“What color do you like?” I ask, building up on my lie, so he won’t have any reason to doubt me. “I’ll make sure I wear it.”
“Oh, you’re gonna be such a treat. I like white.” He takes my hand, helping me up. “Go, sweetheart. I’ll see you in an hour. Go around the building, don’t go back inside.”
I readjust my dress, trying not to break into a sprint as I walk away, looking back a few times before I disappear behind the corner.
It’s a blessing that Dad couldn’t pick me up today, because my car is here. Not even three minutes later, I’m on the road, my hands shaking, heart pumping blood faster.
I’m officially homeless.
It won’t take long before my father comes after me. As soon as Archibald tells him that I left because I wasn’t feeling well, he’ll see through the ploy, and I’ll be facing the wrath of all the gods. Not even an hour from now, I’ll be homeless. Broke. Discarded.
But instead of feeling defeated, I feel oddly at peace. The only thing left is to get to my condo and pack as many things as I can before my father turns up and starts throwing everything away to intimidate me into cooperating.
I check the clock on the dashboard—almost one o’clock in the morning. My mind immediately goes to Cody, wondering what he’s doing right now. The rehearsal dinner must be over. I imagine he’s drinking with his brothers. I doubt he told them about us, but I’m sure he’ll need a drink.
I don’t let my mind linger there too long. There’ll be time to think of apologies and how to best explain why I left once this nightmare is over.
By the time I push the key in the lock, I have a plan in place. Leaving my door wide open, I open Cody’s apartment. He gave me a key so I could let myself in whenever I needed him.
I need him now.
Why is it that people only appreciate what they have when they lose it? Why couldn’t I have seen how misguided my self-punishment was and how much I want to stop it while I was still with Cody at the airport?
Kicking my heels off, I pull out a suitcase, dropping it onto the bed, and empty the documents drawer first. They’re what I’ll need most. Then it’s the money I’ve been collecting for the past few weeks in case my father cuts me off again.
There’s not much there, not even ten grand, but it’s enough for a deposit on a small apartment. The rest will keep me afloat while I search for a job.
Jewelry is next. I don’t pack everything, just things I got from friends over the years, and a few things I bought without my father knowing. I add the few designer purses and shoes I haven’t yet sold, so I can pawn them when I run low on cash. Then, I pack clothes. No red dresses. Just jeans, t-shirts, Cody’s hoodies, and a few pairs of sneakers.
It takes less than ten minutes before I zip the suitcase and wheel it across into Cody’s apartment. I leave it in the bedroom, along with my phone, then lock the door and peel up the carpet by Cody’s door, stashing the key there.
And then I wait.
THIRTY-FOUR
Blair
I’M ON MY COUCH when my dad barges in, cheeks red with exasperation, chest heaving as if he ran here.
“Mind telling me what the fuck you were thinking, leaving again when I specifically told you that you’re not allowed to leave until I say you can?” He slams the door behind him so hard the windows shake. “You should be fucking glad that Archibald promised to meet me on Monday after he told me he couldn’t stay.”
“I’m done,” I say, without emotion.
“You’re done?” he scoffs. “What do you mean you’redone?”
I point at a suitcase by the couch. It’s not the one I wheeled to Cody’s condo. This one is full of things I won’t miss if Dad won’t let me take them—which I expect he won’t.
“What is that? Some sort of power play?” he sneers, genuinely amused by my idea. “Stop living in a dream land and look around! You’re on your own. You think you can threaten me? I own you, Blair. You have nothing without me. No money, no home, no car. No college tuition.”
“I don’t want your money,” I say calmly, his words hitting a void. “Take it all. I’d rather be homeless than—”
“You’re damn right you’ll be homeless!”
“That’s okay.” I set the car and condo keys on the coffee table, pushing them his way. “I packed a few things, mostly gifts from friends, but you’re welcome to check I’m not taking anything you paid for.”
He laughs. Loudly. Maniacally.
I’m so detached, so worn out, that it doesn’t faze me. He can laugh and threaten me all he wants, but he won’t change my mind.
