My spine stiffens. “For the program.” It can be true. I just need to rearrange the schedules again. I can do it.
“The program?” She throws her hands in the air. “We are one staffing disaster away from closing for good, and you decided now was the time to buy enough paint to cover the state of Tennessee?”
My mouth falls open. “I didn’t just?—”
“No, because this is what you do,” she cuts in, voice rising. “You make impulsive decisions, and then everyone else has to scramble around, cleaning them up.”
That lands harder than I expected. I knew she would flip, but the venom she’s spitting is enough to cause harm.
It’s meant to harm me.
It isn’t about the boxes.
It’s never just about the boxes.
I fold my arms across my chest, trying to hold myself together. “Yes, I know it’s a lot of money. And if I’m being honest, I messed up, okay? I accidentally ordered way more than I thought.”
“I’d say.” The words hit like a slap. I can’t hear my own thoughts, let alone anything that’s coming out of her mouth, because all at once, I’m not standing in the middle of a shed surrounded by art supplies.
I’m fourteen again.
Being told I’m reckless.
Too emotional.
Too irresponsible.
Too much.
Lilly takes a step closer, voice tight. “You cannot keep acting like this place is some passion project where consequences don’t matter.”
And there it is. Behind everything she’s saying is the real reason why she’s mad. She doesn’t believe in me.
Dom steps forward, but I lift my arm to stop him, which he does, and I appreciate it more than he’ll ever know. If I’m ever going to demand people treat me fairly, I need them to understand I can do things, and that includes standing up for myself and taking accountability for my mistakes.
I laugh once, but it comes out thin and broken. “Wow.”
“Riley—”
“No.” My throat burns. “You know what? You don’t get to talk to me like I’m some reckless kid who’s ruining everything. I made a mistake.”
“I’m trying to protect this place,” she adds, opening her arms, like she needs to remind me what’s at stake. “And I’m trying to save it.” She stares at me, breathing hard. Can’t she see I’m trying too?
“So am I.” I drop the mask, the one I carefully put in place so people won’t see how terrified I am. But right now, I need Lilly to see it. I need her to seeme.
“I made a mistake, I’m owning it, and I am going to fix it.”
“How? I can’t add one more thing to my plate,” she replies. “This is always the case with you, Riles. You show up, you mean well, but in the end, you don’t pay attention, and it ends in disaster. I can’t fix one more thing, and I don’t thinkyoucan either.”
“Then don’t. Maybe I’ll return them or something.”
“And then have no supplies for the things you already set up for this week or next?”
“I guess that won’t work, huh?”
She shakes her head in her usual disapproving tone.
“I’ll figure something out. I’ll fix it.”
