I held up my phone. “Not at all, but I was about to check if I got the acceptance email.”
“I’ll wait then.”
She perched beside me as I opened my inbox. Excitement bubbled in my stomach at the sight of the email I’d been waiting for.
“Open yours,” I said. “I’ll wait.”
She reached for her phone, laughing. “Should we count to ten or something?”
“To three. One, two. . .”
“Three!” Alba yelled. “Accepted!”
“Accepted,” I echoed, tears springing as I smiled. “Congratulations.”
She hugged me tight. “To both of us. I’m proud of you. I’ll shower and call Dad.”
“I need to call mine.”
Alba mouthedgood luckbefore disappearing into the bathroom.
I took a deep breath and tapped his number in my recent calls.
He answered after two rings. “Kaia. Did you get the email?”
“Yeah. I got in.”
“Good.” His tone was flat, as if I’d given him a weather report instead of news that would shape my future. It’d been my dream for years, but to him it meant so little my excitement dimmed too, even though it shouldn’t have.
“Good? That’s all you have to say?” The words clawed out from the place that stored every condescending remark, every scowl and cutting word. From all the nights I cried myself to sleep because of him. From every time he made me feel small.
He exhaled, annoyed. “What else is there to say? Plenty of people get in, but not all of them graduate. We’ll see which one you are. For how much I’m going to pay, it better be worth it.”
Money. That was always the tether between us. His way of keeping control. I’d been sick of it for years.
“I hope you’ve changed your mind about the degree,” he went on. “Choose business or finance. At least then you won’t depend on me for another twenty years.”
I fisted the comforter, heat rushing to my face. Idependedon him, but I couldn’trelyon him. Not to care for me if I was sick, not to listen when I was hurting. What should have been one of the most important relationships in my life had become nothing more than a cold, impersonal transaction.
I needed affection but got money with a side of emotional abuse.
“I need to go,” my father said.
The line went dead before I could say goodbye.
The bathroom door opened. Alba stepped into the room and stopped when her gaze met mine. Her sigh said everything.
“Call your dad,” I whispered. “I’ll be outside by the pool.”
“But he’ll want to congratulate you too,” she said, moving closer.
“I know. I just need a moment.”
The hotel sat close to the track and had an outdoor pool we hadn’t had time to try. I sank onto a lounge chair, staring at the water and swallowing tears.
“Kaia needs new clothes,” Mom said, her voice so weak it broke my heart. I needed new clothes, but she probably wouldn’t be here to see me wear them. I pressed my back to the wall outside my parents’ bedroom and clamped a hand over my mouth so she wouldn’t hear me cry. She’d rush to comfort me when she was the one who needed it.
My father sighed. “Just order online. I don’t care how much it costs.”
