OLIVIA
“Damn,did we drink a whole bottle of wine?” Ellie asks, picking up the bottle from the table and shaking it.
I lift my half-full glass. “This is all that’s left.”
“Well, I’m proud of us. We needed this.”
I nod. Operation movie night was a success. Since I’ve been hanging out with Penn so much lately, Ellie and I haven’t had any time to catch up, so I suggested a girls’ night in. We sat down with a bowl of popcorn and a box of pizza and watchedTen Things I Hate About You. She swears it has nothing to do with Travis, though I have my doubts.
“Damn, I’m going to miss you when you leave.” She sighs.
Emotion clogs my throat. “Me too. Have you decided where you’ll go yet?”
“No. My parents would love for me to move home, but I don’t know. I’m thinking of staying. Try to find an internship or something.”
“Really?” I perk up. We’ve always talked about how much we’d love to stay here together, but neither one of us really thought it would work out that way.
“Yeah. My dad said he’d help me if that’s what I truly wanted.”
Her dad has his own law office, and her mom owns a dental practice, but she’s made it very clear neither of those things is for her. She’ll graduate with a marketing degree and would love to do something music-related with it. Her dad has connections all over and could easily help her land something amazing.
“Maybe I can convince my parents to let me stay here, too. Work remotely for a while?” It’s the alcohol talking, and we both know it, but we let the fantasy take over. My parents made it clear that the only shot I had at staying was if Chad and I were together. We would likely have to be living together and headed for marriage.
“Oh my God! Do you think they’d let you?”
I lift my shoulders. “I don’t know. They wouldn’t be happy about it, but honestly, thinking about moving back, leaving this place at all, makes me depressed.” The thought of leaving Penn makes me depressed but I leave that bit out. I drain the last of my wine and set the glass on the coffee table. “I mean, why should I have to leave? I’m an adult. I don’t have to listen to my parents anymore. It’s not like they can drag me back kicking and screaming. Right?”
“Damn right!”
“Yeah! I’m happy here.” My voice rises as I grow more confident in my words. “They can’t tell me what to do!”
“Yeah!” Ellie lifts her glass, which is also empty, but it’s the gesture that counts. “Fuck your parents. I mean, sorry, but you know.”
I laugh, then sigh, the little fantasy already slipping away. “Yeah…except, they’ll cut me off and I’ll never see my trust fund. I’ll be poor and homeless and have to start over.”
“I would never allow you to be homeless, Liv. We can figure it out together.”
I give her a sad smile, knowing she means well, but it’s my life, and I’m the one who has to figure it out. I’m the one who has to decide if I’m brave enough to face my parents. With the wine buzz, I think I am, but I know come morning, it’ll fade away with the hangover I’m bound to have.
I head to my room and crawl into bed before checking my phone. My heart flutters as I see the message waiting for me.
Penn:
Good night, Barbie
I told him I was giving Ellie my undivided attention for girls’ night. The message is from twenty minutes ago, and it’s after midnight now. Even though I’m drunk and sleepy, I want to talk to him. He’s usually up late writing anyway.
Olivia:
Good morning
Penn:
So it is. How was girls night?
Olivia:
Good. Really gooood
