"Not hard enough," Dad pops off.
Mom's voice is shaking. "We've tried to be understanding. We tried to see what she sees in you. But this is too far."
"She is a twenty-four-year-old girl," Dad says. "This is her first relationship. She doesn't know--"
"I'm anadult woman, and I'm standing right here," I say. "Stop talking about me like I'm not--"
Mom and Dad ignore me, but Grey's eyes shift to me. He opens his mouth to say something, but Mom, still glaring at him, keeps going.
"You are forty-four--"
to speak"Do you always ignore her like this?" Grey cuts her off, furious, softening when he looks at me to speak.
Stunned, they shut up.
"Thank you," I say quietly, turning to my parents. "And second--First, stop ignoring me. You’re arguing with Grey aboutmylife—argue with me. Second, you said it yourself. I'mtwenty-four. Not seventeen. You don't get to decideanythingfor me."
Dad completely disregards me and is yelling at Grey again, though Mom holds my gaze. I see the cracks web across her mask and shake my head at her, disappointed.
"You should know better," Dad snaps. "You should have more control."
The hit lands, hard. Grey almost shrinks from it.
"You're right," he admits quietly, defeated. "I should have."
"Half the team couldn't hold you back--" Dad notes. Again.
Grey looks at his bandaged hands. "I know."
"And what if she makes you angry?"
Grey's head snaps up. "Never.I would never hurt her."
"Can you really be so sure?" Dad asks.
Grey's face is hard when he says through his teeth, "I woulddiefirst."
The words land like stones. Heavy. Quiet. Absolute.
"All I want, the only thing I'veeverwanted is for her to be happy."
"Does she look happy to you?"
He looks at me, his face cracking.
"Come on, honey," Mom coaxes, taking my hand. "Come home with us, please. Just for a few days, at least."
I pull my hand away and step closer to Grey so we can face them together. "No."
Dad slings objections, but Grey says, "Stop." His voice is quiet and commanding, and Dad obeys despite himself. All eyes shift to him. "You want to blame someone? Blame me. But this isherlife, not yours. She can make her own decisions."
Dad shoots, "She doesn't know what she wants--"
"You wouldn't know--you've never asked her." Grey's eyes narrow on my father. "Ask her."
All eyes turn to me. My chest feels like there's a bomb in it. I can't take a full breath. But I have no trouble saying, "I do know." The words are firm. Certain. "I know exactly what I want."
Grey's eyes soften on me for a moment before turning back to my parents. "Molly is one of the bravest people I've ever met, and she doesn't need your help or mine."
