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Dad’s eyes brightened, letting me know that he was on board with me staying close to home, while my mom’s eyes narrowed. “What are you saying, Lucy? You aren’t going to pick Georgetown?”
“Layla—”
“No, Jesse. I want to know.” She pulled her hand out of Dad’s and stood there, frowning down at me with her hands on her hips. “You’re going to UCLA? Is that really what you want? Are you going to be happy with the English program there?”
“Mom…”
“No.” She shook her head, looking more upset than I’d seen her in forever. “Ever since you were ten years old you’ve been talking about the programs at Georgetown and Harvard and even Columbia. UCLA was a last choice for you, in case the others didn’t want you. Which was a stupid thing to think because they were all tripping over themselves months ago to get you to come a semester early.”
Luca and Lyric jumped off the end of my bed where they had been sitting, watching us for the last few minutes. As the tone of our mother’s voice rose, they knew it was best to get out while they were still not the ones in trouble. “See you at breakfast, Lucy,” they called as they ran from my room.
I didn’t even glance at them. I was too focused on Mom. She was so upset that there were tears in her eyes. “Why is this such a big deal?” I demanded. “I thought you would be glad I was going to stay closer to home.”
“Of course I want you close to home. If possible, I would keep you locked in this room for the rest of your life, baby. But I know that isn’t going to happen.” She combed her fingers through her long hair, pushing the thick cinnamon tresses away from her face. “You’ve had dreams that I’ve always been determined to help you fulfill, Lucy. You have such talent, such a bright future. Georgetown can give you so much more than UCLA.”
“Let’s just calm down for a minute,” Dad tried to cut in.
“Sometimes dreams change.” Fresh tears burned my eyes and I tried to hold them back. “I’m sorry that I’m disappointing you, but...”
“You aren’t disappointing me, Lucy. I just don’t want you to wake up in four years and regret your school choices. I don’t want you to waste your talent somewhere you won’t be truly happy academically.”
“I will be happy at UCLA. They might not be Georgetown when it comes to their English program, but it is in no way below par.” I pushed back my covers and climbed out of bed. Going to my mom, I wrapped my arms around her waist and met her gaze without flinching. “I want UCLA, Mom. Please, will you accept that and be happy for me?”
Her jaw clenched, the muscles working for a few seconds before she blew out a long sigh and finally nodded her head. “Yeah, baby. Okay. If that is really what you want, I’ll stand behind you.”
“Is it safe to talk now?”
Mom and I both turned to look at Dad who was still sitting on the edge of my bed. I pressed my lips together to keep from laughing at the frustrated look on his handsome face. “Sorry, Daddy.”
Jesse Thornton stood and wrapped his arms around us, kissing first the top of my head before brushing his lips over my mom’s. “Since that is decided—and yeah, I’m gonna say it, I’m glad you’ve decided to stay close to home, Lu—I think we should get downstairs and start on breakfast for the birthday girl.”
“Yeah.” Mom nodded. “Pancakes or waffles, Lucy?”
“Surprise me,” I told her as she and Dad left my room. I waited until the door was closed behind them before falling back onto my bed.
Rubbing my hands over my face, I reached for my phone. I couldn’t believe that Mom had been so upset about my college choice. I’d honestly thought she would be just as easy to please about my staying home as my dad was. Shaking my head, I turned my attention to my phone and smiled when I saw that I had a message from Harris.
Happy Birthday! I love you.
The text had been sent at 12:01 am. I must have just fallen asleep when he’d sent it. Flicking my thumb over his name, I lifted the phone to my ear as it began to ring on the other end. I knew he was awake. It was Tuesday and he was probably already knee deep in work at First Bass since he’d had the night before off.
“Did you tell him yet?”
I blinked at his greeting and let out a small laugh. “Considering I’d just woken up and have already had a scene with my mom, no. I haven’t told Daddy anything yet, Harris. But I will, I swear. The day won’t end without me telling him.”
For the last week Harris had been asking me almost daily if I’d told my dad about us yet. I knew it was bothering him, keeping our relationship from not only my dad but also his own so that Jesse wouldn’t find out by accident. I’d assured him repeatedly that I would tell him today no matter what, though. It was time to tell him. Time to get it out there for the world to see. I was tried of hiding how I really felt about Harris Cutter from my family.
“You and Layla had a scene?” From the sound of his voice, I could picture him frowning. “Everything okay?”
I sighed. “It is now. She just had a little meltdown over my decision to go to UCLA rather than Georgetown.”
There was a long silence on his end and I wondered what was going through his head. After what felt like a lifetime, he finally spoke again. “You’re staying here?”
I wished I could see his face. I needed to know what he was thinking, how he felt about my decision. I hadn’t told him about it, hadn’t told anyone, really, until that morning. “Yes,” I answered simply.
“Fuck, Lucy.” He let out a harsh breath and I could picture him leaning his head back against his chair with his eyes closed. “Do you know how much I’ve been dreading the end of your school year? I thought… Hell, I thought you were going to leave me and then I’d lose you because of the whole long-distance thing. That sounds selfish, because I know how much you want Georgetown, but seriously, sweetness, I think I’ve given myself at least one ulcer thinking about it.”
“I’m sorry,” I murmured and closed my eyes, hating that I’d made him stress when he didn’t have to. “I wish you would have told me. I could have eased your mind.”
