I pull out my phone and groan when I see seventeen missed callsfrom practically everyone. And so many text messages. I ignore them all, pull up Birdie’s contact, and hit dial.
She answers on the third ring cheerfully. “Hey, there, sugar. How’s the wedding?”
Just hearing her comforting voice sends another wave of emotions rippling through me. My chin wobbles and more tears form.
“Birdie, I can’t do it,” I choke out. “I’m coming to Coconut Beach.”
Birdie is my safe space. The place where I can be me. Or at least find the real me. I don’t know who I am anymore.
Did Birdie know? Not the betrayal, because I’m sure she didn’t, but about how this wedding would turn out? It hurt my feelings when she declined to attend the wedding, but there was the whole “Mom thing,” so I got it. Now I wonder if there was more to it.
I hear her exhale, and she sounds relieved, further indicating her feelings about the marriage. “Sugar, I’m here. Just get here safe.”
She doesn’t ask what happened. She doesn’t need to. She knows I’ll tell her everything.
“Okay, I’ll text you when I get there,” I promise. My phone beeps with an incoming call. A quick glance tells me it’s my dad. “Gotta go, Birdie. See you soon.”
After ending my call with Birdie, I sigh, knowing that it’s inevitable that I’ll need to speak to my father. I hit the answer button and wait for him to light into me.
“Dad,” I say, voice raw and quivering.
He’s quiet for a beat. I close my eyes, but then pictures of Belladonna and Tyler in various stages of undress flood my mind, so I snap them back open.
Instead of yelling, he says in a calm tone, “JFK. The jet is waiting.”
Emotion tightens my throat, and at first, I can’t speak. I blink back tears, trying desperately to find words.
I whisper, “Thanks, Dad.”
He grunts and lets out a tired, staggering breath. “I’m sorry. About all of it.”
I nod though he can’t see me.
“And Belladonna…” He curses under his breath. “It was wrong, Silvie.”
Sniffling, I nod again, grateful to have at least someone in my family on my side.
“I never liked Tyler anyway,” he grumbles.
Despite the tears silently falling, I let out a small, choked laugh.
“Please don’t tell anyone where I’m going,” I say quietly.
He chuckles. “Honey, I don’t even know where you’re going. Just be safe, okay? And call me when you get where you’re going.”
“I will. I’m sorry I let you down. I promise I’ll figure out a way to make it right. I just need some time.
“You have nothing to apologize for,” he assures me. “Take care of yourself. Love you, honey.”
“Love you, Dad,” I say and disconnect. Then, to the driver, I say, “JFK, please.”
As I put distance between me and my almost-wedding, I can’t help but momentarily feel like a failure. Is Dad disappointed in me? He was counting on me to save our company’s family.
And now I’m destroying it all by running.
I chose me, not them. Despite the hardship that it put on my family and how scary that is, it’s freeing. I won’t be a pawn in their game anymore. I’m better than that. I deserve a real life. I deserve respect.
I down the rest of the champagne bottle and then curl up against my seat, already feeling the buzz of the alcohol. It’s the first good thing I’ve felt all day.
