Luan chuckles, but I can’t seem to find that same humor inside of me.
“Not yet, Ma. But uh… Actually, this is more about Grey andhisfamily. I don’t think you’ll—”
“My dad’s Li Ji-Hoon,” I blurt out before Luan could. “As in the CEO of Li Co. That guy.”
Amira sucks in a sharp breath, but honestly, it’s not her I am terrified of. It’s Luan’s dad who frightens me.
Mr. Hayes nods slowly as he’s trying to process what I’ve said. Instead of getting upset with me like I expect him to, he snorts a laugh. “Quite the father you’ve got there. Very…supportive.”
“Can’t choose my parents, can I?”
Amira now looks at me with sympathy. “Oh, I am so sorry, dear.” She steps forward, and much to my surprise, takes both of my hands in hers. “I heard about your parents’ divorce, please don’t tell me this happened because your, uh, father didn’t… you know… accept you. You’ve been in the media a lot lately and I doubt he didn’t hear the news about you and Luan together yet.”
That’s quite up-front.
“Ma,” Luan sort of groans.
“Oh.” Amira lets go of my hands and brings one of hers up to cover her mouth. “I didn’t mean to be rude, I apologize.”
“It’s alright, really.” I exhale a little heavily. “They didn’t get a divorce because of me, though me telling my father about Luan and I did somewhat finalize it.” There’s no use trying to pretend my father didn’t treat me like crap, or that he’d ever accept my relationship. And truthfully, I am so sick of making excuses for that man.
If he can’t accept me, so be it. I’ll no longer paint him to be great either. He doesn’t deserve it.
Even if he decided to accept me now, he fucked up. He may gladly walk all over me for the rest of my life, but he doesn’t get to touch my mother again. Not everagain. It might’ve taken me years to draw the line when it comes to my own life, but I amveryquick to draw a million lines when it comes to the woman who raised me.
“At least we don’t have to see him at your wedding, am I right? Or the holidays.” Mr. Hayes shudders with disgust at the thought of spending even one hour in a room with my father. I get it though, it disgusts me as well.
“No, he won’t be there. My father is no longer a part of my life.”
Luan leans his head against mine, sighing softly. “But the good thing is, Grey Davis”—he sneaks his hand back into mine—“you will now receive tons of calls frommyfather asking if you’re okay, if you need anything and such.”
Will he though?
When I look at Mr. Hayes with a questioning look, he laughs. “Luan’s not wrong. I can narrow my calls down to twice a week, but that’s really cutting it, son.”
Son.
What is happening?
“Ah, you didn’t think Amira and I would, what? Disapprove of you now?” He tsks. “You said it yourself, you can’t choose your parents. It’s not your fault your father happens to be a shitshow of a person. But just because he is an awful human doesn’t mean you are, Grey. And I know you’ve been making Luan very happy so for that alone I’d bebeggingyou to stay in his life”
Oh, well, alright. I guess that means I get to keep my boyfriend after all. And thank fuck for that because I have absolutely no idea how I am supposed to live without that little stupid ray of sunshine in my life. My little curly-headed monster.
Chapter 12
“it’s almost over, it’s just begun”—All Eyes On Me (Song Only) by Bo Burnham
December 2026
“I just landed,”Grey’s voice comes through the phone a little sleepily. It makes me smile.
“Figured, otherwise you wouldn’t have called, Grey Davis.” It’s New Year’s Eve tomorrow, but Grey has a game in L.A.tonight. Their flight yesterday got canceled so they have areallytight schedule for today, but I love that he’s still calling me to let me know they landed, even though I am sure the team is currently rushing to their bus to get to the arena in time.
Their flight back home is around one in the morning Pacific Standard Time, so when I said tight, I meanttight.It’s currently six PM, their game starts at eight. Let’s say the game doesn’t run as smoothly, then it ends around ten, maybe. That gives them barely any time for interviews, let alone freshening up, before they have to head back to the airport. I do worry about the stress this puts them under, but I guess that comes with the job.
“I didn’t want you to worry,” he says.
Yep, those are butterflies making themselves comfortable in the pit of my stomach right now.
