AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Anni…there’s so much you don’t know.”
“Then tell me. Don’t just keep me in the dark and ask me to accept situations I don’t understand.”
“I will, but as I said, I need time, baby. I’m just asking you—imploring you, begging you—to cut off ties with this Creighton.”
“Mom!”
“I’ve never asked anything of you, Anni. I only wanted you to grow up into the bright, cheerful, and absolutely beautiful young lady you are. I didn’t stop you from ballet even though I’m uncomfortable with it, I didn’t stop you from traveling to the other side of the world, although I was scared for your safety, but I’m begging you to let him go.”
“I can’t…do that. I love him.”
“You haven’t been together for long. Those feelings will eventually disappear.”
“You can’t possibly be serious?”
She stands up, releases a long breath, and whispers, “I’m trying to protect you.”
“By hurting me? You’re cutting me open by demanding I stop seeing the only person who’s not only embraced me for who I am but who’s also encouraged me to grow into myself.”
She strokes my hair back, a sad expression covering her face. “It’ll all get better with time. I promise.”
Then she steps out the door, leaving me with pain, sadness, and, most importantly, confusion.
What the hell just happened?
* * *
When I wakeup after a restless sleep, the first thing I do is check my messages.
My chest immediately deflates when I find no text from Creighton.
Maybe he’s mad that the one-day deadline is over and I still haven’t made good on my promise to fix things.
So I type another one.
Annika:Morning! It’s morning here, so it must be around midday there? I’m going to find an opportunity to talk to Papa about us. I was hoping Mom would be my ally, but I guess that’s out after she weirdly opposed to our relationship last night. This will be the first time I’ve gone up against Papa head-to-head. Wish me luck! I miss you. I want to kiss you.
I wait for a few minutes in case he reads both my texts and finally replies, but there’s nothing.
Maybe he lost his phone.
I stroke the necklace he gave me, then text the girls’ group chat.
Annika:Morning! Did you get together with the guys this weekend?
Cecily:With Remi and Bran, yeah.
Annika:How about the others?
Cecily:What others? Eli and Lan don’t hang out with us.
Glyndon:She means Creigh, silly. And no, Anni. He didn’t come along.
My fingers tighten around the phone and I frown.
Honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s spent all his time sleeping, but ever since we got together, he doesn’t sleep as much.
I was hopeful—and probably delusional—enough to think he probably preferred my company over sleep.
