She scoffs. “Do you have any idea what this would do to our family name? To the business?”
“I don’t care about the business.” I try to keep my voice steady.
“You should,” she snaps. “And what about the League? Do you think they will tolerate this circus?”
“I have no plans to tell anyone,” I say evenly. “Not right now.”
She pauses. “Not right now?”
“I may never,” I add. “We might wait until I retire.” The words taste wrong even as I say them.
Rafe flinches. It’s subtle. Barely there. But I see it, and it guts me.
My mother seizes on it immediately. “See? Even he knows this is wrong.”
“No,” I say quickly, turning to Rafe. “We talked about this. I said I’d keep my options open.”
He nods once, but his eyes are dark, wounded.
She throws up her hands. “I will not stand here and watch you destroy your future.” She turns toward the door. “I’m leaving.”
Good.
Relief flickers in my chest.
Then she stops. “You,” she says to Lindy, “are coming with me.”
Lindy doesn’t move. “No,” she says.
“What did you say?”
“I said no,” Lindy repeats, calm and immovable. “I’m staying.”
My mother stares at her like she’s betrayed her before returning her attention to me. “You will meet us tomorrow morning,” Mom says stiffly. “At the Bel-Air Crest. In the Pacific Suite,” she adds. “Your father will be there.” She looks back at me. “Nine sharp.”
“I’m not?—”
“This conversation is over,” she says. She marches toward the door, but Lindy doesn’t follow.
My mother pauses, clearly expecting her to. “Lindy,” she snaps.
Lindy meets her gaze, expression hard. “I’ll see you later.”
The look my mother gives her is pure fury. Then she leaves, the door closing behind her with a final click that echoes through the apartment.
For a moment, none of us move. Then Lindy exhales loudly. “Well,” she says, “that went… great.”
Rafe blinks. She steps toward him without hesitation and wraps him in a hug. He startles visibly.
“Welcome to the family,” Lindy says cheerfully. “Sorry about the yelling. We’re not all like that.”
He lets out a shaky laugh, arms awkward before settling around her. “Uh, thanks.”
She releases him and turns to me, pulling me into a tight hug. I cling to her like I might fall apart otherwise.
“I love you,” she says into my chest. “I’m so happy for you. And I’m proud of you.”
My throat closes completely.
