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The drive to my parents’ house is quiet and full of tension as Sawyer and I make our way to tell our parents how fucked up all of their plans are. We might have told them in front of everybody before Christmas that we weren't going to marry the girls they offered to us, but that doesn't mean they took it on board. Even with Pops trying to instill the fear of God into them about arranged marriage, it seems that our parents’ political dreams have grown exponentially.
Apparently, this time, the fear of what the elder Kensington could do to them isn't enough for them to loosen their grasp on that potential.
They've quietly mentioned it several times to us over the holiday period, so we decided that since today is the day where Travis is going to see Katy, we would spend the day dealing with our parents and getting this wrapped up once and for all.
We pull up to the gates of our childhood home and I wish that this place still felt like home, but with everything that's been going on lately, it just doesn't.
When we brought Briar here just a couple of weeks ago, I realized just how empty and lifeless this house really is. I'd never seen it that way before, but with everything my parents have pulled since then, it's like they got caught up in the web of the Becketts and the Kensingtons and they've lost who they are.
Who they always said they would never become is exactly what they're working toward.
My mom always insisted that she didn't want to become the people my dad worked with. And yet, here we are, becoming those exact people.
"Are you ready for this?" Sawyer asks from the passenger seat as I grip the steering wheel before turning the engine off.
"Not even a little bit. I mean, what's the worst that could happen?"
Sawyer barks out a dry laugh, his normal, joyful disposition far from here. "The worst that could happen is they disown us, kick us out, take all of our things, unenroll us from Saints U, and leave us with nothing." He pauses and tilts his head, like he’s lost in thought. "Though, worse than that, they could make us marry those two vapid, brainless blondes, and I can't think of much worse than that. I'd rather be poor and happy than have their money and be married to those two."
I laugh dryly because I agree entirely, but he knows that without me having to say a word. It's not like this is something we haven’t discussed already.
We enter through the back doors of the house that lead straight into the kitchen and find our parents sitting at the dining table in there with brunch already set out.
Our house is much more informal than those of our friends, but I have a feeling that if my parents keep walking down the path they're on currently, that's not going to be the case for much longer.
"Boys," my dad says, standing when he sees us, dragging us both into a hug. "It's so good to see you both." I kind of get the feeling as I hug him back that a lot of this is Mom's idea and not his.
My dad's always been the more down-to-earth one of the two of them. While my mom is the one who never wanted to become those people, as she's always called them, I get the feeling that being around the people that we’re around every single day might finally have started chipping away at her perspective.
"I’m so glad you could join us today," Mom says, standing up and kissing both of my cheeks before moving to Sawyer. Once the round of polite pleasantries is done, we sit down and I start loading up my plate with the array of breakfast foods laid out on the table.
Sawyer does the same and we start to eat in silence. My parents chat about nothing of any importance between the two of them. I pour myself another cup of coffee, smiling inside at how much Briar would enjoy this particular spread, when my mother's gaze turns to me. "So, what brings you boys here today anyway? It's not like you ask for our company very often."
"We wanted to tell you, finally, once and for all, that we're not playing these stupid games of yours," Sawyer says frankly between mouthfuls, before placing his cutlery on the side of his plate. The clink echoes in the silence of the room as my mom just blinks at him before turning her gaze to me.
"You already know I’m with Sawyer. It's nothing that we haven't told you before. You always said you wouldn't play these games with us and with our futures, and I don't know why that's changed, but our views on it haven’t."
She lets out a deep sigh, any trace of happiness falling from her face. "I just want what is best for you both," she says sadly.
"This isn't what's best for us," Sawyer responds. "In what world wouldyoupicking our wives and us being absolutely miserable be what's best for us?"
My father stays quiet, just leaning back and watching the conversation play out. Which tells me that my suspicions are correct. He wasn't up for this plan from the get go.
"Those girls both have good breeding and come from a lot of money. It would set you both up for the rest of your lives. Regardless of what careers you choose. I wanted that for you. We know what it's like to struggle, and I don't want you boys to ever have to suffer that."
I bark out a laugh. "Mom, when have we ever known struggle? You both come from comfortable families. Even if we aren’t as wealthy as the Kensingtons or the Becketts, it's not like we've ever gone without food or shelter."
"And this way, you would never have to," Mom counters. "I just want to try and give you the best opportunities that you can have. And those girls’ families offer that. What else are you going to do with your futures?"
"How about explore careers, explore the world, and find love on our own terms?" Sawyer responds, speaking my exact thoughts.
"If you boys don't want this, then it won't happen," my dad says, finally turning to look at my mom, who opens her mouth to speak but closes it. "We already had this discussion before Christmas when Jeffery Kensington told us it was off the table anyway. I was never on board with it in the first place, so if you really are against this as much as you seem to be, then I'm not going to force it. And your mother will stand down too."
My mom clasps her hands together before putting them on her lap and nods solemnly. "Yes, if you really really don't want this then I'm not going to push it. It just seems like such a large opportunity to waste."
"Life is more than opportunity and money," I tell her, reaching across the table, but she keeps her hands firmly in her lap. "I know you were doing what you thought was right, but you also said that you never wanted to become those people. You never wanted to be a part of this world. And you never wanted to lose sight of what was truly important to us: love and family."
She gazes down at her hands, not saying another word, but I know I've struck a chord.
