Finn’s mother finally looks at her granddaughter and gives her a belittling wince of a grin. “They’re very special, dear.”
Eloise’s face pinches with confusion, and she grabs Avery’s hand for support.
“Mother, this is Millie,” Finn says, nodding toward me.
She meets my eyes with a critical stare. “Serena,” she says with a nod. “Are you here to help with the girls while we eat?”
“No. She’s my guest. My girlfriend.” Finn’s voice is tense, like he’s barely holding himself together.
He’s never called me that before, and although it’s been a rough day—and seems it will continue that way—that small word sends a thrill through me.
He catches my eye and winks.
Serena claps her hands loudly, making the girls jump. “Well, dinner is ready.”
We follow her through the entry hall and turn left into a dining room the size of my entire house. A long table that could seat an army is surrounded by ornate chairs and intricate place settings at the far end.
At the head of the table sits an older man taking a sip of amber liquid in his tumbler. The color of his eyes matches Finn’s, but even from across the room, I can see his father’s are dull and void of personality.
He tips his chin to us as we all take our seats, Serena on his left, Finn on his right, and the girls along the table next to Finn.
Serena snaps toward Sally and tells her to bring another place setting. She instructs her to set it up on the other side of the girls. Ave, El, and I are left to feel like outcasts spread out along the edge of the table while the “adults” form the end. Finn casts me a look of sympathy, but the alternative is to sit by Serena, and that doesn’t sound fun either.
“Dad, this is Millie, my girlfriend. Millie, this is my father, Richard,” Finn says, waving a hand between us as he sits down.
Richard doesn’t respond to my smile or our introduction. He just looks like a king at the head of the table, surveying the people below him. I ignore his dismissal with my own, moving to help Avery and Eloise get settled in their seats.
Serena places a napkin in her lap. “Well, tell me about yourself, girl. I should probably know the person my granddaughters spend time with.”
Girl.It doesn’t sound sweet whenshesays it.
“Finn and I work together. I’m an entomology curator at the museum.”
Serena snorts and rolls her eyes. Heat warms my cheeks.
“She had an interview today,” Eloise adds, smiling in her grandmother’s direction.
“Lovely.” Her eyes dip to my tie-dye shirt. “I hope you didn’t wear that.”
Her dig doesn’t go unnoticed. “Mother,” Finn growls.
But I try my best to brush it off, just like I always did with Kyle. “No, I didn’t wear this. Although the interview panel would’ve thought this shirt was so fun, right?” I nudge Eloise with my elbow, trying to send her a little bit of reassurance.
Sally pours red wine into Serena’s glass before coming around the table to serve mine.
Serena’s voice drips with judgment as she says, “Well, I also hope your hair didn’t look like that.”
A gasp leaves my throat without permission. Everyone’s eyes flick to mine, even Sally’s. A little wine drips onto the tablecloth when her hands fumble.
As I stare into Serena’s icy gaze, my vision blurs, and her face contorts until Kyle’s cold stare peers back at me.
Kyle hated my hair in waves. He told me it was too frizzy. Too messy. Toocrazy.
So I straightened my hair. I wore the clothes he picked. I faked a smile when he told me to be happy. I believed him when he said I was crazy.
And it destroyed me.
I run a hand over the top of my head self-consciously and turn to Finn. His gaze on his mother is deadly. “That is completely—”
