Chapter 37
JASON
After she finishes the story, I only have one thing to say, “I hate your parents so goddamn much.”
Are they fucking crazy?
Where do they live? The stone age where parents are infallible and can dump their shit on their kids by proxy?
On some level they have to realize that Charlie’s bullshit is their fault. Clearly, they think they’re responsible enough that they have to pull Charlie out of every situation she gets herself in.
And yet too incapable that they don’t help her the way she really needs it. I scrub my face. What a fucking show!
Marek's kid is fucked if this is Charlie’s model of “good” parenting.
“They’re not—”
“Eileen with all due respect, please don’t end that sentence with ‘that bad’,” I say.
She lets out a loud sigh. “I get it, though. I fucked up Charlie’s life. I’m just so tired of making up for it.”
I cross the kitchen, taking her hands in mine and squeezing them.
“Eileen, I need you to listen to me very carefully,” I say, eyes pleading. “If there’s nothing else you ever remember about me for the rest of your life just remember this okay?”
“Okay…” she says.
“And you can’t interrupt me, promise?”
“Promise, but—”
“Your parents are idiots. Wait, hear me out okay,” I say, squeezing her hands gently.
“You were a kid! Trying to help your sister not flunk out of school! Did she fucking cheat? Uh yeah, but that’s her fault, and it was her choice to stop.
Her choices aren’t your fault. Your parents not having the fucking bandwidth to process their failures and treat you with the love and respect you deserve is also not your fault. You got that?”
She takes a deep breath, nodding slowly.
“Good,” I say quietly. “And if anything, they should be apologizing to you. Maybe you screwed up by enabling Charlie when you were younger. But your penance fucking far outweighs your sins. That's cruel. They need to move on and so should you.”
No wonder she doesn't believe in herself.
How dare they take this amazing woman for granted? I want to build a shield around her and protect her from them.
“In hindsight, I think Charlie had dyslexia and maybe ADHD,” she murmurs. “I couldn't diagnose that but it makes sense. My parents wouldn't know what to look for. Lots of parents don't know and don't bother to research.”
“That was on them. You did what you could.”
“Fuck, my life is a mess,” she says while scrubbing her face. “I wish this wedding would disappear.”
“I’m afraid that isn't possible, but we could ditch,” I propose wondering if Jossie can have a charter ready in a couple of hours.
Aruba doesn’t sound bad, and it’s Eileen’s birthday.
“We’re in the wedding party,” she says with a sad smile. “Our attendance is a little mandatory.”
We could go anywhere, as long as it makes you happy, I think.
I squeeze her hand. “If that's what you want.”
“Uh, it’s getting late,” she says. “I have to get to my parents’ house to get ready for the wedding.”
During the drive, she hums along to the radio in the car. I’ll take it as a good enough sign. She’s a fucking badass. She can survive a few hours alone with her family. We’ll get through the wedding and then afterward—
I don’t know what happens afterward. I guess I’ll figure that out when we get there.
“Call me if you need anything,” I say as I park in front of her house.
“I’ll be fine,” she reassures me as she opens the car door, and I wonder if she’s convincing me, or herself.
“Eileen, seriously.” I lean over the center console. “You don’t have to do this alone. It’s your birthday and your life for fuck’s sake.”
She gives me a sad smile, leaning over to pat my cheek. I close the gap between us, kissing her on the lips.
This kiss is less heated than what we’ve been doing for the last two days. It’s quick, soft, and fucking domestic.
It’s like coming home after a long year, or years.
“I’ll be okay,” she says. “See you later, okay?”
She gets out, slamming the door shut before I can argue.
I watch her disappear into her parents’ house. “Okay.”