He wants reassurance. Reassurance that the moment I walk out of this car, I won’t act the same way. Reassurance that we’re fine, that even with everything ...
“Yeah.” I smile, a downward tilt forming on his mouth. “We’re okay.” He lets go of my wrist almost reluctantly and I release a breath as I step out. The passenger side window rolls down as I close the door, and he looks at me with blinding jade orbs.
“Good night, Bianca.”
“Night,” I whisper and turn to walk to my house, hoping everyone’s asleep. My cheeks burn as I haven’t heard his car speed off. No, he’s still there waiting for me to walk in safe and sound. I unlock the door before turning around and giving a shy wave. He sends one back as he drives off and I sigh happily as I close the door.
“Where the hell have you been?” Josh seethes and Olivia’s crossing her arms smugly.
“At the shelter.” I place my keys on the hook near the door.
He groans in annoyance. “So, who dropped you off?”
I turn back around, shrugging. “That’s none of your business.”
“It was Liam, Dad,” the snitch says, and I look at Olivia in shock. Jealousy crosses her face while I stand my ground. She then looks at him with fake doe eyes. “Daddy, I wouldneverhang out with someone like that.” It comes out all sickeningly sweet, and I fight the urge to expose her.
Hypocrite. Absolute hypocrite.
Low whispers echo between them, my name and Liam’s getting thrown around, and I sigh loudly, getting their attention. “Look, Mom gave me her permission—” I start before the door opens behind me, Mom holding some groceries from that place Josh likes that’s forty-five minutes away.
“What’s going on here?” she asks, confused, while putting down the bag. I move to speak, but of course, I get interrupted.
“I was reminding Bianca that she needs to be more respectful by letting me know, as her future stepfather, when she plans to get home.”
I look at him incredulously. “I don’t have to tell you anything. I told Mom I was gonna get a ride since she was gonna be late.” Anger floods my words and Mom glances between us with a worried look. He smirks at me as he wraps an arm around her waist and I look at her in shock. “Mom?”
She doesn’t say anything as Josh hugs her closer, a smug grin stretched across his face. Who is this woman, and what has she done with Mom? Mom would always side with me,defendme, but this woman—I don’t know who she is.
“Consider this a warning, Bianca. You arenotto get rides, hang out, or do anything with that boy again. Bad enough we have to deal with his mother.” My eyes widen, and so do Mom’s, but she stays mute. I scoff, shaking my head in disbelief as he continues. “You are to wait for us, no matter what, am I clear?” He hugs Mom closer to him, almost to prove a point.
“Whatever,” I mumble as I walk off, closing the bedroom door in frustration and locking it.My mom—I stifle a cry at the thought. It was her and me against the world. No one was ever above her, and no one was ever above me. Yet now, she sides with him when I did nothing wrong.
Is this how it’ll always be? Will I now besecondto Josh and Olivia?
In that case, who will I be first for?
I sigh at all the thoughts swirling in my mind. “Bianca?” Mom’s voice comes through the door and I jump slightly, getting out of my bubble.
“Go away,” I mumble.
“Honey?” she tries again, and I turn off my lamp. She seems to get the hint. Her footsteps leave and this familiar feeling of numbness comes over me. I used to feel it with Liam, and now it’s bleeding through into other areas like a disease. Wanting sleep to take me away, not wanting to feel this hollow emotion, I grab my star and Señora Bearington, closing my eyes harshly.
“Come on, guys! We’re gonna miss it!” I whined, and Mom laughed as she wobbled as best as she could, Dad fussing over her per usual.
He opened Mom’s door, sliding his hand in hers to help her into the car. He closed the door gently after having given her a million kisses, then came over to my side to make sure I was buckled in.
“I’m all good, Dad. See?” I pointed to my seat belt, placed across my chest the right way, and he gave me the dad thumbs-up.We were finally on our way to the county fair and I was beyond excited. It was a tradition we were wanting to start, and I loved it. Soon enough, the beautiful lights appeared, the happy musical jingle blocked out the sounds of traffic, and I smiled.
Once Dad found a prime parking spot, I was the first to jump out.
“We’re here.” I glanced back. “WE’RE HERE!”
I knew the drill, so I quickly got in line for the wristbands, and after a couple minutes passed, we were next. I frowned slightly when Dad said Mom wouldn’t be getting one, that we wouldn’t want anything to happen to baby Ezra in her tummy, so I nodded.
I grabbed his much-larger hand and dragged him to the first ride of the night: the Spinning Teacups. I smiled at the very short line, and looked up at Dad with my puppy-dog eyes, as I knew he hated this ride, and he sighed.
“The things I do for our daughter,” he said jokingly to Mom while she rolled her eyes.
