AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“We’ll make sure it’s a three-bedroom house so you always have a place to stay,” Mom says tearfully.
“Of course we will,” Dad adds with an awkward chuckle.
They’ve both grown so bitter over the years. Miles would hate that his death did this to them. Our home no longer rings with laughter and happiness the way it once did.
“We’ve also decided to sell the Porsche.”
I blink, jarred from my thoughts. “Wait…what?”
Did I hear him correctly?
“We should have done it years ago.” His voice grows soft. “It’s just sitting in the garage collecting dust.”
“No! You can’t do that. You promised I could have it.”
“Fallyn,” he murmurs. “You don’t drive.”
“I’ll learn,” I blurt, a cold sweat breaking out across my forehead as I leap to my feet and pace the length of the room. “I’ll get my license. Now that I’ll be working downtown, it’ll make getting around easier.”
“You’ve tried to get through the driving segment.”
I wince as if slapped before squeezing my eyes tight. “I know, but I’ll actually go through with it this time, all right? Just…don’t sell the Porsche.” I suck in a painful breath. “Please.”
“Are you sure? Maybe it would be better to get rid of the damn thing and be done with it.”
“No, I want it. You promised.”
“All right,” he says with a sigh. “We’ll hang onto it for a little longer, but if you don’t get your license by the end of spring semester, we’re putting it up for sale.”
“Okay.” The tension filling my muscles drains away, leaving me to feel limp. “Thank you.”
A suffocating silence falls over the line. All I can think about is getting off the phone.
“I need to go. I’ve got some homework to finish up for tomorrow.”
“Let us know what happens with the tuition bill.”
“I will.”
We say our goodbyes before hanging up. Relief courses through me as I end the call. That emotion is quickly chased away by guilt.
Instead of dwelling on everything my parents just revealed, I focus on my breathing.
Deep breath in.
Slow breath out.
Repeat.
It feels like the walls are closing in on me. I need to get out of here before I totally lose it. Snagging my backpack from the chair next to my desk, I head for the door. As soon as I yank the handle, I find Viola in the cramped hallway and ground to a halt over the threshold. My gaze slices from my cousin to Madden, who hovers over her with his hands wrapped possessively around her shoulders.
They both look mussed up, making the reason they’ve been locked away in her room even more obvious.
Color stains Vi’s cheeks as she mutters, “I suppose you heard all that.”
I didn’t think there was anything that could make me smile after the depressing conversation with my parents, but I was wrong.
That forced-out comment does the trick.
