Page 262 of Power Play

“They called me beneath you, and now they’re inviting me to Thanksgiving?”

“They haven’t suddenly decided they love everything about us. My mother admitted that. She said they’ve had time to think about what they did.”

“It still sounds convenient.”

“They’ve been trying to talk to me since the dinner. I’m the one who refused to answer.”

Ryan looked toward the wall and dragged one hand over his jaw.

“They lost Charles,” I said.

“I know.”

“They don’t want to lose me.”

“I heard you.”

“I need you to understand why this matters.”

His gaze returned to me. “I understand.”

“Then why do you look like I invited you to an execution?”

“Because your parents showed you exactly what they think of me when they believed I wasn’t good enough for you. Now I’m supposed to trust a Thanksgiving invitation?”

“She admitted what they said was contemptuous.”

“That’s a nice word for it.”

“She apologized to me, and she asked me to tell you she’s sorry.”

Ryan’s jaw tightened. “She can tell me herself.”

“I think she wants to.”

He swung his legs over the edge of the bed and sat with his elbows resting on his knees. I waited while he stared at the floor.

Finally, he exhaled. “I’ll go.”

Relief struck so hard that my knees almost weakened.

Ryan looked up at me. “I’ll go for you, mi hada.”

I nodded.

“Listen carefully because I’m not doing another version of tonight after Thanksgiving dinner.”

My stomach tightened. “I’m listening.”

“I have no patience left for this shit.”

I started to speak, but he lifted one hand.

“You asked me to go, and I’m telling you what going means for me.”

I closed my mouth.

Ryan stood. “I have watched those people get inside your head from hundreds of miles away. I’ve watched you stop eating when the pressure becomes too much. I’ve watched your whole fucking personality change when their names appear on your phone, and I’ve watched you convince yourself you’re doing something wrong because your father doesn’t approve.”