For your information, he is seeing someone—your daughter. Who apparently could only get a guy if she wore a little more makeup or changed her face.
“I don’t think Sanderson’s the dating type.” Cam takes a bite of his potatoes. “Hockey’s his whole life. I don’t think he wants the distraction.”
I go quiet because what can I say? Actually, he’s a fan of distractions, which is why I almost let him into my pants on Halloween. Oh, not to mention the fact his tongue is down my throat on a daily basis.
“So, Ember, has school actually been going well?” My mom asks. “No more problems like freshman year?”
Could tonight get any worse?
“No, mom. All good. Cam is looking out for me.”
“As he should.” My dad continues eating.
“I still think you should move back home.” And there it is. “You haven’t made any friends there, so what’s the point of—”
“Actually, Mom—”
“I mean, you don’t put yourself out there and—”
“Mom,” I continue.
“Your father and I have been talking and think it will be best for everyone if you just come home.”
“I’m not coming home.”
“Mom, I just told you that Ember has been doing—”
I put my hand up to stop Cam.
“Why do you want me to come home?” I wonder.
“Because we want to protect you,” my dad responds.
“Mom?”
“Your father just told you,” she continues. “To protect you.”
“From what?” I laugh. “You think things will be better for me if I’m here?”
I turn to my mom.
“Because if I’m here, maybe I won’t feel self-conscious about a part of myself that I can’t change?”
“Exactly.” She doesn’t look me in the eye.
“You know, I haven’t felt any of those things in months. But I’ve been home for barely three hours, and I’m already back to that scared little girl who thinks makeup will fix all of her problems, and that’s because ofyou.”
“Ember,” my father gasps.
“Am I wrong? Does she not seem to care more about fixing me than me being happy?”
“I love you; you’re my daughter,” she says.
“I never said you didn’t.” I take a breath. “I used to think it was hard for you to look at me because you blame yourself for this.”
“I do.”
“No, you don’t. You can’t look at me because you agree with everyone.”
