Her father sighed heavily. “Nina, we are worried about you.”
“Don’t be,” she snapped suddenly. “I am so tired of everybody talking to me like I’m some helpless little girl who accidentally wandered into the wrong relationship.”
“You are in the wrong relationship,” Charis muttered.
Nina turned toward her sister because she wasn’t about to keep sparing her feelings. It felt like Charis was coming for her and she didn’t need to do that.
“What exactly is the right relationship? A safe man? A boring man? A man that cheats? A man that don’t do shit but play golf and get drunk? Or maybe I should date somebody y’all can parade around because of his money--”
“It’s not all about money and you know that,” her dad interrupted her.
“Oh yeah…” Nina said quietly. “It’s about class rankings. God forbid he’s not richer than y’all!” she said sarcastically.
The Marcelles could tolerate wealth from almost anywhere as long as it looked respectable.
Jio terrified them because he was rich and he didn’t run in the same circles as their peers. He just wished she would love him publicly…
“You are throwing your life away,” Jackie whispered as she clenched her chest. Stress had her blood pressure all over the place.
Nina stared at her mother, she felt so sad for them because they weren’t doing anything but pushing her further into the arms of the man that they despised.
She wasn’t mad at them. However, she was super exhausted of defending her peace and happiness all because they didn’t understand it.
“Maybe I don’t want the life y’all planned for me.” In any other family, choosing a different path wouldn’t be so detrimental.
“Nina,” Charles said carefully, “You’re emotional right now.”
“Emotional?”
“Nina—”
“No. Fuck all of y’all.”
Even Nina was startled that she’d said what she’d been thinking for far too long.
Jackie jumped like she’d been slapped.
“See? This is exactly what we’re talking about. You are losing your damn mind,” Charis chimed in.
“Maybe I already lost it!” Nina shouted.
“It’s not me, nor is it Jio! It’s this FAMILY! If my grandfather were here none of this would be happening. Y’all ran Talia off and you’re doing the same thing to me. It’s not fair and I’m sick of it. I would rather struggle than keep pretending that I want to be a part of this family.”
Nobody spoke. They were all still processing. She’d addressed years of trauma. Her feelings had been bottled up for years, and suddenly, the pressure rose to the surface. She’d never signed up to be the perfect daughter nor did she ask for the spotlight.
There was no grace given. Nina was holding onto secrets that she shouldn’t have to keep locked up, but God forbid she disappoint them even more.
“I am tired,” Nina whispered. “I’m tired of feeling like y’all only love me when I’m behaving correctly.”
Jackie’s eyes filled but she wouldn’t dare let Nina see her cry. “That is not fair.”
“Nothing in this house is fair.”
Her daddy finally spoke again. “Nina, if you continue this relationship with him, there will be consequences.”
“What kind of consequences?” she challenged.
Charles held her gaze. “Don’t try me, little girl, because I will gladly humble you.”
