Page 54 of On the Slopes of Tahoe
“Does it really matter how we found out?” he says, and his voice is tired, strained. “But if you must know, I met Logan for lunch this week and he mentioned how impressed he was with the photos from your elopement last Sunday. That your photography just gets better and better witheach one. He told me how proud he was to have you working at the resort with talent like yours.”
Normal parents might’ve beamed with pride… but to them, to learn from my boss that I’m doing something they expressly disapprove of… It’s more like a betrayal.
“I was just—”
“You were just what? Trying to embarrass us? Trying to do more than you’re capable of? Do you have any idea how likely you are to fail?” Each of Dad’s words cut me to the quick. “What’s your plan? Abandon your real job for this stupid whim and then come crying to us to bail you out when it falls apart?”
Stupid. That’s what this whole thing has been. Stupid for even entertaining the idea that I could do this somehow. Stupid for letting Breck make me dream of something bigger and letting myself get so caught up in him, in them, in a man who won’t be here in a week and my life will implode around me the moment he leaves.
“No, I—”
“Don’t forget we already support you. We’ve allowed you to live rent-free because you held down a steady job—maybe not the one we wanted for you, but still, a steady job.” Mom’s voice drips with disdain. “You were a good investment for that property. If you become a risky investment, we might have to reconsider.”
“What? Are you threatening to kick me out?” My lip quivers and I bite down on it. I can’t cry. If I cry, it’ll be one more weakness for them to look down on. I close my eyes and will the tears to absorb back into my tear ducts. That condo has been my home for over four years. I can’t imagine living anywhere else.
“I—where would I go?”
“The correct response should be ‘I’m sorry, it won’t be a problem again,’ because like you said, where would you go?” my mom says with as much fierce resolve as I’ve ever heard in her voice.
My tears finally get the better of me, one slipping free as I look at my dad. There’s nothing but stoic dissatisfaction there. I can’t stay here, no matter the heavenly smells wafting around us. I have to leave before they see me weaken any further. I slide my chair out and walk away. They don’t follow. I yank the door open, not even bothering to zip my boots up when I slip them on.
As I walk out, I hear my mother’s voice behind me. “We expect an apology and your word that this business is over by the end of the day tomorrow, or we move forward with the eviction.”
I close the door behind me and the tears fall in earnest my whole drive home.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Breck
Aknock on the front door startles me out of my TV stupor. I’m not even sure what’s on at this point. I was zoned out, in my head about the plans I want to put into motion starting tomorrow. I jump up from the couch and glance toward the clock on the microwave in the kitchen. Eight thirty. Who…?
The river rock floor is cold under my feet when I pull the door open. The sight of Rory chewing her thumbnail, looking up at me with red-rimmed eyes from under her long lashes, is a shock.
“Rory? Bloody hell, what’s going on?” I reach out and pull her into the warmth of the house, encasing her in my arms, my hand finding her face to wipe a stray tear that tracks down her cheek.
She sniffles and presses her forehead into my chest. She says something, but it’s muffled and watery through her tears. “What was that?”
“My parents—” she whimpers. “They’re threatening to… kick me out.”
I push her back to an arm’s length away. I need to see her face, need to see her.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” I growl out, but then rein in my anger. “Why?”
“They know about the elopements.” She hiccups. “They said they only let me have the condo because I’m a good investment, but if that isn’t the case anymore, they won’t let me stay there.”
I close my eyes and will the red filling my vision to subside. They called her a fuckinginvestment?
“Baby…” The endearment slips from my lips, but it doesn’t feel wrong. If anything it feels right. I let it sit between us while I reach again for her face to wipe yet another tear. “Come on, let’s sit and you can tell me what happened.”
I lead her to the couch, pull her down next to me, and wrap my arm around her shoulders.
“Okay, start at the beginning.”
“I forgot to call them last week when we got back from the elopement, so when I texted them the next day, I told them I wasn’t feeling well.”
“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have pressured you to have dinner with us. I—” I press my forehead against hers, hating that I played a part in this mess.
“No, I wanted to be here. That’s what’s so frustrating. I did exactly what I wanted to do, and I got burned for it.” She soundsdefeated. “And then my dad had lunch with my boss this week and he brought up the elopements.”
