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“But I am?”
Her unimpressed scowl speaks volumes. Clenching my fists, I resist the urge to stamp my foot like a petulant child. But come on!
“You’re supposed to stand up for me. I’m your daughter. But you side with him every time. Who the hellmakestheir child join a sorority? Who the hellforcestheir child to go to a particular school?”
“Oh, stop being so dramatic. It was your choice.”
“It wasn’t my choice! You forced my hand. There’s no way Jarrod would have given me money toward any other college, and you made it abundantly clear that I would be the world’s worst daughter if I didn’t do what you wanted me to. I tried! For you.” I point at her. “But this isn’t who I am. I can’t be a Sig Be girl. I’m not like Megan.”
“You’re definitely not like Megan,” she mutters.
Her derogatory tone is poison ivy, and it’s an effort to keep the hurt from showing. “So you’re just giving up on me, then?”
Her nostrils flare as she looks away, her lips pinching into a thin line. “I’ve been trying to help you. Give you the best chances life can offer. But you’re so damn stubborn. Jarrod has been nothing but good to you, and all you’ve done is?—”
“I don’t give a shit about Jarrod.” My anger spikes hard and fast. “I don’t care what he thinks. He’s not my dad!”
She whips back around to look at me, her eyes flashing. “No, your dad left you. He walked out the door, and he didn’t look back. You think he’d be willing to pay for your education?” She scoffs like that’s the most ludicrous thought in the world. “Jarrod’s not even blood, and he’s bending over backward to accommodate you.”
“Oh really? So why can’t he just pay for me to go to school, then? Why do I have to join this stupid sorority?”
“The sorority was to help you,” she snaps. “And I knew that if he didn’t put it in the contract you’d back out and ruin this opportunity for yourself. You’d fall into your old habits of hanging out with a bunch of loser guys who are going to do nothing but mess up your future. I want you to become somebody, not waste your life!”
“I’m not wasting my life. I know exactly where I’m going and?—”
“I don’t want to hear it! All I know is that we can’t be a part of whatever it is you’re trying to achieve here. We won’t support you in throwing your life away.” She points to the shiny black car waiting on the curb. “Now, you will get in that car. We’re going to clean you up, and I’ll drive you to the Sig Be house myself.”
I stare at her for a long, thick beat. She’s standing there puffing after all that shouting and I’m reeling in disbelief. How can she not see me? Why is she so hell bent on turning me into something I’m not?
I can’t do it.
I can’t give into her demands this time.
“No.” I step back from her.
“No?” Mom’s mouth drops open. “Have you not heard anything I just said?”
“I heard every word.” My voice shakes, and I fight to keep it strong and even. “Now, you listen to me. I am not apologizing, because I am not sorry for leaving that house. I don’t belong there. And I don’t give two shits if Jarrod’s annoyed with me, or you think I’m throwing my life away. I don’t even want to be part of this dumb, blended family if I’m not allowed to be myself. So, you can take that contract and shove it up each other’s asses for all I care!”
Mom’s eyes flash as she sucks in a breath.
And then she cracks me across the face with her ring-clad hand.
She’s never slapped me before, and I’m tipped sideways by the unexpected blow.
“Hey!” Ethan roars from behind me. “Get away from her!”
I glance over my shoulder to see him charging. His face is mottled with this mix of horror and indignant rage.
Mom takes a quick step back from me, her eyes jumping to Ethan, before looking at me like she doesn’t even know who I am.
“You don’t want to be part of this family?” Her voice trembles, the tears on her lashes finally spilling over. “Fine. Then don’t be.” Shaking her head, she walks away from me just as Ethan jerks to a stop by my side.
“Are you okay?” His voice is kind of urgent, his eyes etched with worry as he studies my face.
I clench my jaw, watching my mother clip to the car, not even bothering to look back once.
The other guys shuffle around me, all glaring at the shiny SUV as it takes off down the road.
