Page 6
Mother places a hand on his arm. “William, please.”
“Without Alcott, I’m screwed.”
Asher looks between them in disbelief. “The campaign? Really?”
“We have other options.” Mother has always been good at calming my father, yet conveniently absent during my punishments.
He turns away, fuming. “She’s an embarrassment, Julie. A liability.”
“What does she have to do with your fucking campaign?” Asher demands. “Toby Alcott is a piece of shit.”
Our father looks at him, almost annoyed. “You don’t understand the situation.”
“Then explain it to me. I know the Alcotts better than you.”
“Asher,” Mother warns softly while reaching for him. “Let’s—”
“No.” He shoos her hand away.
“I’m sorry,” I say to break the tension.
“Zaiya…” The anger drops out of Asher’s voice.
Reaching my hand out, I cautiously approach my father to touch his arm.
“I’ll do better next time.”
The phrase comes without thought. The same thing I’ve said for dozens of previous infractions.
He won’t look me in the eyes. His face is still stiff.
“You’ll make this up to me.”
I nod. There’s no other choice.
He leaves the room, heading back downstairs.
Mother ushers Asher to the door, whispering that everything is alright.
He shakes her off. “I want to talk to Zaiya.”
“Tomorrow,” she says gently. “It’s been a long night. I need you to be with your father now.”
Before he goes, he turns back to me.
“I’m gonna figure this out. I won’t leave you.”
The look in his eyes makes me believe him. But then he stands behind Mother as she pulls the door shut. The lock latches and I’m alone again. Exactly where I’ve always been.
The house has gone quiet.
I lie on my back beneath the thin quilt, watching the candle burning beside me. Its glass glows faintly, the flame trembling each time I sigh in its direction. It’s the only light in the room, stubborn in the dark.
The book on my chest is open to a page I know by heart. A princess in love with a man who swore to protect her, who would cross kingdoms and burn the world before letting harm touch her. I’ve read it so many times the words are etched into my brain, but tonight I can’t bring myself to look at them again. They’re cruel now. Promises that will never be made to me.
My throat aches. I’ve made such a mess of everything. Asher was never supposed to find out what happens when he’s gone. He believed the story they told him, the pretty version of my life, where I was safe and cherished and kept close because I was delicate.
Usually, he’s occupied with being a hotshot lawyer five hours away in Chicago. Wrapped up in a life that moves forward without me, doing important work our parents love to gloat about. But too busy to visit. Too busy for me.
