Total pages in book: 109
Estimated words: 101796 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 509(@200wpm)___ 407(@250wpm)___ 339(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 101796 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 509(@200wpm)___ 407(@250wpm)___ 339(@300wpm)
What is he thinking? How does he feel? I can’t read his face. If I could only tell what he’s feeling, I might be able to get a better grip on all of this. I wouldn’t feel so alone. We might as well be on separate islands, with miles of ocean between us.
“I have never been this disappointed in you,” Paul tells him. “I will never live this down, do you understand? My own son sent pictures of his stepsister to everyone in school, because he is cruel and childish. I can’t even look at you.”
“Neither can I,” Mom agrees. “Neither should my daughter. Come on. I’m getting you out of here.”
“Wait a second—” I start, but she only shakes her head as she pulls me to my feet.
“Get your purse. We’re going now.”
In a panic, I look over at Carter, but he won’t look at me. There’s nothing defiant about the way he stands there, per se, but I think I would rather he throw a fit than act like he’s totally disconnected. He’s totally checked out.
“Let’s go.” Mom practically shoves me out of the room—I have to stumble to catch myself before falling, then trot out through the front door and into the blazing heat outside.
“Unbelievable. Absolutely unforgivable.” Mom is still beside herself as she unlocks her BMW, which is hotter than the surface of the sun after sitting out in the driveway, closed up, and unused. Funny, but it hits me that I’d be much more uncomfortable if I wasn’t wearing my new dress.
“Mom, please, let me explain.” Only how am I supposed to explain this? Yes, I know what he did was wrong, but I sort of fell for him along the way and forgave him before I realized I was even doing it? Okay, that is actually pretty decent, but I really doubt she would understand. It’s not in her nature.
“Oh? You’re going to explain now? I should’ve known you would do this.”
And I should’ve known she would do this. I should know better. There shouldn’t be any surprise making my heart sink like it does. I shouldn’t be disappointed in her, because I shouldn’t expect anything except pure selfishness.
As soon as we are stopped at a light, her head snaps around so she can glare hatefully at me. “There I was, in the middle of paradise. On my honeymoon, Elliana! And I have to come home early because my daughter can’t help but act like a self-centered brat?”
“What? What did I do?”
“What you always do!” The light turns green and the driver behind us taps their horn, so she flips them off before jamming her foot on the gas pedal. “You managed to make it about you! This is supposed to be my time, and instead we had to rush home for you! Do you know what that’s like for me?”
“Do you even care about the pictures?” Why bother asking? Maybe I’m just tired of hearing her yelling at me without being able to say anything in response.
“I think you made it easy for him. Where else did he get the idea it was possible to photograph you that way? You think I don’t know you?” She asks with a bitter laugh, weaving in and out of traffic without bothering to use a signal. “Walking around like you wouldn’t say ‘boo’ to a ghost, but really thriving on the attention it brings you to stand out. Don’t lie to me. I’ve known you all your life. You’ll never change.”
Don’t listen. Don’t let her get to you. Right, I know I shouldn’t, but it’s a lot easier said than done. How can she hate me this much? How can she be so deluded about herself? Like I’m the problem. Like I’m the one who’s always had to make everything about myself. It would be funny if it wasn’t so baffling.
“I will tell you one thing.” She pulls into the parking lot of a Best Western, the first hotel we’ve come to since leaving the house. “You are not going to ruin this for me. I finally found something good in my life. You will not break us up. Do you understand?”
“Who says I want to? I didn’t want any of this! In fact,” I babble as the car squeals to a stop in front of the entrance, “we were starting to work things out. I was handling it on my own. You’re the one who came in like a tornado and blew everything apart.”
“Oh, that’s what I did? Because believe me,” she fires back with a laugh. “I would much rather have stayed in Thailand than come home to deal with this bullshit drama. Now go.”
“Go? Go where? What are you talking about?”
“Get the hell out of the car, go into that hotel, get a room, and stay there until I tell you to come home.” With a huff, she opens her purse and grabs some cash from her wallet. She holds a few hundred dollar bills out in front of me. I stare at it, dumbfounded.