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“Every couple wants their wedding to be the biggest and best anyone has ever seen.” She looks at Finn and Zahra. “Isn’t that right?”
Zahra’s eyes are wide and it’s clear she doesn’t know what to say, but Finn is unfazed, used to this aspect of my relationship with my parents. “Mac can handle it, Mom.” He winks at me, and I know from experience that he’s thinking I should shrug off Mom’s comment. It’s just Mom being Mom.
“I don’t doubt your abilities, sweetie.” Her voice is placating, and it’s all I can do to keep my mouth shut. “I just want to make sure the day is perfect, and I don’t want you in over your head.”
I cross my arms and lean back in the chair, feeling like a petulant child. Even more so when I glance at Andrew, watching him bear witness to our little disagreement.
When I don’t say anything, she waves me off with a little shake of her head as though I’m the one being difficult and overdramatic. “Finn, have you considered having the wedding back home? We could do it at the country club. They just put an extension on and there’s a beautiful event room now.”
“Why would they want to do that, Katherine?” my dad questions.
She whips her head to look at him and narrows her eyes. “Why wouldn’t they consider it? It’s where he grew up. He has lots of memories there and the country club is beautiful. Not to mention it will cost a fraction of what a wedding in New York City will.”
My dad rolls his eyes, taking a sip of his drink. “They’ve built a life here for themselves. This is where they should get married.”
“Well, excuse me for wanting to explore all the options, Gregory. I guess that makes me a terrible mother.” She slams her wineglass down on the glass coffee table. Some of the wine sloshes over the rim, but by some miracle, the glass doesn’t break.
“Jesus Christ, Kath, you always do this.” My dad tosses back what’s left of his drink and sets his glass on the table as well.
“Do what?”
Their voices grow louder, and soon they’ll be outright screaming at each other. This is always how it starts—with some small slight that turns into something more.
“Try to bulldoze everyone into what you want. Just let the kids figure out what they want on their own.” He gestures to Finn and Zahra.
Zahra shifts uncomfortably and keeps glancing at Finn as though she’s not sure what to do.
“I do not do that! Even if I did, better that than to not give a shit. Do you think everything just comes together on its own, Greg?”
My chest feels as though it’s collapsing and putting pressure on my lungs. It’s a sensation I’m familiar with, and if I closed my eyes, I’d probably feel as though I was back in my bedroom in the house I grew up in. I hate that their arguing puts me right back there in the past. I feel like I’m a helpless teenager again, walking on eggshells whenever both my parents are home.
But I’m not helpless to do anything anymore. I’m a grown adult, and I don’t have to stay here to listen to this shit.
“I need some air.” I rush down the hall, find my coat on the bed in the guest room, and shove my arms through it, continuing up the hall as fast as possible and out the door without a backward glance.
The sound of my parents’ raised voices can be heard all the way down the hall. I stab the elevator button so hard I hurt the tip of my finger and wait there tapping my foot until it arrives. The silence on the way down is welcome, and I draw in deep breaths to try to temper the adrenaline surging through my system.
When I reach the ground floor, I walk out of the lobby and brace myself against the cold wind, quickly zipping up my jacket. I didn’t think to take my purse or my phone with me when I bolted, so there’s nothing I can do but walk to burn off some of the irritation coating me like a thick layer of paint.
I decide to head right for no reason, and when I reach the corner and I’m about to cross the street, I hear my name called from behind. I turn to find Andrew running toward me.
“Kenzie, wait up!”
At the sight of him, my shoulders slump. I can’t believe he witnessed what went down. Not only were my parents embarrassing, but so was my reaction.
He reaches me and scans my face. “Are you all right?”
The concern in his eyes makes me want to break down now that someone safe is here, but is Andrew safe?
“Me? What about you? You looked like you wanted to disappear when Finn was proposing to Zahra, yet you’re insisting nothing is going on.”
His lips form a thin line. “I told you, I’m fine. I’m not the one who just ran away.”
“I’m fine.” I swipe at my eyes against the tears building.
“You’re not fine. Now tell me what’s wrong. Maybe I can help.” He touches my shoulder and gives it a squeeze.
“It’s not a big deal.” I sniff and shove my hands in my pockets to make sure I don’t reach for him. I’m dying to wrap my arms around him and have him pull me into his chest.
