“So, you think every teenager that sneaks out to party deserves a lifelong punishment like you? Or is it just your self-sabotaging ways trying to find some reason to justify all this shit?” he eventually asks.
“You can’t reduce it to just that, Jake. Someone died—my sister, my twin, my other half. And I was doing fine, but you just set everything backyearswith my mother. Couldn’t you just hold your tongue for a single evening? Couldn’t you set your pride aside and bear it, like I’ve been doing for an entire decade?”
“It isn’t about pride, Genevieve. I learned a long time ago that my appearance means a lot of people will have a bad opinion about me from the start. What’s unbearable and what I couldn’t let slide was the way she treats you. And how you let her, like a fucking doormat. This isn’t how a parent should treat their child.”
“And how the fuck would you know about that?”
I realize I let my anger go too far when he looks like I’ve physically hurt him. His expression turns sad, and I want to hug him and take it all back.
“It took me two hours,” he carefully starts after a moment, “to understand that the woman out there, your ‘mother,’ will never forgive you. You stick around like her willing punching bag, hoping she’ll eventually get tired and forget her grievances. But it hasn’t happened in ten years, and it never will. She lost two daughters that night, whether you accept it or not.”
I want to deny and argue, but nothing comes. My mouth opens and closes a few times, my mind coming back blank.
This has lasted long enough. We have to return to the others and finish this dinner before heading to the guys’ rooftop party. Things will be easier then.
“We need to go back, have dessert, and leave,” I say.
“I’m not going back.”
“What?”
“I’m leaving, Gen. No fucking way I’m staying and sitting in front of your mother like she didn’t just call me a vile and lowly freak.”
“Jake, please. You can’t—”
“I can, and I am.”
“Are you serious?”
“Yeah. But I’d hate to ruin that amazing thing you two have going on, so do stay. I’ll see myself out.”
I’m speechless, stuck in place, while he gives me one last look before he turns around and makes his way back to the others. Only when he disappears do I gather enough brain cells to command my feet to follow him.
Just as I reach the living space, I hear Malory ask, “Oh, you’re already leaving?”
“Yeah, sorry,” Jake explains, picking up his jacket from the couch we sat on earlier. “I’ve imposed my presence on you and your family for long enough.”
“Nonsense,” Gerry counters. “We’re about to try your dessert. Stay.”
“Let him leave,” Mother interjects.
She and Jake exchange a nasty glare, and I stand there, helpless.
“I’ve got other plans for the evening,” Jake explains. “But it was a pleasure meeting you. Thank you for dinner, everything was delicious.”
Camellia slides down from her chair and walks up to Jake with hurried steps. “Will you come back?” she asks.
“With more gifts,” Poppy adds.
“Uh, I don’t know, girls. I’m really not sure.”
“Please,” the girls beg.
Jake looks around, uncertain. “We’ll see, yeah? Right now, I really gotta go, girls.”
He pats the girls’ heads, shakes Mal and Ger’s hands, then spares me a glance after ignoring my parents. Mal goes to open the door for him, and my feet set themselves into motion as soon as he passes it.
“Jake, wait,” I call out as I rush through the corridor.
