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“What about track?”
“I can run anywhere. And it’s not like I was gonna go pro, anyway. It’s just a hobby.” I lift my shoulders in a dismissive shrug.
“What about your mom? And Anthony?”
“I’ve been Mom’s problem for years. I’m sure she’d enjoy the break.” It’s a stupid joke, one I hope lightens the mood.
“Sawyer, don’t insult your mother. I’m sure she’s flipping out about you moving halfway around the world before you’re done with high school.”
“She knows this is a once in a lifetime opportunity.” I play my most valuable card. “I’d get to learn about other cultures and get some real-world experience doing something that makes a difference. And my schoolwork doesn’t have to suffer because I can do it online.” I leave out the part about not running this past Mom just yet.
“Those are all excellent points.” Sam finally finds her voice. “Although, don’t you want to have your high school years with your friends? I never had that, but my understanding is it’s like a rite of passage.”
“High school is overrated. I’d prefer an actual education and the chance to make a difference than a full social calendar.” That card will speak to Sam. She lives for altruistic causes, and would choose those over a social life any day. It’s manipulative, but I’m desperate.
“Where is this coming from?” Dad asks. “Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad you have an interest in exploring other cultures and making a difference, but I thought you liked school? I thought you were getting more involved?”
“Wasn’t really my scene,” I tell them.
He looks to Sam then back to me. “Well, I guess if we flipped the schedule and you go to your mom for holidays and things that could work.”
“No holidays.” The words leave my mouth too quickly to not make them suspicious.
He frowns at me, confused by my outburst.
“I want to see what those are like in other countries,” I say, trying to rationalize my objection, but doing a poor job of it.
Dad looks at me skeptically. He can’t argue the fact that holidays in other countries would be a unique experience. That should be reason enough not to force me home during the times I don’t want to be here.
“Everything’s okay at home, right? There aren’t…problems?” He tries one last time to figure out the underlying reason for my interest in this adventure.
“No problems. I enjoyed living with Anthony and Wes.” I can say that with a straight face because it’s true. Or it was, up until yesterday. “I just want to do something different. And this will definitely stand out on a college application.” I lay down my trump card.
Dad runs his hand over his face. I’ve thrown him for a loop, which I feel bad about, but not bad enough to take back my request. Besides, I figure he sort of owes me after years of putting his career ahead of me, and I’m counting on his guilt over that to work in my favor now.
“Sam?” He turns to look at his fiancé.
“Well, uh, I suppose it’s possible. This might add a bit of a hiccup to the travel arrangements since we’ll need a bigger apartment for Sawyer to sleep and do schoolwork. Although, I get to make the final call on who accompanies us. If that’s what everyone wants.”
I pump my fist mentally. Mom won’t love the idea of me leaving, but if I tell her it’s a great chance to bond with my dad she won’t object, especially if I promise to visit at least two or three times a year. Now, if I can time those visits to occur while Wes is at school, I’ll be golden. The less I have to look at him after what he just pulled, the better.
“Well, okay then.” Dad blinks, still a little shell-shocked.
“Great!” I give him and Sam hugs. “I’m going to put my bags upstairs. I might take a nap too, I was up all night packing.”
As I turn for the stairs, I swear I catch my dad wince, but Sam’s in his arms giving him a hug before I can be sure. And since I’m not ready to lay witness to any sign of affection, even in others, I continue as if I didn’t see anything. I don’t know if my heart could handle seeing the love in their eyes for one another. Not when I wish…It doesn’t matter now. It’s over. Now, I just have to make it on that flight and I’ll be able to breathe again.
My room is a little stuffy since I haven’t been here in a while, so I open the window to air it out. That’s when I hear the familiar engine rumble up the drive.Shit.
Wes parks the truck and races to the front door. I can’t see him from my vantage point, though I can hear him clearly.
“Can I see her, Colt? Please,” he says when Dad opens the door.
“What is going on here? First her, now you. What happened?”
“It was a mistake. I made a mistake.”
“What mistake?”
