**********
I wait inside my car for another three hours, and in that time I’ve spoken to Nate and Archie and downloaded a new game onmy phone. I’m now the proud owner of a farm called Hayleigh’s Farm with two cows, one pig and six chickens.
And a very low battery.
Headlights sweep the driveway as Rupert pulls up outside my parents' door. He doesn’t get out of the car and rush to the other side to open it for Thea, as Nate does with me. He doesn’t even turn to kiss her when she leans over, instead keeping his eyes forward and his hands on the wheel at ten and two.
What a fucking robot.
Thea climbs out of his car, pulls a dress bag from the back, slams the door, and watches him drive away. That’s when her eyes snag on my car; she drops the dress bag on the floor and runs towards me. I get out in time for her to collide into my arms, sobbing.
I brush my hand down her hair. “Shh, it’s okay, I’m here. I’m here.”
We stay like this for a few more moments before she pulls away. “What are you doing here?”
I look behind her towards the house and nod at my car. “Get in, and I’ll explain everything.”
She climbs into the passenger seat as I get in my side and turn in my seat to face her. She wrings her hands, so I lean over, placing my hands over hers.
“Thea, they lied to you. They’re broke, completely and utterly broke, and they’re using you to marry Rupert for his money. That’s all.”
She shakes her head. “If I don’t marry him, then you get nothing, Hayleigh.”
I smile at her. “They lied about that, too. I’ve seen a lawyer and had him help me with everything. They legally can’t take it off me.”
“So, that means that I don’thaveto marry Rupert?”
I shake my head. “Not if you don’t want to.” My mouth goes dry, and my stomach lurches, but I power through it. “I can’t offer you a perfect life, I can’t even promise that we’ll like each other all of the time, but I can promise you that as your big sister, I love you more than anything, and if you want to come back home with me and start a new life, then you can. The choice is yours, but whatever you do choose, I willalwayslove you and support you.”
Tears spring to her eyes, she nods, and then we’re hugging over the centre console, both sobbing into one another.
When she sits back up, she wipes her eyes, and I see the true Thea; her face is relaxed and no longer tense. She looks at the house. “We’ll have to tell them tomorrow, mother will be in bed by now.” She looks back at me. “Stay?”
I nod. “Of course, I’m not leaving here without you. I’ll follow you in. I need to make a call first.”
As Thea picks up her discarded wedding dress, I dial Nate’s number, desperate to hear his voice, to ground me and remind me that everything will be alright.
**********
We sneak into Thea’s room with snacks raided from our parents' fridge, a half-bottle of wine, and some lemonade to make it last. Then we sit on her bed and eat everything we have in sight while watching Practical Magic.
Thea sighs. “I can’t believe I have never seen this movie before. It’s amazing.”
I nod, smiling. “Oh my god, this was one of my all-time favourites growing up.” My smile fades. “I’m sorry, Thea, for not being there for you before.”
She smacks me on the arm, and I rub the spot as she points at me. “None of that. You were still young, and you didn’t deserve what our parents put you through.”
I roll my eyes playfully. “Okay, so tell me about today and how it was with Rupert.”
Thea sighs dramatically. “The man is honestly a complete wet blanket.”
I bark out a laugh as she carries on.
“I thought that this was my life now, so I had to make an effort with him. The dress I picked out, he side-eyed and said it was respectable.Respectable.”
I wince. “Ouch, he didn’t even tell you that you looked beautiful?”
She shakes her head. “He barely even looked at me.”
