Page 228 of Power Play

“In forty minutes.”

“You shouldn’t be worrying about me.”

“That ship sailed.”

I looked at myself in the mirror across the room. The navy dress was beautiful, and I looked like someone my parents would approve of. The thought made my stomach twist.

Ryan heard the silence. “You still there?”

“Yes.”

“You spiraling?”

“No.”

“Bullshit.”

I pressed my lips together.

“Talk to me.”

“I want it over.”

“Then tell them and leave.”

“You make everything sound easy.”

“It is easy.”

“No, Ryan. It isn’t.”

“I didn’t say it wouldn’t suck. I said it’s simple. You tell them who you’re with, and they can like it or choke on it.”

My jaw tightened. “That’s not how families work.”

“That’s exactly how people work when they think they own your choices.”

I stood and crossed toward my dresser because sitting still was making the anxiety worse. “You don’t know them.”

“I know what you’ve told me.”

“That isn’t the same.”

“It’s enough to know you’re shaking before you’ve even left your fucking bedroom.”

His anger had started edging into his voice. It wasn’t aimed at me, which almost made it harder.

My fingers moved to the side of the dress, pressing into the fabric at my waist. My mother’s message had lived inside my head for two days.

If it still fits properly.

I couldn’t tell whether the dress felt tighter because my body had changed or because panic made every seam feel restrictive. I turned sideways in front of the mirror, searching for proof that something was wrong.

“Charm?”

“I’m here.”

“You went quiet.”