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“No he’s not, Dad. And he’s the only person in the whole school that actually likes me.”

“James,” my mom said. “It’s just a dance. Let her go with Leo Moore.”

“Absolutely not,” my dad said.

“You were fine with me dating Jacob, but he was a complete asshole to me!”

“Language,” my dad said.

“Leo is a good guy, Dad.”

“No, he’s a criminal. And he will get nowhere near my daughter.”

“Well too late for that! I already hooked up with him!”

Liam laughed.

“Excuse me?” my dad said. “Hook up? What does hook up mean these days? Penny?”

My mom shrugged.

“What do you think it means?” I said.

He turned to my brother. “Liam, what does it mean? What is she saying?”

Liam shrugged. “I think it means different things to different people.”

Thank you, Liam.

“That’s kissing, right?” my dad asked. “Are you saying you kissed this Leo Moore boy?”

I just shrugged.

“You won’t go anywhere near him again, do I make myself clear?”

“But you expect me to go to family functions and see Jacob when he broke my heart?” My voice cracked.

“Pumpkin...”

“I thought you were on my side.”

“I am on your side. And I’m going to talk to Axel and get him to take you instead.”

I screamed at the top of my lungs. “Stop ruining my life!”

“Would you rather me get Jacob to take you?”

I screamed again. “I never even want to see Jacob again!”

“Pumpkin, you have to see him, he’s family.”

“God, it’s like you love him more than you love me!”

“You know that’s not true,” my dad said. “And I wish you’d tell me why the two of you broke up. He’s a good boy...”

“Are you serious right now? You know how much Jacob hurt me. He is not a good boy! He’s a terrible boy!”

“No, Leo Moore is a terrible boy.”