Good. They can stay here with them, and I’ll make a quick escape to my new home.
“There’s my baby girl,” Mom shouts as she makes her way up to the porch and Calvin heads over to the moving van. “I can’t wait for us to be under the same roof again.”
My throat tightens, and my chest feels like it has a twenty-pound weight resting on it. I swallow hard. It’s now or never. The longer I wait, the harder it’ll be to tell her and I sure as hell don’t want to move my shit twice.
“Umm. So…”
“Honey, you’re stammering—just tell me what’s wrong. What is it?”
“I’m not moving into the house with you. I’m taking Roxy…” I catch myself and quickly correct it, “Roxanne's offer. It’s time for me to be on my own.”
“But financially?” Mom questions.
“I can handle it. I make enough money.”
“What do you make enough money for?” Calvin’s deep voice questions as he steps up beside Mom.
“Living on my own.”
His eyebrow raises in confusion. “I don’t understand. We had this figured out the other night. You’re quitting that diner and focusing on school while you live with us.”
Okay, it’s time I grow some lady balls and stand up for myself. I’m a damn adult and there’s no way someone who isn’t even blood related to me is going to dictate what I do.
“No,” I say forcefully. “It’s what you decided. Me, I never agreed to that. Roxanne offered me her spare room and I’m taking it. Can you have the drivers take my stuff to her place or do I need to get my own movers?”
It's one or the other of the options, but I’m not living in that house. Not with him and Harry. There’s no way I’d be able to go to bed at night without locking the door and putting something in front of it.
“I really think you should move in with us. I think both your mother and I would feel more comfortable if you were closer to us. Under our roof.” He reaches out, taking my hand in his, squeezing it as he rubs the pad of his thumb over my skin.
It feels wrong, and it’s making me sick. Yanking my hand away, I wipe it on my pants.
“Well, me and Roxanne bonded, and I want to live with her. I’m twenty-one, so I really don’t need permission. All I need to know is if the movers can do it or if I need to find my own.”
“You’re right, Felicity. I guess it’s just so hard to think of my baby girl all grown up.”
“Christine,” Calvin starts, but my mother quickly cuts him off.
“No, she’s right and I don’t see why we can’t have the movers deliver your items. Calvin, can you be a dear and let them know of the change of plans and give them Roxanne’s address for Felicity’s items?”
Calvin looks at her, waiting for her to change her mind, but she doesn’t. Reluctantly, he walks away, heading to the movers who are now out of the truck and unloading their hand trucks.
“What items are going to your new place?” Mom asks.
“Everything in my bedroom is going.” She gives me a hug and I can hear her sniffle, fighting to hold back her tears.
“Then I guess you need to run along to your new place and get to know your new step-sister. I’ll message you when the movers are on their way. I love you, Felicity, and I’m so proud of you. Just know you will always have a room at the new house should you change your mind.”
“Thank you.” I take one last look back at the old house and then head to my car, loaded down with the items I wanted to take myself.
Once I’m sitting behind the steering wheel, I send Roxy a quick message.
Me: I’m on the way. I have some boxes in the car and the movers will drop off the rest of my things later.
Roxy replies almost immediately, almost as if she’d been waiting anxiously for my message.
Roxy: I’ll order us some pizzas. See you when you get here.
I plug in the address to the app on my phone and set it in the center console where I can easily look at it. Turning the car on, I look up, seeing Calvin staring right at me. Goosebumps erupt all over my arms as my body shivers.
