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For my freedom?
“Weight,” he repeats, and I know suddenly what I have to do.
“I’m not weighing in over Christmas break,” I tell him honestly. The words seem to fall out of my mouth before I can stop them. I can practically see them tumbling out: weighty and heavy, but at least I’ve spoken the truth.
I can’t tell what changed in me recently. Maybe it was seeing my best friend, Emilia, fall in love with someone. Maybe it was realizing that I’m going to be trapped under his thumb forever. Maybe it was realizing that making love to Harrison felt good – really good – and I never want to give up the way he makes me feel.
I don’t know.
I do know that Frank is shocked – utterly appalled – by my statement.
“Excuse me?”
“You heard me. No more weigh-ins. They’re demeaning, and I’m tired of being hungry all of the time.”
“I think you’ve forgotten your place,” he says, standing up.
“No, I don’t think I have,” I tell him. “I think you’ve forgotten yours.”
Okay, now I definitely know that I’m pushing too hard, but I can’t seem to stop myself now that I’m getting going.
“You’ve had me under your thumb since I was a kid. Ever since I came to live here, you’ve been bossing me around, and you haven’t ever cared what I think.”
“Children don’t get opinions.”
“That’s what you say. You’ve always said that. Well, I’m tired of being your whipping girl, Frank. No more bossing me around. I’m going to finish school and then I’m going to walk away. You’ll never see me again.”
“That’s not going to happen. I’m your legal guardian,” he says.
“Not anymore,” I point out. “I had a birthday. I’m 18 now. No guardian needed.”
It’s a freeing thought.
“You don’t know who you’re messing with, little girl,” he says.
“Actually, I think I do,” I say. “I know exactly what you are, Frank. You’re a fucking bully. You think you can boss people around. You think you can call them names. You think that everyone in the damn world needs to bend to you and why? Because you’re rich? There’s more to life than money,” I tell him.
“You won’t feel that way when I pull my financial support from your school.”
“Maybe that’s true,” I say. “But I’ve had plenty of time to think about this, and I’ve already contacted Crescent Academy about scholarship opportunities. I know they have some, and I’m applying. You aren’t going to keep me from graduating, and you aren’t going to force me into marrying your son.”
Besides, I’ll do that all on my own, if I get my say.
It will be my say, though.
It’ll be my choice.
I’m not letting Frank pressure me into a marriage I’m not ready for. When Harrison and I are both at the right age, and the right point in our lives, and we’re both totally committed, then yeah, we’ll get married.
Not a moment sooner.
Not a moment later.
“What’s my son going to think when he finds out I sent you to seduce him?” Frank asks. He plants his hands on his desk. “I have plenty of emails between us detailing the entire plan for you to make him fall in love with you so that we can manipulate him together.”
“I’ve already read the emails,” Harrison says, walking into the office. Both
Frank and I turn to see him standing in the doorway. Okay, so I’m happy to see him, but I had no idea he was planning on interrupting this little discussion.
