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Trista hopped off the stool and grabbed her hand, leading her to the bar. When Vada was settled, Trista rounded the counter, heading to the fridge.
“I’m really sorry about…”
Phoebe lifted her hand and narrowed her gaze. Vada immediately clamped her lips.
“Not the first girl I’ve held back their hair for, and you won’t be the last. Not with these old ladies.”
Vada forced a smile. “It’s all a little hazy. I remember the pub crawl. I enjoyed that.”
Phoebe and Trista snickered. Her best friend placed a bottle of water in front of Vada.
“Remember anything else?” Trista cocked her brow.
Vada swiped the beads of sweat on her forehead. “Any chance I dreamed up calling and yelling at my mom?”
Phoebe flattened her lips but Vada noticed the small smile peeking through. Oh God! Vada groaned and dropped her head onto her arm resting on the counter. This was worse than she’d thought. The details were iffy, but the conversation was clear as day.
“We all have our breaking point, Vada. After everything you’ve put up with, I’m surprised this didn’t happen sooner.” Phoebe rubbed Vada’s arm. “You have the patience of a goddamn saint.”
Vada sighed, and slowly sat up. “Or I’m just immensely weak and a doormat.”
Phoebe squinted and bent down, resting her elbows on the counter across from Vada. This put her at eye level view. “There’s nothing weak about wanting your family to be proud of you, Vada, and share in one of the best days of your life. You deserve that. And doormat? Show me. I mean, you definitely went against your parents, quit the family company, and chose you over everyone else. And you chose Hades and Allie despite knowing there was a big chance your family wouldn’t approve. You chose you, Vada. It’s the hardest and bravest thing we can ever do.”
Vada soaked in every word. She had chosen herself. It didn’t feel brave. It felt selfish, but she’d done it anyway and had no regrets. Had she not, she wouldn’t have had her beautiful life with Hades and Allie.
Vada rubbed her temple. “I don’t remember much.”
Trista laughed. “My favorite line was, ‘If you have the balls to treat me as if I’m beneath you, then at least have the goddamn decency to tell me why.’”
Her stomach dropped. “I really said that? To my mom?”
Trista smiled. “Yes, and it was epic.”
Vada dropped her chin to her chest and clasped her hands. To anyone watching, she’d look as if she was praying—possibly for forgiveness. It was strange how it was just the opposite. She wasn’t proud of her behavior. She should’ve handled it without raising her voice and not used crass language. But as Phoebe said, this was a long time coming. And it wasn’t over. Not yet.
Vada peered up at Trista. “Do you have my phone?”
Trista shared a look with Phoebe and hesitated before finally answering. “It’s somewhere around here, I think.”
Vada furrowed her brows. “You’re not going to tell me?”
“Tris,” Phoebe said, lifting her chin to Vada as if ordering her best friend to give her the phone.
Trista walked over to the end table and brought over Vada’s phone, placing it on the counter in front of her.
When Vada reached for it, Trista grasped her wrist.
“You’re gonna apologize, aren’t you?”
No.
Trista shook her head, sighing heavily. “Your mother doesn’t deserve an apology, but she owes you one. Years of them.”
I agree.
Vada slid off the seat and walked out to the front porch, taking a seat on the steps. She didn’t call immediately. She needed a minute. She glanced over the long front yard and followed the property line up to the clubhouse. It was probably best to go into the call with a plan. Vada didn’t have one. It took her a few seconds to realize she didn’t need one. This call wasn’t about getting answers. It was about being heard and finding her own closure. While she wasn’t proud of how she’d handled last night, oddly enough, she didn’t have many regrets. Everything she’d said to her mother was true to how she felt.
Vada glanced down at the screen and smiled. She tapped the message and curled her arm around her stomach.
