Page 146 of The Daddy’s Girl

“He does,” I whisper. “We love each other.”

With a soft smile, she nods. “I believe you do.”

“Amelia.”

My eyes widen at the sound of Matis’s voice in the doorway. I didn’t even hear him approaching. He’s standing somberly, staring at me, and my heart sinks like it’s made of stone.

I know what’s about to happen. He spoke with my dad, and he’s somehow convinced him that we should end things. He’s about to tell me he must leave. That I’m better off without him. That we should break up, break off everything. That somehow, I’m supposed to move on with my life after everything that’s happened.

My eyes shut tightly as I fight the oncoming tears.

Then his deep voice breaks through the din of thoughts in my head.

“Let’s go, my treasure. We have some things to talk about.”

My eyes pop open as I stare at him. But then he puts out a hand, reaching for me, and my once stone-heavy heart lightens. My mom covers her mouth as I stand from the bed and rush to his arms. He engulfs me, squeezing me against him.

Looking down at me with love, he runs his thumb under each of my eyes. Neither of us say anything. There are too many things weighing on us when all we really want is to be in this moment. London, design school, my parents, our future. It’s too much.

With a grin, he leans in and gives me a quick kiss, and it might be my favorite so far. Not because it’s passionate or exciting but because of what it represents.

That we have something no one can take away. Even if we end up in different cities on different paths. We’ll always have this.

When we separate, Matis gives my mom a solemn nod before picking up the duffel bag I’ve packed. Then he links his fingers with mine and walks with me toward the front door.

My dad emerges from his office to watch me go. My cheeks are still tear-soaked as I look at him, and in my eyes, I plead with him to understand. To release this anger he’s feeling and be happy for us.

I see nothing but hurt.

But I have to believe the resolution will come eventually. I know my parents to be genuine, understanding people. I have faith that we’ll survive this chasm of betrayal.

Because their love is just not something I can live without.

“I didn’t tell them you knew.”

Sitting on the couch in Matis’s apartment, my legs folded in front of me, I hold one of the rust-colored throw pillows on my lap as I stare into my brother’s sympathetic eyes.

“I don’t care about that, Mel. I’m sorry you had to go through that,” he says.

Freya sits next to me on the couch, resting her head on my shoulder because that’s just how she shows comfort. That and cooking, but she didn’t exactly have time to put together a menu when I called her crying.

The three of them rushed over as soon as they heard.

Matis is leaning against the frame of the door that leads from the living room to the small kitchen. I keep glancing at him to check his expression. I still worry about the guilt he’s carrying. He seems to think he’s somehow solely to blame for this when really it was me who put on the pressure.

“They’ll get over it eventually,” Archer says from the seat next to Jules. “They always do.”

“I know,” I mutter, looking down at my hands.

“It still hurts in the moment, I’m sure,” Freya adds.

“It does.”

“Plus, they’re not really mad at you, are they?” Julian asks.

I notice the way his eyes dance toward Matis, looking guarded and a little suspicious.

Matis only huffs at Julian’s insinuation.