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“Are you expecting one for martyrdom?”
She’s ready to scratch my eyes out. “I take my responsibilities seriously. You, on the other hand, always doexactlywhat you want, Micah.”
“That’s right, and you seemed like you were getting the hang of doing the same for a while. Wasn’t it fun?”
Her answer is a dirty look. She huffs and crosses her arms.
It’s time to lay it all out on the table. “Know what kills me, Tess? You’re all tough and sure of yourself except when it comes to standing up to your dad. He snaps his fingers and you fall in line like the docile little minion he trained you to be.”
A nerve has been struck and her dark eyes flash with anger. “That is complete bullshit.”
“The hell it is. Your father is a manipulative sack of garbage. He doesn’t concern himself with your feelings and you know it. Stop being so afraid to defy him.”
Her laugh becomes hostile. “You do have a long history of being wrong about me. I’m not afraid.”
“Prove it. Leave this crap behind, quit being the mayor’s secretary and come to Vegas.”
“Don’t give me an ultimatum.”
“There’s no fucking ultimatum. Just a request to have the courage to do what you really want instead of what someone else demands. Look, if you really and truly didn’t want to come with me, then that would be fine. But goddammit, don’t waste years of your life trying to please everyone but yourself. The day will come when you’re bitter for all that you’ve missed out on.”
“Micah.” She struggles to control the emotion in her voice. “We’re very different in that way. You don’t concern yourself with consequences. You dive headfirst without checking the depth of the water.”
“And I won’t change. So if you’re waiting for an apology for that, you can just exhale and forget it.”
She rolls her eyes. “Sounds like a great recipe for longevity.”
“Just who the hell says I want to live a long time?”
The look on her face is agony, like she’s just been kicked in the stomach.
There’s a terrible silence that stretches between us as we stand off.
On the screen to my right, the cheering has reached a crescendo as the new city leader steps on the stage. The motherfucker waves a chubby hand and soaks in the adulation of the howling crowd at his feet. In his own mind, he’s a king at his coronation.
Josh Ballerini, eternally a sidekick, stands to his brother’s left and claps his hands so hard they’ve got to be getting numb.
“We did it!” Stuart Ballerini pumps his arms in the air the way some assholes do after winning a fight. “We won, and it’s thanks to each and every one of you. But before I say a few words, I want to acknowledge my brother right here on the stage. Josh, your loyalty is everything. And where’s my Tessie Belle? My daughter, my rock, my pride and joy. Tess, where are you?” He peers into the crowd, a twinge of irritation showing in the way his eyes narrow. He expects Tess to be front and center at all times, ready to be summoned whenever he has a use for her.
She snaps to attention at the sound of her father’s voice and blinks at the screen.
“I’ve got to go,” she says.
“Then you should go.”
“Will you still be here later?”
“You know I won’t.”
Tess shuts her eyes and lowers her head, the picture of misery.
If she cries, I won’t be able to turn my back.
If she runs into my arms and begs me to stay then I can’t refuse her.
But she doesn’t do any of this.
Tess Ballerini lifts her head, opens her eyes and stalks right out of the room, leaving me behind to watch her disappear while listening to the echo of her heels on the hard floor.
