Page 75 of Power Play

“Text me after, okay?”

“Promise. Heads up, though, I might go to the studio depending on how the dinner goes,” I say, surprised when Cassie hugs me.

“I’m really happy to hear that. Let me know how everything goes.”

“I will.”

The walk doesn’t take as long as I thought it would, so I’m walking in at 5:15. Heading up to the hostess desk, I leave my mother’s name, expecting to be the first one here.

“Follow me. Ms. Daniels is already seated,” she tells me, already turning to walk me to the table.

Fuck why is she already here?

“Hello, Sawyer. It’s so nice of you to join us. Hope this wasn’t too early for your schedule,” my mother says.

“Obviously it wasn’t. I’m here early.”

“Hardly. I said 5:30. The least you could do would be to show up at 5:00 to have our table ready,” she snaps, like I’ve wronged her in some way.

This is why I avoid her. In absolutely no time, she’s already started to argue with me and try to bring me down.

“Do you hear yourself? Or are you just so delusional that you think it’s okay to speak to me like this?” I question, finally standing up to her.

I’m tired of taking this from my own family. Rex has helped me see that I’m worth so much more than letting them bring me down. They don’t have to agree with everything I do, but the least they can do is support me. But no, they want to treat me like shit, and I’m done taking it.

“Enough,” Max growls from my mother’s side. I’m not sure who he’s speaking to, but we both quiet down. “Stop acting like children. Sawyer, why did you want to meet us?” he questions.

“Excuse me? Mom called me and told me to be here for dinner ‘or else.’ I figured I should show up to find out what it was about.”

We both turn to face our mother, who just stares at Max.

“Max, I did this to help you, silly. That whole scandal you’ve gotten yourself involved in isn’t going away on its own. One of the coaches said it would be best for you to have your family by your side. We can’t let your dreams die just because you made some poor choices. Sawyer will help us,” she claims confidently.

“Excuse me? Max, I’m not really interested in whatever shit you’ve gotten yourself into, it’s not my problem anymore. But, mom, do you really expect me to be a united front with you two? Max has made you believe so much bullshit about me that you were willing to stop paying for my schooling. Mom, you even went as far as trying to get my trust fund dad set up switched to you somehow. How selfish are you two to think I would play happy family with you guys when you can’t even support my dreams? No one was there for me when I lost dance, and now you refuse to support me when I let that dream evolve into something I’m still able to do. So, I’m opening a studio regardless of your help, even if I’ve had to work two jobs to do it,” I snarl at my mother before turning to Max. “And fuck you, Max, for convincing her that I’m a fuck up and that she shouldn’t pay for my school. Real fucking manipulative, bro,” I finish, breathing deeply.

Max’s jaw drops in surprise, probably at the fact that I finally got the courage to stand up for myself. But the look on his face is a mixture of hurt and confusion, like he wasn’t quite expecting me to say those things. My mother, on the other hand, just looks pissed.

“I never did that, Sawyer,” Max says, looking between my mother and I in disbelief. “Any of it. I’m not sure what games you’re playing, but that’s ridiculous.”

“Are you joking, Max? You really thought you would get me to come to dinner and all the things you put me through or said about me would just disappear, and I’d help you like the good big sister I am?”

“Sawyer, enough. Stop being such a drama queen. We are your family,” my mother snaps.

“Mother, stop saying that. We aren’t family because I’m no longer acting like your pawn.” standing up, my mother stares at me in shock. “Max, I’m sorry you’ve gotten yourself into some shit, but it’s your turn to man up and figure it out on your own. I’m not willing to put myself through pretending to be a happy family just to help people who constantly throw me under the bus.”

Looking at Max, I expect him to be staring at me, but he’s just looking at my mother, frustration and hurt all over his face. It looks like they’ve got some talking to do, but that’s not my problem anymore. Turning around, I grab my things and walk out, ignoring my mother’s protests as I finally stand up for myself and walk away from those two.

Pulling out my phone when I get out of the restaurant, I text Cassie.

It was a shit show. They still suck.

Cassie

What happened? Do I need to kick their ass?

I’m going to head to the studio for a bit. I’ll tell you about it when I get home.

Cassie

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