Chapter 22
CHLOE
It’s Friday night and I’m sitting across the table from my parents, wearing a dress I rushed out to buy this afternoon.
Aside from my outfit for the wedding, I’d packed for comfort, not fashion, so my options were limited.
We’re seated in a five-star restaurant, miles from Coldwater, in a town called Westbrook and I couldn’t feel more uncomfortable or out of place.
The clink of cutlery and low hum of polite conversations press into my skull, the dull throb of a headache looming at the base.
I wish that Kade was here, but then again, I’d never wish this kind of agony on anyone.
And especially not on someone I care about.
Besides, he’s at dinner with his family tonight.
I should have hidden in my cabin until my parents left town.
Or at least said no. Anything but having to sit through this tense awkwardness for hours.
Thankfully, my parents leave tomorrow—most of the wedding party does. Which means Kade and I can stop pretending to be in love every time we interact with a member of my family.
Rachel and her new husband, Ollie, left town yesterday.
Apparently, Coldwater was only ever supposed to be their wedding destination and they’ve caught a flight to Bali for their honeymoon.
I spent yesterday morning with Rachel as she packed up her room and we ate room service for breakfast. We’ve made plans for lunch when she’s back in the country.
“How are things in Seattle?” my mom asks, straightening the napkin on her lap.
I pick up the glass of ice-cold water and take a sip before answering. Anything to buy myself even just a sliver of time and wash away my untruth. “Great, thanks.”
She exhales heavily, the sound one I know all too well.
It’s sharp and clipped, and my stomach tightens, knowing what comes next.
Probably a scolding for not responding the way she deems fit.
My mom has never been one to hide her disappointment or frustration.
“Don’t be so childish, Chloe,” she snaps. “You know exactly what I’m asking.”
I drop my eyes to my lap, rolling them before lifting my gaze back to her.
“Sorry. Work is going well. We’re working on the plans for the winter edition, which is always exciting.
” The lie rolls off my tongue, leaving behind a bitter taste, but it’s far easier to swallow than the shame and anger that will come from them if they knew the truth.
My dad makes a noise in the back of his throat, one that tells me of his satisfaction with my response. They’ve never been ones to vocalize their approval or show me any sense of pride, at least not in the way other parents do.
“You could have at least made an effort with your appearance tonight, Chloe,” my mom admonishes, keeping her eyes on the menu and all but ignoring my answer to her earlier question.
I bite down hard on the inside of my cheek, wishing that Rachel was here to take off some of the pressure. “I did the best with what I could find in town. Coming to a restaurant as fancy as this wasn’t on my itinerary, unfortunately.”
“Hmm.” Translation: your best isn’t good enough. “Didn’t Rachel look wonderful on Saturday?”
“Yes, she did,” Dad replies, setting down his menu as he leans back in his chair and looks around the room.
I mumble my agreement, discreetly looking down at my watch. How has it only been fifteen minutes? Oh God, tonight is going to be painfully slow and torturous.
“Why didn’t you get ready with us, Chloe? We’d paid for the hair and makeup professionals.”
I sit taller, closing my menu in hopes that it will send up a bat signal to the server, who should have been by already. Can’t they tell how badly I don’t want to be here?
“I wasn’t aware that it was something I could make use of.”
“Of course you weren’t, because you made zero effort to be included in your own sister’s wedding preparations,” Mom snaps, her eyes slicing to mine with something akin to malice swirling in the depths.
“Was it really too much to ask for you to show up for Rachel? To be there for her on her big day?” She doesn’t give me time to respond, disgust lacing her words as she continues, “I suppose it was. You’ve always been selfish, and I don’t know why.
It’s not how your father and I raised you.
And the young man you were with at the wedding, I suppose you brought him to show us up. ”
Every inch of me bristles, readying for a fight. She said more than I should have allowed about Kade at the wedding. I won’t let her badmouth him again. “His name is Kade,” I bite out.
“Yes, him,” my mom sneers. She looks down her nose at her menu again.
“What about him makes you think I brought him to the wedding to show you up?” I grit out.
She looks up at me, and I instantly know that whatever she’s about to say is going to be something I won’t like.
“Have you seen him, dear?” She raises a brow as if her observation is obvious, and nausea settles in my stomach. “Will you be ending things with him soon?”
My head rears back, and a groove forms between my brows before I right my face. Setting my menu down, I ask, “Yes. I have seen him, but I’d love to know what you think specifically is wrong with the way he looks and why I would break up with him, Mom?”
