AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Don’t worry,” Lauren assures me. “You’re as good as family, and besides, I’m kind of hoping that having you here will keep any fistfights from breaking out.”
She’s joking, but I can tell Lauren is just as apprehensive as I am about what’s to come. I’d only meant to stay for a short visit, but now, I find myself drawn into an uncomfortable family reunion that is sure to end in disaster.
We join Parker and chat for a bit while sipping whiskey, but when the doorbell rings, the air seems to get sucked out of the room. I watch, my heart pounding, as Parker goes to answer the door. Lauren shoots me a nervous look before following after him.
I hang back and watch as the family interacts with Bethany. Her parents are clearly thrilled to have her home, and Lauren even seems hesitantly happy to see her sister again.
Parker, though, is clearly angry. I slip across the room to stand next to him.
“Hey,” I say softly. “You okay?”
“No,” he growls.
I put a hand on his arm and try to think of something to say, but before I can, his mom calls me over to meet Bethany. Parker is stiff and silent, and I hesitate before crossing the room to join the rest of the family.
“Oh, my gosh!” Bethany exclaims as I approach. “Chloe, look at you! You’ve grown up so much!”
I give her a strained smile and reply, “It’s been a long time.”
Tonight is the most awkward situation I’ve ever been in, by far. As Lauren and her parents pepper Bethany with questions and try to catch up with each other, I take a step back and just watch them, weirdly fascinated by the dynamics unfolding in front of me. Parker remains separate from the rest of us, and eventually, his dad tries to call him over when his mom’s efforts prove futile.
At that, all hell breaks loose.
I stand by and watch in astonishment as Parker and his parents start to argue. I’ve never seen them go at each other like this before. Growing up, this family had always been an example to me of what a healthy, functional family looks like. Since my family had only consisted of me and my dad, I’d never really experienced a traditional family life, and while my dad and I had been close, there’d always been a strange awkwardness between us because he didn’t really know how to raise a girl on his own. For me, Lauren’s family was the epitome of normal. As far as I was ever aware of, they never fought like this.
They never had a reason to.
With every word Parker hurls at his sister, I find myself scrutinizing Bethany’s reaction. To her credit, she doesn’t flinch away from his accusations, taking each one on the chin with an unreadable expression. It hurts to see Parker this way, so angry and hurt and yet not entirely unjustified in his rage.
When their father snaps, “I think it’s best if you leave, son,” I’m stunned.
He’s asking Parker to leave? Obviously, I don’t know the whole story of what went down with Bethany, just the snippet Lauren and Parker told me earlier, but I know Parker doesn’t deserve this kind of treatment. He’s been loyal to his family and has prioritized them his whole life. Even as a teenager, he always seemed to put his family first.
Now, he’s getting practically pushed out the door while his sister is embraced and supported, and all for being upset with his sister’s deceitful past. It’s not fair, and it’s not right.
The look of hurt and betrayal on Parker’s face is gut-wrenching. I feel a surge of anger pulsing through me. How can his family treat him like he’s the one who wronged them? I watch as Parker turns and storms out of the house. The room falls silent after the door slams shut behind him.
I feel a sudden urge to follow him. I want—no, need—to make sure he’s okay, especially since no one else seems to care.
“If he goes, I’m going, too,” I say quietly. “I don’t know how you can forgive Bethany while pushing Parker away. Not after everything he’s done for your family.”
“Chloe,” their mother begins in a pain-laced voice, but I ignore her. Offering Lauren an apologetic look, I rush out the door after Parker.
I find Parker standing outside, his knuckles white as he clutches his hands into fists at his sides. His entire body trembles with suppressed rage and hurt; it hurts me just watching him.
“Hey,” I murmur, reaching up to put a hand on his arm. “You’re not leaving without me.”
He turns his gaze down to me, and he looks stunned, his brow furrowed and his lips slightly parted. “You sure? You might give us away to Lauren if you do.”
I shrug. “I don’t care. Everyone needs someone in their corner.”
Taking hold of his hand, I give it a squeeze, and he interlaces our fingers. My heart starts to beat harder at the contact, and I feel my cheeks flush.
Suddenly, he pulls me into a tight hug. I can feel the tension seeping out of him, even as his grip tightens around me. He buries his face in my shoulder, and I let out a shaky breath, pressing my cheek against the top of his head.
His voice is muffled when he finally speaks, “Thank you, Chloe.”
I nod and gently stroke his back. “You don’t have to thank me, Park. You’d do the same for me if the roles were reversed.”
