I swallow. “Yes.”
Silence stretches so tight I can hear the refrigerator hum. Mom dries her hands slowly, deliberately, then turns to face me.
“Dahlia.” Her voice is low, like she’s scared to say it out loud. “Your dad is not going to take this lying down.”
My stomach drops through the floor.
“I know,” I say, barely audible.
She steps closer, eyes searching mine. “You know he could make this really awful for both of you.”
The room tilts. I grip the edge of the counter to stay upright.
“I know,” I whisper again, tears spilling this time, no point hiding them now. “That’s what I’m most afraid of.”
Mom’s face softens, but the worry doesn’t leave her eyes. She reaches for me, then stops herself, her eyes leveling with mine.
“Does Dylan know what this means?” she asks. “What Bruce is capable of when he feels betrayed?”
I think of Dylan’s laugh over FaceTime last night, the way he traced my name on his fogged-up shower door like a lovesick teenager. He knows our families hate each other. He doesn’t know my father would burn the world down before he let a Whitman have me.
“No,” I say, voice cracking. “I’ve let him know it would be bad, but…I don’t think he understands.”
Mom pulls me into her arms then, and I let myself break against her shoulder. She smells like dish soap and the lavender lotion she’s used since I was little.
“I’ll do all I can to talk him off the ledge when the time comes,” she says.
“I’m still hoping he never finds out, but, Mom…I love him, so…I’m pretty sure it’s not going to be a secret forever.” My breath catches and more tears flow.
Mom pulls back, her eyes wide. “You love him?”
I nod.
Her eyes well with tears. “Oh, sweetheart. God help us,” she says under her breath.
I’m exhausted by the time I get home. We stayed late and Chloe fell asleep on the way home, so I carefully put her in her bed and back out of her room.
It’s been a while since I checked my phone, and I’m so happy to see texts from Dylan. I want to talk to him so bad, but I’m afraid if I see him, I’ll just cry.
Hey, Doll. How’s your day been? I’m missing you so much.
I’m home, if you wanna chat.
Hey. It’s been a long one. How’s yours been? I miss you too. So, so much.
My day is better now that I’m talking to you.
Same.
Tell me something good.
Hmm. Something good. Well, in the family thread earlier today, there was speculation about how happy Camden’s been lately. I don’t know. I think maybe he and Juju have something going on.
Really? That’s what everyone’s wanting, right?
Yes! It would feel like the stars are finally aligning for them to finally wake up and be together.
I hope they are. What will you do if he’s with someone else?
