For a minute, I think that he’s talking to Chanel, but when I look up, I realize that he is talking to me.
He doesn’t even try to deny Beckett’s statement. Just stares at me with something that I don’t know how to name.
“Excuse me?” I whisper, trying to keep the fear out of my voice. I’ve never stood up to Briar before, but tonight might force me to.
“You heard me, get up, we are leaving.”
“No.” My voice is shaky as it comes out. I have the sudden urge to projectile vomit all over everything, but by some miracle of God, I’m able to keep it down.
Beckett’s hand finds my thigh and gives it a small squeeze, which brings me a lot of comfort.
“It isn’t up for negotiation.” Briar’s voice is stern, like he is talking to a disobedient child and not a grown adult.
“I don’t have to go with you,” I say, and I surprise myself by keeping eye contact with him the whole time. I don’t even stutter once.
“Why’s that, because you’re an adult now? You think that you can make your own choices because you moved out? I still pay for all your shit, Sloane, so I?—”
The words come flying out of my mouth before I can stop them, cutting him off and making him stare at me wide-eyed.
“I pay for my own things. I don’t have any support from you or from Monica, and it has been that way since I moved out. I don’t need your permission to do things, and I’m not asking your blessing in dating Beckett. I just figured that you would have liked to know. If you would like to leave, the door is that way.”
My whole body feels like it’s trembling so hard by the time I finish my little speech, but Beckett’s hand on my leg keeps me grounded, even if it’s just slightly.
Briar stares at me for several long seconds before looking at Beckett, who looks a lot more smug than he should be, considering I probably just severed what remained of the connection between Briar and me.
Channel looks almost proud of me, and it warms my heart, bringing me another smidge of peace.
“Let’s go,” he says, standing up abruptly and moving behind Chanel’s chair, to which she does obey. She takes his arm, offering me and Beckett both a small smile before the two of them walk away in a flurry of hushed whispers. I can only imagine what is being said.
“Well, that went better than I was expecting,” Beckett says after we sit in silence for a few long seconds.
“Yeah,” I choke out, looking over at him, the weight of what I might have just done hitting me hard. He might not be my real dad, but he is the only dad I’ve ever had.
“Hey, it’s ok. Don’t cry, baby,” he whispers, kissing my forehead, and I nod, trying to pull myself together.
“What can I get for you two?” a waitress asks, looking at us and then at the empty seats across from us.
“Can I have a glass of white wine?” I say, pulling out my ID and handing it to her.
“Sure, what kind, dear?”
Well, shit, I don’t know.I’ve never done this before, lady.I just did something very hard, and the adult thing to do seems like ordering a large glass of wine.
Of course, or luckily, those inside thoughts stay exactly where they should be. When I don’t answer and just stare at her blankly, Beckett comes to the rescue, pointing to one of the wines on the menu, and she nods before taking his drink order.
“And for them?” She asks, looking at the now-empty seats across from the two of us.
“They had an urgent emergency that they had to tend to; they won’t be joining us,” Beckett says, giving my thigh another squeeze. The waitress nods before clearing off their side of the table and pushing their chairs in before leaving to get our drinks.
“This is nice. I think I could get used to taking my girl out in public like this,” Beckett hums, bringing my hands up to his lips and kissing the knuckles. I instantly feel ten times better than I did just moments ago.
“Yeah, I think that I would like this, too,” I say, giving his hand a squeeze back, my heart rate coming back down to normal. “Why did I order wine? I’ve never even tried wine,” I say, my eyes widening in horror, and Beckett just laughs at me.
“God, you’re so cute, baby,” he says, kissing my forehead again.
“This isn’t something to be joking about, Beckett. I just ordered wine. That was my instinctual reaction to Briar storming out of here after I just defied him for the first time in my life.”
“You looked hot as hell while doing it,” he says with a smirk, and I whine, my head falling back against my chair, letting out a groan.
