react the same way as Juliet, tenfold.
But to know that I don’t have a shred of support from my sister hurts more than I ever expected it to. Even after I hear her car door slam and her tires against the gravel as she pulls out of the driveway, I stand on the back patio soaked to the bone, holding the towel over my body as I let that entire interaction wash over me.
It dawns on me now that Caleb and I have been in serious denial. No one is going to just accept our relationship without doubts and judgment. Those who do accept it likely won’t take it seriously. They’ll see us, as my sister said, like it’s some partying threesome phase we’re in.
The road ahead of us feels daunting and insurmountable if that’s the choice we choose to make.
I'm sitting in one of the patio chairs and staring straight ahead, letting my mind ponder and reflect when I hear the apartment door closing. Dean appears in front of me after a few moments. I lift my gaze to his face as he gives me a sympathetic smile.
“Did you hear that?” I ask.
“Every word,” he replies.
Then he crouches down in front of me, placing his hands on my thighs as he stares into my eyes.
“That’s how it’s going to be with everyone, Briar. We don’t live in a perfect world. I’m terrified about what this relationship might cost you both.”
I reach for his hands as I lean forward.
“I’m not,” I reply with confidence.
Forty-Six
Caleb
“She said that?” I ask.
“Yes,” Briar replies, chewing the inside of her cheek.
She’s upset, I can tell, and for good reason. I always knew Juliet was a pretentious bitch at times, but I had no idea it was this bad.
I’ve seen families turn on each other before over love, of all things. Briar is a little less familiar with what this feels like. And maybe that’s why this doesn’t faze me at all.
I was there the night my father threatened my little brother with eternal damnation. I knew going into this that people were not going to accept us. I knew they would form their own opinions, talk behind our backs, judge us for our personal choices, and even judge us for things that were out of our control—like who we are attracted to and who we love.
Dean is standing across the room, leaning against the kitchen island and staring at the floor. I can practically feel his sense of discomfort swelling from over here. I know he’s scared. And I know he doesn’t want to be the cause of any harm.
