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“She called my girlfriend a whore.”
“Chloe said whore. I said tramp.”
“Either way! You’re being judgmental and grossly disrespectful without even getting to know her. She doesn’t deserve that.”
“You can’t honestly be dating that black woman. Jesus, Liam. I thought I raised you better than that.” She rises to her feet and crosses the room.
Dad’s mouth drops open. “Elaine! This ends right now. I will not have you scaring away our son because you insist on being both racist and elitist.”
I hide the smirk that threatens to appear. “If you continue to disrespect Tracey, I’ll stop speaking to you. I will remove myself so far from your lives that you won’t even remember you I ever existed.”
Dad looks at me and nods. “You have my word. Your mother will be on her best behavior.”
“Thank you,” I say before spinning on my heel and leaving the house that is the epitome of a hellhole.
Chapter Fifteen
Tracey
A birthday dinner—a small, intimate dinner—for Liam’s dad didn’t seem like a big deal. Not at first. I had agreed, only wavering when I thought of his mother. She was going to be there, but he had promised she would be on her best behavior. Although, I was pretty sure his mother’s best behavior might put Genghis Khan to shame.
For days after Liam had invited Deja and me to the dinner, I’d gone back and forth, considering whether bringing Deja was a good idea. I want her to know she’s still the most important person in my life, even if I’m in a new relationship. Knowing she’s important means she needs to be present in nearly every aspect of my life, which is the part I’m struggling with. Getting her involved where Liam’s mom is concerned could be disastrous.
Each time I’ve brought up my concerns, he has promised he will protect Deja. With the knowledge that he loves her almost as fiercely as I do, some of my fear has lessened.
Still, I’m an adult and can handle myself. Deja is young, and I do not need a rich white woman with an attitude problem leaving scars on my daughter’s heart.
“What’s his family like?” Deja asks as she swipes on lip gloss in front of my bedroom mirror. “Do you think they’ll like me?”
“Of course they will,” I say, smiling as I smooth the wrinkles from my dress. My stomach is twisting and turning in knots, worrying about what these people could say or do. I’ll not let them hurt Deja, even if it means losing Liam.
“Is he going to be here soon?”
“Very soon.”
Sure enough, no sooner had I answered her then I could hear a truck pulling into the driveway. As we walk downstairs, my heart is beating a mile a minute, and my blood is racing through my veins. I hope Liam’s father and brother are nothing like his mother. I won’t be able to stand being in the same room with them if they are.
“You both look beautiful,” Liam says as we meet him on the porch. He pulls me in for a quick kiss before grinning at Deja. “I hope you’re ready for some good food.”
“Yes. Mom’s cooking is kind of sad,” Deja says before taking off for the truck. My cheeks are on fire as I laugh and stare after her.
“I guess I’ve been called out.”
“Well, what do you say we go get this over with?” Liam loops his arm around my waist, leading me to the truck.
“You think it’ll be that bad?”
“No. I just think any evening spent with my family is a shit show.”
I laugh and press a kiss to his cheek before getting in the truck. Liam hums along with the radio as he drives through the city, leaving the suburbs behind and heading straight into the lap of luxury.
When we enter the restaurant, two men who look like Liam are sitting at a table. Deja takes my hand, clasping it tightly, as Liam leads us through the restaurant.
“Tracey, Deja, this is my dad, Stephen, my mom, Elaine, and my brother, Jason. Everybody, this is Tracey and Deja.”
We exchange greetings, but I do not miss the flash of a sour expression on his mother’s face before she plasters on a fake smile and greets us as if her life depends on it. There are several empty chairs around the table, as if more people are expected. I hesitate beside Liam, noticing the way his shoulders tense as he takes in the sight.
“Over here,” Liam says, turning to me with a smile and taking my hand.
