Total pages in book: 98
Estimated words: 94653 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 473(@200wpm)___ 379(@250wpm)___ 316(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94653 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 473(@200wpm)___ 379(@250wpm)___ 316(@300wpm)
I wish my parents could understand that and make their peace with it.
Maybe they could even find happiness again.
They deserve that.
We all do.
We need to celebrate Miles’ life instead of grieving his death as if it’s still fresh and new.
“If you’re ready, we can get moving,” she says.
We slip into our winter jackets before heading for the apartment door. My parents offered to pick me up, but I didn’t want to spend any more time with them than necessary.
Guilt pricks at me for those uncharitable thoughts.
Wolf offered to drop me off for lunch, but the farther he stays from the restaurant and my parents, the better off we’ll all be.
At least for the time being.
It’s all about baby steps.
Today, the plan is to broach the subject of therapy. Then, down the road, I’ll bring up that Wolf is back in my life.
Fifteen minutes later, Viola pulls into the restaurant parking lot before rolling to a stop near the front entrance and shifting into park.
She twists around and studies me for a few silent moments. “Are you good? You could always cancel and tell them you’re sick or something.”
I straighten my shoulders before shaking my head. “No. They came all this way. I don’t want to do that to them. Especially today.”
Concern flickers in her eyes as she reaches out and wraps her fingers around mine. “I love you, Fall.”
I force a smile and some of the anxiety that has been ever present since I woke up this morning fades. “I love you, too. And I’m glad you transferred here this year. Living with you has been the best.”
“It has been.” She squeezes my hand one last time before I slip from the vehicle. “Tell Aunt Eleanor and Uncle Hugo that I miss them and will see them soon.”
“I’ll be sure to do that. They’ll appreciate it.”
With that, I slam the car door and force myself to walk into the restaurant on wooden legs. I spot my parents seated at a table and let the hostess know I can find my own way.
As soon as Dad catches sight of me, he rises to his feet and opens his arms for a hug. I step into his warm embrace as his lips brush against my cheek. “It’s good to see you, sweetheart. How’s everything going?”
I hug my mother before settling on a chair between them. “It’s good.”
“I’m sure it’s a huge relief that the situation with financial aid has been settled and you were able to stay at Western.”
“Yeah.” My father would blow a gasket if he knew that Wolf was the one who covered the tuition payment this semester. Even if I didn’t mention the part where I put my virginity up for sale, he’d still be furious. Any time the company or partnership with the Westervilles is brought up, Dad froths at the mouth.
Wolf is right. There’s no way they’ll accept his presence in my life. Even if I make every attempt to ease them into it. A year from now, their reaction will be the same.
It doesn’t give me a lot of hope for the future.
It’s only when Mom reaches out and lays her hand over mine that I blink back to the present. “It’s almost difficult to believe that he’s been gone for five years, isn’t it?”
Her soft words only make me feel worse because I wasn’t dwelling on my brother, I was thinking about Wolf and if they’ll ever accept that I’m in love with the person they consider our enemy.
The waiter stops by and takes our drink order along with our meal selections.
“How’s your job at the diner going?” A small smile lifts the corners of Dad’s lips. “I can only imagine that you have a newfound respect for the profession. I’m proud of you for going out and finding a job to cover some of your expenses. You were never afraid of a little hard work.”
Guilt suffuses me as I shift on my chair. Even though it’s not a huge lie in the grand scheme of things, it’s still not the truth. It feels like I’m keeping so many secrets from them. That’s not something I ever did before. And I hate it.
Hate that I’ve resorted to being so deceptive.
I gnaw my lower lip and contemplate the situation.
If I can’t come clean about Wolf, the least I can do is tell them where I’m really working. It’s always possible they won’t have an issue with it, and I’ve made a bigger deal out of it than necessary. And if that’s the case…
Maybe I’m wrong about how they’ll react to me dating Wolf.
I clear my throat, deciding to take a chance and come clean. “Actually, it’s not a diner. It’s a bar near campus.”
“A bar?” Mom frowns as her brows pinch together. “Did you quit the diner and get a new job?”