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“I mean Florida!”
“Fine! But I’m in Florida because of the choices I made. I applied for the job. I’m going to school?—”
“Because they’re paying for it! Can’t you see how much control you’ve given them? You didn’t even pick out your car.”
I scoffed. “Because it was a gift.”
“Think about that, Ray. Do you hear the privilege in your words?”
My chest hurt. I couldn’t help that the Davenports were rich. That wasn’t why I loved them.
“What was I supposed to do, Elle? Say no? Tell Hale to take it back?” She was punishing me for things I didn’t choose.
“I see you and Hale passing judgmental looks back and forth. You’re not subtle.”
Was she calling me a snob? “It’s hard to be polite when you’re sitting across from a self-involved egomaniac! The guy hasn’t stopped blowing himself since we sat down! You can’t get mad that we don’t instantly love Paul.”
“This isn’t about Paul. This is about you supporting me, the way I support you, no matter who’s sitting by my side.”
Support me? She just crucified me for falling in love with a wealthy man who enjoyed spoiling me.
I felt trapped, like she’d invited us to this specific restaurant and made things difficult with her restrictive diet to set us up.
Elle was in a position of privilege, too, since selling the house. She could afford days off and nice things. So why was she punishing me for enjoying the same?
“Why did you invite us here, Elle? It’s not like they’re known for the food you’re eating.”
“See? The old you would have never said that. You think you’re better than?—”
“No! You do not get to twist this up to make me look like a spoiled princess because I know we can do better.”
“I’m angry because you think your relationship makes you better!”
“What?” I shrilled. “Have you met me? I live in a vortex of self-doubt and personal beratement. I do not think I’m better than anyone!”
“You and Hale are the result of luck and lust, not your ability to make the right choices, so stop acting like you have life figured out. You were stranded at sea, he was there, and shit happened.”
“Shit happened?” Was that how she summarized the most epic love of my life?
I shook my head, literally speechless. This was so much more than my issues over her relationship with Paul or the pressures of work and education. This was deep. Way deeper than I ever suspected.
“You’re jealous,” I finally said, speaking mostly to myself. I couldn’t believe it.
“Excuse me?” She laughed without humor. “I am not jealous?—”
“Then what?” I snapped. “Getting you to help me with the wedding is like pulling teeth. Yet, you get snitty whenever I mention hanging out with Phina or when I do stuff without you. Even when it’s not about the wedding, you’re always too busy to hang out. You never have more than a few minutes to talk. And you leave my texts on read for entire days before responding with the shortest reply possible. I’m beginning to think you even broke up with Barrett to break up with me.”
“Wow.” She took a step back. “Once again, you find a way to make everything about you.”
“Oh, shut up.”
“You shut up! Does it ever occur to you that I’m busy because I have bills to pay?”
“You have more money in your savings account than I have in mine. Stop acting like you’re destitute!”
“That’s my savings. It’s different.”
“Yeah, well, you can thank the Davenports for that. Anyone else would have charged a fortune to do what Hale did for you. So don’t act like you haven’t benefited from my relationship as well.”
