Page 254 of Power Play

“I’m not.”

“You have been defending them for weeks.”

“They’re my parents.”

“And they called me beneath you.”

Her tears came harder. “I know.”

“They called me dangerous without meeting me.”

“I know.”

“They decided I had no fucking foundation because I wasn’t born with theirs.”

“I know!” Her shout broke. “I know, Ryan.”

The fight drained out of her. She didn’t collapse completely, but her shoulders folded inward as though keeping herself upright required more strength than she had left.

“They keep apologizing,” she said, her voice wrecked. “My mom calls and says she was emotional. My dad says they were blindsided. Then they say they want to give you a chance, and I start hoping they mean it.”

I stayed quiet.

“Then one of them says something else. It’s never as bad as what they said at dinner, but it’s enough.” She pressed both hands over her face. “I’m tired.”

That reached me.

I moved closer but stopped before touching her. “Then let them.”

Charm lowered her hands. “What?”

“Let them give me a chance.”

Her eyes searched mine.

“If they mean it, great.”

“And if they don’t?”

“Then I don’t care.”

“You will care.”

I exhaled hard, exhausted by having to explain who I was to the woman who should have known. “I’ll be pissed that they’re pulling this manipulative shit on you, but hear me when I tell you I will never give a fuck about a rich man’s approval. Unless the pendejo is signing my fucking check, que se joda el rico.”

“That sounds like caring.”

I threw both hands into the air, too exhausted to keep arguing semantics with her. “Fine. I’ll care enough to think they’re assholes.”

A broken laugh escaped her, but I didn’t smile.

“I’m not going to leave you because Lance doesn’t approve of me.”

Her face twisted. “That isn’t what I’m afraid of.”

“I know.”

“What if they leave me?”