I never resented my sister growing up, but lately the resentment is building, especially when Mom spoils my sister while I have been all but forgotten.
“Okay,” I whisper, and I look down, trying my hardest not to cry.
“I’m sorry, Drew,” Daddy sighs as he wraps his arm around my shoulders, and he asks, “How about a daddy-daughter evening?”
We lock eyes, and I confirm, “Pizza and the arcade?”
He confirms, “Pizza and arcade,” with a grin and I can’t help but grin back, despite the disappointment I feel. Dad tilts his head to the door before guiding me towards it. I lean into him, glad I at least have him.
For years, I’ve felt pushed out, and the more my mother isn’t there for me, the more I go in on myself, and as much as I try to smile, I’m struggling.
“She promised she’d be at the next recital, sweetheart,” my dad says as we walk outside after grabbing my bag, and I swallow hard.
“She hasn’t been to one, Dad,” I remind him, and he sighs, “I’ll talk to her.” but I just shake my head.
My mother won’t be happy unless I give up ballet and dance. She won’t be happy until I join her church, like Elizabeth has. It is almost laughable considering how much trouble she gets into, and my mom won’t be happy unless I marry a man of her choosing.
I’ll never have her approval because I’ll never give up ballet.
It’s my passion, my dream, and when I’m older, I want to own my own ballet studio and help others follow their dreams.
I just have to make sure my mother doesn’t ruin that dream with my sister's help.
“So, what is this about you and Drake dating?” Dad asks, trying a new tactic, and I groan out loud realizing he probably spoke to Drake’s mom, making him laugh.
Am I surprised he knows? Not really, he’s servicing Drake's mom’s car, but I am surprised he didn’t hit Drake when he had the chance.
“We’ve been dating for a month,” I admit, and Dad huffs, his laugh stopping, clearly hoping I’d deny being with him.
“Great, I thought I had a few years before this,” he admits, and I giggle.
“If it helps, I don’t feel that way about him,” I admit, “I mean, there isn’t a spark, and I don’t miss him when I’m not with him.”
Dad physically relaxes, and I huff, “Maybe I’m broken, Dad.”
He chuckles, “You’re not broken, sweetheart, you just haven’t met the one,” he looks at me as we near his truck, “Unless you’re into girls?”
I bite back a grin, seeing the hope in his eyes, which instantly vanishes when I shake my head.
“Worth a try,” he mumbles as he opens the passenger door for me before he grabs some flowers, and I smile widely as he hands me the daisies and tulips, my favorite.
I instantly smell them, and I mumble, “Thank you, Daddy.”
“You deserve them sweetheart, you were amazing and I know you’ll have a wonderful career in ballet before opening your studio,” he says and I grin wide at him but my grin softens when he says, “When you meet the one you want to spend the rest of your life with, Drew, you’ll continuously miss him, you’ll always want to hear his voice and when he’s around, only he’ll have your attention, so don’t settle.”
“Basically, what you’re saying is I need to find a person who takes my attention away from ballet?” I confirm in lame terms, and Dad laughs but nods.
I shake my head and deny, “Never going to happen, Daddy.”
Ballet is my life.
“As much as I hate it, never say never, sweetheart. Now get in and let's go celebrate your amazing show while I come up with a way for you to dump Drake,” Dad replies, and I giggle but do as he says.
It doesn’t matter that Mom wasn’t here for me. It doesn’t matter that Elizabeth always wants the attention and likes tocause problems with me. Having my dad around is all I’ll ever need.
Chapter 1
Cage – Age Twenty
