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Holding back my laughter, I continue, “But if you insist, we can eat dinner.”
I help him serve our food. He made a chicken pasta dish that smells delicious. Then he made a side of veggies from the garden, and after taking the first bite, I release an exaggerated moan .
“Where did you learn to cook?” I ask, knowing most men his age have no clue.
“My grandmother. And my mom. After I moved out of the house, I had to fend for myself, so I continued to practice what they had taught me. My mother thinks I’m incapable, though, so she invites me to dinner a few times a week. Of course I don’t pass up the opportunity. Diesel usually tags along too.”
“So weird question…” I start with a hint of a smile. “Diesel. What’s his real name? Does anyone actually know? I’ve asked all your cousins, and no one seems to have the answer.”
Riley starts laughing and nods. “It’s because no one ever calls him by it, and after a while, you forget it’s not his real name.”
“Are you gonna tell me?” I tease. “Or am I supposed to guess?”
Riley smirks. “It’s Adam.”
“Really?” I shriek. “Wow, I don’t see that at all.”
We both laugh.
“Yep, but only his mama calls him that.”
“I’m going to say it next time I see him just for fun and see if he reacts,” I mock. “Considering he teases me every chance he gets.”
“That’s only because he knows asking about Summer riles you up,” Riley tells me.
“She’s married!” I protest but chuckle, thinking about it. “He spent the night with Chelsea. She talked about it for a week straight.” I roll my eyes because even though I hooked up with Riley, I kept the details to myself.
“Does Summer know you’re here?” he asks, which catches me off guard slightly.
I exhale slowly and look down. “No. I didn’t tell anyone. She thinks I signed the papers, and everything got taken care of before my parents found out, but…”
“But what?” he pushes.
“They wouldn’t approve,” I admit softly. “They want a certain lifestyle for me and have been very vocal about that for as long as I can remember, so I knew telling them would only make things worse. Instead, I explained that I needed to clear my head and planned a road trip. I’ve done it a few times before, so they didn’t think anything about it. But the truth is, I needed time away from them and their expectations to really see what it was that I wanted.”
I look up and see his stony expression. “And what’s that, Zoey? What do you want?” His question comes out harsh, but I don’t blame him.
“That’s what I’m trying to figure out,” I say softly. “This past week has changed a lot for me, and I’m still trying to process it all. Standing up to my parents won’t be easy, it never has been, and I don’t want to disappoint them. If they knew I was here, they’d find a way to force me to come home.”
Riley narrows his eyes at me, dropping his fork. “Zoey, you’re twenty-one years old. You’re allowed to have your own life and want things for yourself that they might not agree with or condone, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have them.”
This is so not how I wanted our conversation to go. Talking about my overbearing parents always puts me in a sour mood.
“I know that, Riley, but it’s easier said than done. I couldn’t afford to move out, so I still live with them. And I’m a hairdresser, so it’s not like I’m rolling in a lot of money. I save as much as possible so I can escape from time to time, but when I’ve constantly lived in my sister’s shadow, it’s hard not to feel like a disappointment. After seeing the way your family is and how everyone loves each other unconditionally, it’s a bit much to take in. I wish I had that kind of support, but I don’t, so whatever I decide is going to change things. Whether it’s deciding to stay here or going home and living life the way they see fit—this trip will change everything.”
“What’s your heart telling you right now? What is it you want, Zoey? Don’t think about your parents or the consequences.”
This should be an easy answer. Stay here. Be with him. Make a life together.
But I don’t say any of those things.
“My heart is torn,” I say instead, lowering my eyes because I can’t bear to disappoint him.
“Zoey.” He says my name firmly, causing me to look at him. “Stay with me tonight.”
My lips tilt into a smile at the sweet way he’s looking at me. “Okay.”
“Sit still,” I repeat for the third time, laughing at his eagerness. After dinner, I asked if I could give him a haircut since it was starting to get long on the sides and in the back. Once I confirmed he had a grooming kit, I made him sit on a stool and wrapped a towel around his shoulders. “I’m going to give you a backward mohawk if you keep wiggling.”
