Page 3 of Then You Happened
But I don’t know if he is because Fletcher won’t talk about his parents. When I ask questions, he just shrugs them off and says they’re dead to him. Regardless, my father’s accusations don’t matter, though—none of what my dad says does, because when Fletcher and I are together, it’s just us and no one else.
That’s all we need.
“Apples don’t fall far from the tree, young lady.”
“I guess in some cases they do because I’ll never be like you.” My vision blurs momentarily as I lose the battle against my tears. “I’ll never judge another person like you’ve judged Fletcher. Just because he doesn’t have a trust fund and didn’t go to an Ivy League school, it doesn’t mean he isn’t worthy.”
“Don’t put words into my mouth. Don’t you dare stand there and act as if you have a clue what you’re talking about when your mother and I have spent your whole life protecting you from that big bad world out there and from being taken advantage of by people like—”
“People like who, Dad? Like him?” My voice ratchets up in disbelief with each word, and my heart wrenches in my chest just as painfully. “Just because he hasn’t grown up with an easy life like I have—”
“Easy?” he bellows. “Easy? You think building all of this was easy?” His cheeks flush and his eyes bulge, and I hate everything about him in this moment. The elitism and the holier-than-thou attitude. The fancy watch on his wrist and the imaginary stacks of money he can’t seem to find his moral compass through. “We worked our asses off to get our family where it is. To give you the best of everything and set you up for a life of success. And you want to throw it all away on a boy who doesn’t deserve you.”
“He loves me.”
“It isn’t you he loves. Let’s be clear on that.”
“When did you become such an asshole?” The words are out before I can stop them, hurt fueling my words and overriding all sense of decorum.
“Watch your tongue, Tatum. You will speak with respect. You will—”
“Honey. Please. Why don’t we—”
“Not now, Beverly,” my dad says, cutting off my mother’s first attempt to speak and motioning for her to stay where she is without ever once looking her way.
I meet my mom’s eyes, and the tears sliding silently down her cheeks mirror mine. But hers are because she knows what she’s about to lose, and my tears are because I already know that all hope is lost. My decision has been made.
“I’ve lived my life under your thumb for twenty-three years. I’ve only dated guys you’ve deemed good enough. I went to the schools you preferred when I wanted to go elsewhere. I’ve done the social activities you approved of.” I draw in a breath and prepare myself to leave. “I can’t do it anymore. I need to live my life and make mistakes and—”
“You mean ruin your life?”
I grit my teeth until they hurt as our contempt eats up the oxygen in the room.
He doesn’t see me. He doesn’t see the woman I’ve become or the dreams I want to take a chance on. He doesn’t know that, when I’m with Fletcher, I truly feel free to be the person this house and the Valor rules stifle. He doesn’t know that I’m pregnant and terrified of how in the hell I’m going to be a parent when I don’t even know how to be an adult yet.
“I’m an adult,” I say to the contrary of my thoughts.
“You sure about that?” He chuckles. “He’s using you. Plain and simple.”
“And how would you know? You’ve never even taken a second to try to get to know him!”
He shakes his head, the disappointment rolling off him in waves and slamming into my own disbelief doing the same. “I don’t have to.”
“Just like I don’t have to get your approval on who I date.”
“Fine.” That one word is like absolution and motivation at the same time. “Then go, Tate. Walk out that door and away from us. Find whatever it is you think we’re holding you back from, but we won’t be here to rescue you when it goes to shit or to shovel money your way when he’s used it all up. It’s your decision. Us or him.”
My eyes flicker between my mother and him as I try to process why it has to be this way. As I try to understand why I have to choose in the first place. Why can’t I live my life the way I want and still be their daughter? Why can’t I spread my wings but know I have their nest to land in should I need to come back home?
But I know I don’t have a choice.
If I stay here, they’ll never accept this baby.
If I leave, I know I’ll be loved without restrictions.
Hell, if they don’t accept Fletcher now, they sure as hell aren’t going to once they know I’m pregnant.
“Don’t you have anything to say, Mom?”
