He turns away from me, showing off the sharp line of his clenched jaw. Hurt radiates off his body like daggers, each one pricking my skin, and I deserve every jab of pain.
“I didn’t mean it like that,” I repeat, desperate to explain. “I meant that no matter how shitty or terrible they are, they’re always going to be my parents. Even after twenty-two years of their crap, part of me still wants everything to be okay between us.”
The crease between his brows loosens. We both know all too well what it’s like to have an absent parent, something that bonded us further when Cade’s dad left his family.
Finally surrendering, his shoulders slump. “I hate him so much. It’s not fair. We’re going to get this figuredout. Okay?”
“It’s either him or my dream, Cade. No matter what, everything will change. If I pick my dream, I’ll be completely cut off.”
“And if you pick your dad?” he asks.
“I’ll lose my freedom.”
I’ve always been able to depend on my parents. It once was a privilege I never took for granted. Now I wish I had never been stupid enough to believe Theo Gray gave out of love.
Cade rubs a hand over his face. “Have you told her?”
“I can’t, man. I need a little more time to figure out what’s going on between us. The game is what brought us together, and I don’t know how she will feel if I tell her the Brain Bowl is at risk. I can’t lose her.”
With Mallory I feel like I can do anything. Be who I want, when I want, however I want. I’m not ready for her to see that I’m a coward.
A sliver of faded red catches my eye, pulling to a stop behind my truck. Cade catches it too and starts to button the rest of his shirt. I check the clock, frustrated that Cade will be late because of me.
“It’s fine. This is more important to me than any meeting,” he says, giving me an award-winning smile. Nobody would know that only moments ago he was debating how best to tackle me to get to my father.
I pull him in for a hug, letting go when the doorbell rings.
“Your dad better be on his best behavior,” Cade mumbles, swapping our positions. “Go finish getting ready, and I’ll let her in. But I think you should tell her soon, Kent. MalPal might surprise you.”
A bump in the road jolts me from my seat, and I realize I’ve been silent for the entire thirty-minute drive.
With a deep breath, I prepare for the next three hours of hell. This will be the longest amount of time I’ve been in this house since moving to Lake Anita when I was fifteen. Even on holidays, I give myself half an hour before escaping to Cade’s house or Nan’s facility.
The street is lined with guests’ expensive cars, everyone already gathered inside the largest house in the most affluent neighborhood in Bryan. Flintstone stands out as we drive down the road in search of a parking spot, but compared to him, the other cars lack character.
Mallory lets out a low whistle. “I thought you said this was a family get-together. I don’t know if I can be around this many Grays for hours. I’m barely making it with you.”
“Stop making me want to laugh. I’m supposed to be in suffering mode,” I say. “And family get-together for my parents is code for massive party with people I don’t know, yet they know everything about me.”
Celebrations at the Gray house are for show. My parents invite everyone over to their perfect home and put on their rehearsed family faces. Father and mother of the year. Husband and wife of the year. The people who supposedly love their kids all the time and not only when they need something from them.
Yeah right.
Once parked, Mallory opens the vanity mirror to apply a layer of gloss to her lips. Her hair is done differently tonight. Instead of free, it’s braided into a halo around her head. A few loose curls framing her face beautifully. My eyes trail down her exposed neck, wishing it could be my fingers.
Or lips.
She slams the mirror shut and faces me. “Are you okay?”
I look at the massive white house and take a deep breath. “I will be when this is over.”
She takes my hand in hers and rubs a splatter of freckles. “You don’t have to do this alone. I’m your backup tonight. I’ll clock someone over the head with my heel. I wasn’t expecting a fight, but I’m always ready.”
I give her hand a squeeze and exit the car, thankful that she waits for me to open her door. “My own personal bodyguard? Lucky me.”
Mallory leads the way to the front door with long and confident steps that compensate for my nervous ones. A yellow sundress clings to her fluid frame, pulling me in like I’m a plant that’s desperate for a little bit of sunshine.
Before we make it up the steps, I swap our positions. Ellen Gray will be in host mode, meaning she’s likely watching us through the peephole.
