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Violet sighed. “I feel like I really let you girls down.”
Well, now we were getting somewhere. She was finally admitting her mistakes. Maybe hearing her out would be beneficial. I took another long slug, waiting.
“I never taught you the true value of following your dreams, forging your own path. I let your father teach you all the things, instill all these cultural norms in you, instead of spending more time incorporating creativity.”
So much for getting somewhere.
“That’s not true, Violet. You were the one who told me to study computers, that it’d be a good career,” Bethany said, adjusting her glasses. “And it is.”
“That’s great, Beth. And I can see you’re very good at your job, passionate even. And I’m sure Lana is a fabulous teacher. She clearly has a passion for that as well, since she even teaches in the summer. But I’m talking about travel, love. You girls never took flight; you just stayed close to the nest, like good little hens.”
I bristled. I didnotlike being compared to a hen.
“I like it here, Violet,” Bethany said, her voice strong, even forceful. “We’re good here.”
“There’s so much to see out in the world, though! The collective taught me that; I only wish you would learn that now, while you still have the chance.”
“What are you saying?” I asked, narrowing my eyes at her. This convo sounded very familiar to the one we’d had this morning.
“What I’m saying, Lana,” Violet said in an agitated, and frankly loud, voice, “is you shouldn’t settle for a divorced man with a child. No matter how gorgeous he is. No man is worth throwing away your independence for.”
Anger boiled in my gut, my chest tightening. I glanced up, over Violet’s shoulder, and locked eyes with Grant. Of course he’d come out of his office and walk over to us at that very second.
Did he hear what Violet said? Judging by the flat expression on his face, my guess would be yes.
“Grant!” I cried, leaping from my stool, almost knocking the table over. “Wait!”
But he’d already turned and jumped into his car, pulling away from the curb.
I stalked back to the table.
“Thanks a bunch, Violet. For the first time in years, I’m dating a quality guy and you may have just blown it for me. Sorry, Beth, I have to go. Order whatever and I’ll split the bill later.”
I spun on my heel and grabbed my bike, leaving my sister and mother sitting at the table, staring after me.
Grant
Iknew I shouldn’t have gotten involved with Lana. I fucking knew it and I did it anyway.
Seriously, Grant, when will you ever learn?
She was too young, too beautiful, too free-spirited for me.How could I even think about tying her down?Marrying Lana would be like pinning a rainbow to the sky.
An impossibility.
She wasn’t the one for me. Even her estranged mother could see that.
I was a damn fool.
Luckily, I hadn’t involved her in our lives too much. Huddy still thought we were just friends, so at least his little heart wouldn’t be too broken.
I couldn’t do that to him again.
I parked in the driveway, exhaling hard, all the air in my lungs whooshing out against the windshield. My chest ached, but it would pass. Eventually.
I just needed to stay far away from Lana.
My gut tensed, heat building in my groin; that region of my body didn’t get the message yet. Thinking about her—that smile, those eyes—had all the blood rushing south.
