I frown. “You know about it?”
She nods. “Heath was at Sebastian’s place and I was there. He told us that he’s going to take you on a date today.”
I sigh. “Tomorrow.”
“He texted me about that. What made you change your mind?”
My gaze drifts around the room, avoiding her curious, worried stare. She knows something is up. I just don’t know how to tell her that I’ve been kicked out of my home.
She has loving parents and a safe home.
I wish I had too.
The fear of where I’m going to stay is eating me alive from the inside. Heath has offered to let me stay with him, and knowing Marie she will do the same, but I feel like an intruder. Their homes aren’t where I belong.
I don’t belong anywhere or with anyone.
Marie touches my hand. Her touch ignites a spark of warmth inside my veins, burning away my anxious thoughts and fears.
“You can talk to me, Hope,” she says softly, as if reaching a wounded bird. “It’s alright. You know I won’t judge you or anything.”
“It’s not that.”
She scowls. It’s my first time seeing that expression on her. She usually doesn’t get annoyed or irritated.
“Is it Heath? Is he pressuring you?” She adds without skipping a beat, “You don’t have to worry about it. Tell me and I’ll kick his ass.”
A laugh bubbles out of me. The way Heath cares about her, he’ll probably let her hit him.
“No, he would never do that,” I try to calm her down.
Worry lines mark her forehead. “Then what is it?”
I have to tell her.
She’s my best friend.
My chest aches as I force in a long, deep breath that fills my lungs. As I let it out, I tell myself that it will be okay. At least I have these people in my life. I’m trusting them to not abandon me — it takes a lot of courage for me to do that.
“Last night, my parents got into a huge fight. My dad told me that I was a mistake, that they never planned on having me. He wanted my mother to get rid of me but she didn’t?—”
“What?” Tears shimmer in her eyes.
My lips tremble seeing her sadness. “My dad?—”
“No, I got it but what do you mean? You’re not—” Marie lets out a sob, breaking herself off.
I quickly reach for her and she wraps me in her arms.
“You’re not a mistake,” she chokes out. “He’s wrong.”
I rub her back, calming her down.
It’s hard not to believe something when it’s said with such conviction.
And my own father said those words.
He meant it and I believe him.
