Page 80 of What We Got Wrong

“I told them that I stayed with a friend for Christmas, and it was really nice,” Liv explained, her eyes not meeting Quinn’s.

Ah, yes. A friend.

“Okay,” Quinn said, trying to maintain her focus. “I’m still missing a piece here.”

“My dad asked what I wanted to do to thank them, and something your mom had said sort of took root, and when I mentioned it to my dad, he didn’t even seem to think twice about it, so…” Liv was rambling, but Quinn couldn’t help her get to the end of her explanation, so she just let her meander there on her own. “I mean, you know we are pretty well off, and I know you don’t like it when I use any of my money on you, but this isn’t for you, exactly, so…I may have booked your parents a long weekend in Paris.”

A chill shot through Quinn because… “What?”

“I’ve been working on the logistics for a couple of weeks now, and I knew you wouldn’t love the idea, but, well, it’s not about you,” Liv said, before muttering, to herself, “Still not sure I should have said it like that, but Emma said it packed an oomph, so…”

Quinn stared at her dazedly.

“You’re angry,” Liv assumed.

“My brain is still trying to catch up here,” Quinn said, trying to wrap her mind around everything Liv was saying. “I mean, Dad can’t just take time off. What if they can’t go?”

Again, that nauseated look took over Liv’s face. “I’ve been working on this with your dad. You’re right, of course. I had to make sure the logistics worked out, that they had passports and…everything.”

“You’ve been talking to my dad?” Quinn asked.

“Yeah, I’ve had both of your parents’ numbers for a while now…” Quinn knew, on one level, that that made sense. They’d traveled together a few times to watch Quinn swim, and any time her family had visited, they’d attached themselves to Liv.

“And he just accepted this?” Quinn asked, eyebrows raised. That didn’t sound like the Nicholas Miles that she knew and loved.

“He’s a proud person, but…I’m pretty persistent,” Liv answered simply, and Quinn snorted indelicately in response. “I explained about my dad, about the company… We’re taking care of everything for them.”

“And you just didn’t tell me,” Quinn said, hoping she didn’t sound as hurt as she felt.

“I knew you wouldn’t like it…” Liv seemed to know that wasn’t a winning argument, wincing as she said it.

“But apparently you talked to Emma,” Quinn said.

“I wanted to bounce it off of her, and I needed to get an idea if it was even possible, you missing a couple days of swim practice…”

“Sure, that tracks,” Quinn said, nodding to herself.

“Quinn, I don’t want you to be upset with me,” Liv said, the words catching in her throat. “I just wanted to find a way to say thank you to them.”

“So you gave my parents an all expenses paid trip to France? Do you not hear how that sounds?” Quinn replied. They’d gone almost three years not letting the drastic difference in their family backgrounds affect them. Three years of pretending like there wasn’t this vast disparity. But this was quite a way to blow that all apart. “That’s not normal.”

“It’s my normal,” Liv responded, letting some of her emotions trickle out, her tone bordering on angry. “I never throw money around or try to make you feel weird about it. I try to be mindful. But the cost for this is nothing at all to my family.”

“I get it,” Quinn said, even though she knew she didn’t.

“I don’t think you do,” Liv replied, her expression sharpening. “No one has ever welcomed me like they did, called me family and made me actually feel it. They’ve always been so kind to me, and on top of that, they made you, and you’re my favorite person. You and your parents, you’re all just…you’re so good. And I want your mom to get her dream trip.”

Damnit, she couldn’t just say sweet things like that, not when Quinn was determined to stay angry.

“Does my mom even know?” Quinn asked, still trying to understand what was happening, regardless of the incredibly kind things that Liv had just said.

“Your dad told her this afternoon,” Liv answered.

Quinn nodded. “I’m going to go call her. I need a few minutes.”

“I’ll be here,” Liv replied softly.

Quinn nodded again before walking dazedly to the room she’d hardly ever used to call her mom.