Page 246 of Power Play

“No, you talked around it.”

Her shoulders stiffened. “I told you they were upset.”

“You told me they were surprised.”

“They were.”

“You told me they needed time.”

“They do.”

“You told me your mom keeps apologizing.”

“She does.”

“And your dad?”

Her mouth tightened. “He’s trying.”

“Bullshit.”

“Ryan.”

“Bullshit, Charm.”

She folded her arms. “You weren’t there.”

“You didn’t want me there.”

“That was the point. I needed to do it myself.”

“And I respected that.”

“Then respect what I’m telling you now.”

“I would if I believed you.”

The hurt on her face landed exactly where I knew it would. I kept driving anyway.

“I’m not calling you a liar about everything. I’m telling you I know you’re lying about this.”

“You don’t know that.”

“I know you ignore your mother.”

“She texts constantly.”

“You used to answer constantly.”

“That’s called setting boundaries.”

“Good. What happened that made you finally set them?”

Charm didn’t answer.

I nodded once. “Exactly.”

“Can we leave this alone tonight?”