Andy nearly blows a gasket the moment we step into the room. “Tell me this isn’t true. Tell me I didn’t just hear my daughter’s name being dragged through the dirt again.”
I shut the door behind us and cross my arms. This is the version of her father that I don’t like. That I’ve never liked. It’s the one that hurts her more than any of the others.
The one that left her crying into my hoodie countless times over the years, swearing she’d get out of here and never come back.
Mary, though, wraps Drew up in her arms almost immediately. It doesn’t save her from flinching from Andy’s words.
“I love you, my girl.” Mary presses a kiss to Drew’s forehead.
“You’re not thinking clearly. These men—this mess—this isn’t who you are,” Andy rages.
Adam’s face darkens behind Drew, eyes narrowing at Andy.
He’s got no idea.
This man is just getting started.
Tearing her down and molding her intohis ideaof a perfect daughter instead of supporting who she truly is.
She’s finally growing into herself, gaining confidence, and he’s going to fuck this up.
My hands fist at my sides, nails biting into my palms. If he makes her cry again, I swear?—
“We just got you back, and now this? You think I’ll let you ruin yourself again?”
Greyson snaps, “That’s enough, Andy.”
Andy rounds on him, face growing redder by the second. “You don’t get to speak to me. You think I don’t see you three circling her? Dragging her down with you?”
Drew’s parents divide perfectly: Mary looks full of love and apology, stroking Drew’s wet cheeks, and Andy full of fire and control, ready to bulldoze everything she wants for herself.
No wonder Drew learned to run—it was the only way to breathe.
Andy won’t stop, though. “You’ve embarrassed us all, Drew. This family deserves better.”
I can’t keep my quiet anymore. “She is better. Better than any of us. And she doesn’t need your permission to live her life.”
The words burn on the way out, too loud, too raw—but I mean every damn one of them.
Drew looks at me like she can finally breathe. I want to reach for her, hold onto her and let her feel her feelings like I always have.
Mary lets go of her and turns to stand in her husband’s way, hands on her hips and that same fire I’ve seen in Drew making her stand taller.
Her calm defiance slices sharper than Andy’s shouting.
“Stop it. Drew isn’t being dragged anywhere. She’s standing. She’s choosing. She’s stronger than you ever give her credit for.”
Andy’s face mottles redder. “Strong? She’s reckless. She’s making a spectacle of herself, and you’re encouraging it.”
“Andy, stop. You’re not protecting her. She’s happy. Can’t you see that? You’re so afraid of people talking that you can’t see your daughter standing right in front of you.”
“I’m trying to save her from ruining her life again.”
Adam steps forward. He’s all iron, no hesitation. His height and width seems to send the message Andy so clearly needs to receive. He’s not the one in control here.
“No. We’re standing beside her because she’s worth it. You don’t get to belittle her anymore—not here, not in front of us, and not in front of this town. She’s not your possession. She’s our partner.”
The silence after that is heavy, Andy puffing like he’s about to explode. “You’re not the daughter I raised.”