As if she’s addressing a child and not her adult daughter, my mom leans forward, reaching across the table toward me. I move my hands to my lap and tilt my head, waiting to hear what bullshit she’s going to spew now.
“Chloe, we only have your best interests at heart, and he is not for you.”
Through gritted teeth, I question, “Why?”
“He’s—he’s,” my dad stutters, looking for the words. “He’s not worthy of you.”
Worthy of me? Is he kidding me? I’m a jobless, probably soon to be homeless, twenty-seven-year-old with absolutely no idea what I’m doing with my life. I’ve been following along with some version of the plan they set for me, even though it’s been making me miserable.
Well, not anymore.
Setting my napkin down on the table, I lean forward, keeping my voice low. I feel the tension twisting in my gut and the heat climbing up my throat. Adrenaline courses through me, making my hands shake.
I’m really about to do this.
“You don’t get a say in who I date. There’s a reason you haven’t seen me in seven years, and it has everything to do with this shitty attitude you both have to anyone you think is ‘below’ you.”
“Young lady,” my mom admonishes, looking around the room to make sure nobody can hear my outburst.
I hold up a hand as I stand, my chair scraping across the floor and drawing the attention of nearby diners. My pulse pounds in my ears, drowning out the classical music playing softly in the background, but I don’t let it deter me.
“No. Don’t ‘young lady’ me. I’ve had enough of you both taking digs at me ever since I arrived in town.
I was laid off from work weeks ago.” I pause, my breath catching in my chest. “And that man you think isn’t worthy of me is the best thing to have happened to me in a long time.
He has a thriving business with his brothers, and I’ve barely got enough money in my account to get me through the end of the year.
But, more importantly, he doesn’t judge me, and he likes me for me.
Which is more than I can say about either of you. ”
“Chloe, sit down. You’re making a scene,” my dad barks, his voice low and barely concealing his fury.
I roll my eyes for them to see. I’m done with trying to please them. Everything I’ve ever done has been because of the immense pressure I felt to make them proud and look how far that’s got me.
I dig through my purse, even as my fingers tremble, searching for a ten-dollar bill, before throwing it onto the pristine tablecloth.
It probably won’t cover the drink I ordered and haven’t received, but the gesture is there.
“I’m leaving. Enjoy your dinner and have a safe trip home.
” I turn, ready to walk away before an idea sparks and I face them again.
“When you’re ready to take the stick out of your asses, reach out, but until then, I don’t want to speak to either of you. ”
This time, I walk away, weaving through the restaurant with my back ramrod straight and emotion clogging my throat.
There was more I wanted to say, but in the moment, that felt like enough to get my message across.
What Kade and I have might have started out as pretend and only temporary, but I’ll forever be grateful to him because I might never have done that had I not met him.
By the time I step through the door, the shock has settled in.
I clench and release my trembling hands as the thunk of the door closing behind me hits with a sense of finality.
Blowing out a shaky breath, I look up at the streetlights, the amber glow softening the night sky as I try to focus on anything but what just happened.
Did I really just do that?
My chest feels both hollow and too full at the same time.
I need to figure out a way to get back to Coldwater, but I don’t feel like I have the capacity to do that this second.
I refocus my attention to the street I’m on, looking up and down before I notice a familiar truck idling a little way down the curb.
The driver’s door opens and Kade steps out, a frown marring his brow. He walks toward me and I pinch my arm because surely I’m hallucinating. There’s no way he’s here. He’s supposed to be at dinner with his family.
“Chloe, are you okay?” he asks, coming to a stop in front of me.
I am now.
Wrapping my arms around his waist, I cling to him like my life depends on it, breathing in his fresh scent. He runs a hand over the back of my head before pressing his lips to my hair. I look up at him, and he dips to press a kiss against my mouth.
“What are you doing here?” I whisper.
The corner of Kade’s mouth kicks up as he smooths my hair back from my face. “Something told me to come.”
“I’m glad you did,” I breathe.
“Chloe?” My body tenses at the sound of my father’s voice.
Kade’s focus bounces around my face, a silent question in his eyes.
“Can you take me to The Wildflower?” I ask, a pleading hint in my tone.
He nods, stepping back and taking my hand in his as he leads me to the truck.
Behind me, I hear my mom call, “If you leave with him, Chloe, you will never hear from us again. I mean it.”
As if that isn’t what I just told them in the restaurant. All I can say to that is good riddance, because if you can’t accept me for who I am, then I’m better off without you.
Without looking at them, I climb into Kade’s truck, a sense of relief flooding my body. I’m finally done with them.