“Your table is ready,” the hostess interrupts.
“Were you going to tell me you live here now?” I ask. “Seems like something you should tell your daughter.”
“We’re renting, Olivia,” Mum says. “It’s not permanent.”
“Seems pretty permanent if you’re having to adjust to life in the city.”
“Olivia, we must go. We’d hate to keep the server waiting,” Dad says, impatience lacing his voice.
“Umm, okay. Why don’t we make plans for dinner?” I ask.
Mum pats my shoulder. “Stand up straight, dear. It is not doing you any favours.”
With that parting note, they leave, stealing whatever happiness this evening left me with.
Emotion clogs my throat as I try to make sense of what just happened. A hand at my elbow steers me outside into the cold night.
“Liv?” Tag’s voice stirs my thoughts, and the noise of the busy street comes back into focus.
“Hmm?”
“Are you okay?”
“I can’t believe they live here and didn’t tell me.”
It’s the only thing I can tell him. I’ve been trying to call them for months and they couldn’t bother texting me? Tell their only child that they are now living in the same city as her?
“Hey.” Tag stops me before I can get far. “Talk to me.”
I grab my coat from him and slip into it, covering the dress I was excited about earlier. One look from my mother, one scathing comment, and I hate it.
“Can we go home? Not here.”
“Okay. I’ll get us a cab.”
I don’t know if I’ll be ready to talk to him about this. How do you tell the person you’re falling for that the people who are supposed to love you the most don’t care?
It’s the worst kind of heartbreak.
And my heart is shattered.
From: Stanley Easton III
Sent: Wednesday, January 7, 2026 9:07 AM
To: Olivia Montrose
Subject: Meeting
Liv,
I have a few questions regarding the paperwork I filled out at the beginning of the season about my lease. Can you meet with me to review it?
Thanks,
Stanley Easton III
Head Coach - London Lightning
