Total pages in book: 153
Estimated words: 152064 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 760(@200wpm)___ 608(@250wpm)___ 507(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 152064 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 760(@200wpm)___ 608(@250wpm)___ 507(@300wpm)
“Because I thought things might change organically. Because when he was home, I didn’t want to start a fight. I don’t have a good reason, honey, but I don’t want you to keep blaming your dad when the fault wasn’t all his. He couldn’t fix what he didn’t know was broken.”
“I feel like a jerk.” I wrap my arms around myself.
“Don’t own this, Tallulah. Your dad and I made mistakes. Big ones. I just don’t want you to put all the blame on him, when he wasn’t alone in it. I played my part, too.”
I want to ask why my dad didn’t say anything. But I already know the answer. He didn’t want me to be mad at my mom, instead. He’d rather it be him. Reality is a sharp slap; no wonder they never worked out. How can you have a successful relationship when no one is willing to talk about the hard stuff?
“Everything okay in here?” Dad glances between us.
Mom adopts the placid smile I know so well. “Everything’s fine. How’s the corn?”
“Not charred, so we’re winning!” Fenna carries the plate of foil-wrapped cobs in and sets them on the counter.
Ties gives us a thumbs-up and focuses on his phone.
“I thought maybe you’d invite Flip to dinner,” Dad says.
“I would have loved to meet him,” Mom adds.
I glance between them. “This is the first time I’ve been here. I didn’t want it to be awkward for him.”
“It’s only awkward if you make it awkward,” Fenna says helpfully.
“Or it’s always awkward,” Ties mutters.
“Maybe next time,” Mom says.
And suddenly it’s wildly, painfully clear. She’s hurt. Of course she is. Dad works with my boyfriend, and my mom has never met him. Not as the guy I’m dating. At first, I just wanted things to calm down and for the media to back off and stop dredging up his past.
“We can make a plan,” I hedge.
“That would be nice. I only know the interview side of him. I’d like to meet him.”
“You mean you’d like to grill him,” Ties says.
Fenna snickers.
I point an accusing finger at my sister. “Just wait. You’re up next.”
“Mom’s already met my boyfriend.”
“You have a boyfriend?” Dad and I say at the same time.
It sucks that we’re in the dark together. But I guess that’s how my mom feels about Flip, so I’m getting a taste of my own medicine, and I don’t like it.
“It’s new,” Mom defends Fenna.
“Like, twenty-four-hours new,” Ties adds.
“I was going to tell you in person,” Fenna assures me.
“Is he nice?”
“So nice. We’re going to the movies next weekend.”
“But you’re only fourteen!” Dad protests.
“They’re going with a group of friends,” Mom jumps in.
“I had a girlfriend at fourteen,” Ties says.
“But—”
Fenna cuts Dad off. “Do not come at me with a gender bias.”
He sighs. “You’re all just growing up too fast.”
Everyone is quiet for a beat, maybe lost in a memory when things were different, but then the oven beeps and pulls us back to the present.
We bring the food to the table. It’s familiar but so different—a different table, a different home. Everything is new and modern, nothing like the antiques my mom loves to collect and refinish. It’s also missing personal touches, like pictures on the walls. I make a promise to try harder once exams are done.
“You can bring Flip the next time we have family dinner,” Mom suggests as she passes me the cheesy sour cream and onion potato puffs.
“And Fenna can bring her boyfriend,” Ties chimes in, grinning evilly.
“And you can bring Jordan, since you’re always studying with them,” Fenna tosses back at him.
His cheeks flush. “We’re working on a robotics project together.”
“We’ll have to plan around the playoff schedule, but we can figure something out,” I agree, distracting everyone from my brother.
“That sounds great.” Mom is all smiles again.
Everything is normal, but it’s not. Maybe because nothing has really changed. My mom is still keeping her feelings to herself, and my dad still works too much. I love them, but I don’t want to be them.
Flip and I are nothing like my parents. And I never want us to be.
CHAPTER 43
TALLY
“That dress is stunning.” Fee is stretched out on my bed next to pillow Flip.
Cammie gives two thumbs-up from the floor beside her. “You look like you stepped straight out of a fairy tale.”
“Great. That’s what I’m going for.” It’s a week post family dinner and it’s been intense. Final projects are coming due. Exams around the corner. Our showcase right after. Flip decided I needed a stress break, so he planned a night out and sent a dress. I slip my feet into my heels. There’s a slit up my right leg and the neckline plunges. This dress hugs my curves, while still being gauzy.
My phone buzzes.
Flip
How does the dress fit?
Tally
Like a glove.
It’s perfect.
I strike a pose in front of the mirror, making sure my bare leg is on display, and send it to him.