Chapter 47
Chapter
Forty-Seven
Natalie: Thinking of you! I hope your finals go well.
Hunter: Thanks. It was great to see you last night.
Natalie: It was the highlight of my week.
Jasmine and Hadley are right. If I really want life to be different next semester, I have to set boundaries. It won’t be easy, because nothing has changed. I still need to help support my family and be there for them. Maybe a few minor changes, baby steps, will help me get through until graduation.
And I definitely have to figure out my plans there. Because that dream of a tiny studio apartment for myself hasn’t died—it’s always in the back of my mind. Doesn’t mean I have to pursue it, not right now, but maybe it’s something I can look into.
Beeping the remote lock on Hunter’s BMW, I shake my head at myself. I never thought I’d ride in a Beemer, much less drive one. I still can’t believe he loaned me his car. His generosity blows my mind.
After another sip of my drink, I let myself into the house, still marveling at my boyfriend. His love is so unexpected, so incredible. I’m getting sappy, but he’s the best.
“Nice of you to show up.” Sarah stands in the living room, arms crossed over her chest, and I halt.
“Um, why wouldn’t I?” What crawled up her butt?
“I heard you sneak in late last night. Clearly, you were out with Hunter. Driving his fancy car, getting expensive drinks.” She gestures to the cup in my hand. “I wasn’t sure you’d show up before I leave for work. Will anyone be home to take care of Jace?”
Maybe it’s the caffeine, but my hands shake at her confrontational tone.
“Mom has the car, she’s picking him up. It’s on the calendar.” I point to the whiteboard on the fridge that details everyone’s plans. And against my better judgment, I mutter, “If you’d look at it once in a while, you’d know who’s responsible for your kid.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Sarah shoots back, glaring and standing up straighter.
I take a deep breath. It’s time to be honest. “You forgot to ask me to pick him up last week. It wasn’t on the schedule, you didn’t text me. You just forgot, and you blamed me. That’s crappy.”
Her mouth drops open, and she blinks. “I can’t believe you’d say that to me.”
I can’t believe I did, either. But boundaries start now, and the way she handled that day has bothered me ever since it happened. I exhale through my nose.
“I’m sorry if I’m wrong. It’s just—I love Jace, but sometimes I want to be his aunt, not his parent.”
“Girls, what’s going on?”
So wrapped up in my argument with Sarah, I didn’t hear my mom come in behind me. She glances at both of us, a worry line etched between her brows.
“Mommy!” Jace rushes to Sarah, wrapping his arms around her legs. She pats his head and gives him a kiss.
“I need to talk to Nana and Aunt Nattie for a second, buddy. Can you go play with your cars in your room?”
He nods, then runs off, waving at me. My heart melts. He deserves the best—but so do I. This isn’t about Sarah or Jace. It’s about me. I square my shoulders.
“Mom, I need to have better boundaries. I’m going to take two nights off a week next semester, one to see friends and one to see Hunter. I’m sorry if that cuts down on what I can contribute, but I’ve been neglecting him, and—”
“Come on, Natalie.” Sarah cuts me off, eyes flashing. “Neglecting him? He’s obviously demanding too much of your time—”
“No. I’m demanding it. I’m demanding that I have time to myself in the future, a little time to make other people a priority.” I stand my ground, staring at her.
Her brows draw in a frown. “Hunter doesn’t deserve it. He’s not family. He won’t stick around.”
Her words hit me in the chest, knocking the breath out of my lungs. What she’s verbalized is what I’ve feared. It’s what’s always happened to us. But Hunter is nothing like that. I ball my hands into fists.
“I know that’s what you experienced, but it’s not the case here. Hunter loaned me his car. He showed up at the hospital and took care of me. He helped me be successful and asked nothing in return.” I take a beat. “Sarah, I’m sorry Toby left you. But Hunter’s proven himself, over and over. That’s what family does. So he is family. Family to me.”
My mom takes a step closer to me and rubs my back. “Honey, I’m sorry I’ve asked so much of you. You’re still in college, you should have a little time to enjoy yourself.”
“I want to help.” Grabbing her hand, I squeeze it. “I love you so much, and you deserve to be happy, too. We all do.”
“But not at the sake of your happiness. You don’t exist to serve us, and I’m sorry we took advantage of you.”
My mom wraps me in her arms, and I let her hold me. I’m not a child who believes that Mom can make everything okay, but I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t nice to have her comfort me for a moment.
Sarah clears her throat, and I pull away. She twists her hands together and shifts from foot to foot.Tears shine in her eyes.
“I owe you an apology, too. I’m glad that Hunter is there for you, and honestly, I was jealous.” She pauses and presses her lips together. “You have a great boyfriend who wants to spoil you with gifts and acts of love. What do I have? A five-year-old.”
“Oh, honey.” My mom enfolds her in our hug group. “You won’t be alone forever. It’s hard now, but I promise, you’ll find happiness, too.”
Sarah nods, her tears spilling down her cheeks. “I’m not giving up on my dream, but I think I should defer my enrollment in my culinary classes.”
Relief rolls through me, with a hit of regret on its heels. It triggers my instinct to tell her to go for it, that I’ll help more, that we’ll figure it out. But I bite my lip. The relief was there for a reason. It’s not a good time for her to pursue this, and I won’t let guilt guide my actions anymore.I won’t say what everyone wants to hear, but instead, I’ll be honest about what I need.
My mom pats Sarah’s arm. “That’s a hard choice, but I think it’s the right one. Just because you don’t do it now doesn’t mean you can’t later. Jace will start kindergarten in the fall, you won’t have to worry about daycare anymore. Maybe you can switch your hours or start saving a little more. You still have all kinds of possibilities in front of you.”
Sarah sniffles, and I give her another hug. “She’s right. It’s not forever, just a little longer wait.”
“Yeah.” Her words are watery, and she wipes at her eyes. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
“You never have to find out,” I tell her, blinking back my own tears.
“Alright, I have a plan.” My mom squeezes both of our shoulders, then turns to Sarah. “You’re going to ask Mrs. Rodriguez next door to sit with Jace tonight while he’s sleeping. She’s offered before—we need to be better at letting people help us. I’m going to take Natalie’s GrubHub shift because she deserves a night with Hunter.”
I saw him last night. Two nights in a row is too decadent. I open my mouth to protest, then shut it. She’s offering. And it’s Monday Movie Night. If he had the chance to do something for me, he’d take it. Shouldn’t I do the same, even if it feels too indulgent?
An idea forms in the back of my brain. He went out of his way for me last night. Maybe I can return the gesture.
“Thanks, Mom. I can’t tell you how much that means.”
Then I grab my phone and call in some favors. I’m going to need help to make this happen.