“Distraction?” I interrupt.
“—we need to see you thinking about your future, Poppy, sweetheart,” Dad continues, undeterred. “We’ve given you every advantage, every opportunity.”
“You’re a bright, capable girl,” Mom adds. “We know you can do more.”
“You can’t tell me it’s your life’s dream to promote collagen powder and workout sets to equally insecure young women,” says Julia. She brushes my hair behind my ear. “I know it isn’t. And I think last night finally proved how fragile all that is, you know? How can we help—”
I jump up, banging my shin on the coffee table in the process. The coffee sloshes in the mug I’m still holding. “F— Ouch. I need a second.” I press my sleeve against my nose.Don’t cry. Don’t cry.“My head still hurts.”
I practically run away from the parlor. Behind me, I hear my family arguing, but no one follows. Not even Miso. I always knew he understood more English than he lets on.
I stand in the kitchen for a long moment, willing my tears to go away. My family’s words—so well meaning, the worst part in all of this—echo in my mind. I already knew this was how they felt, but that doesn’t make it any better. The three of them—Dad and Mom and Julia—are a unit and I’m the afterthought they have no idea how to handle. An accidental addition to an otherwise perfect family.
We’ve given you every advantage, every opportunity.
We know you can do more.
Isn’t that what Jack said last night, his eyes smoldering with dislike, whisky bottle between us on the bar top?You have everything you could ever want at your fingertips, and this is what you do with your life?
I inch down the hall, the faint outline of a plan taking shape in my mind.
Jack was rude and arrogant and obviously has no idea how much goes into influencing, but somehow, his words, in that frustrated growl, felt more like a challenge than an insult.
I don’t have to stay here. I can escape. I can start over, just like Jack is.
“What are we going to do?” I hear Mom ask.
I pause outside the doorway to the parlor.
“We could set her up with another job,” Dad says. “One at the magazine.”
“That was a disaster last time,” Mom says.
“I know.” He sighs heavily.
“I’m worried she’s going to be alone forever,” Mom says.
“Or living here forever.” I can almost see Julia’s pitying face. “It’s sad to see her so aimless.”
“She tries,” Mom protests.
The world narrows down to that one tiny point. My family, talking about me. Feeling sorry for me. Planning what to do with me, as if I’m still a child. My heart starts to race.
“This is really her best?” That’s Dad again. “I can’t—”
“You can all stop whispering about me,” I interrupt, striding into the parlor. The plan crystallizes in a frenzy, words tumbling from my mouth before I can stop them. A path to a future where I can prove myself to them, to everyone. “I have a new job, actually. In Florida. With Jack Hartman. He’s reopening his late mentor’s restaurant, and I’m going to put it on the map for him.”
Everyone stares at me as if I’ve grown two heads, even Miso. Dad breaks the shocked silence first. “Jack Hartman? Poppy, the man has his shit together even less than you.”
“Then we’ll be a good match.”
I lift my chin, refusing to back down. I’m bursting with energy. I want to run upstairs and pack. Get to the airport. Figure out where exactly Diamond Bay is, other than north of West Palm Beach. The hardest part will be convincing Jack to let me stick around, but I’d be willing to bet he already knows how much he needs me.
“You want me out of the house, right? Doing something other than promoting cheap wellness products?” I direct the last bit at Julia, who flushes.
“Poppy,” Mom says carefully, “are you sure—”
“I heard you all, just now.” I look at Dad, into the blue eyes I inherited. I’ve always chased his approval the most. Maybe, through this, I’ll finally earn his admiration.
