Page 60 of Tech

“Petal…” my father rasps, his eyes tearing up, but I shake my head, not wanting to deal with this. I’ve barely had the time to process this news myself, and here my momma is, opening my letter and shouting it for all to hear.

I have never been so happy that Josy is away for the weekend with friends, and Ollie away with camp.

“You had no right!” I snap, causing Momma’s eyes to glaze over in anger.

“I had every right; you are my daughter!” she snipes back.

I shake my head, so many hurtful words coming into my head, words I know I won’t mean. My mouth wants to move to hurt her, but my head and heart stop it. I love my momma so much; she’s everything to me and has proven tenfold I’m hers in every way except blood, but right now, my anger is taking hold.

I snatch the letter out of Momma’s hand and glare at her.

“That doesn’t mean shit! This is my personal letter; you had no right to open it.” I lift it up. “This right here was for me to tell you when I felt comfortable doing so.You have invaded my privacy, and right now, I don’t know how I can forgive you for this! I have barely accepted what this may mean, and now you’re making it all about you; instead of dealing with this, wanting to find out the results first, you’ve ensured I now have to worry about you and your feelings, and how you’re dealing with it. Opening a letter that wasn’t even addressed to you was selfish!”

With that said, I turn and storm out, my heart in my throat.

How could she do that?

I blink, a parrot bringing me out of my head when he squarks.

Clearing my throat, I turn and head to my office, happy those five animals are here for the other vets and nurses. This means I can finally sit down for the first time since starting this morning since leaving the farm nine hours ago.

Since I stormed out of his house this morning, my father has tried to contact me several times. I honestly don’t know what he expects me to say. I wasn’t ready to tell anyone about this until I got my results; it’s bad enough I had to explain it to Doc, and that’s only because he saw me this morning.

This is what I get for sneaking out of James’ bed yet again. I’m pretty sure the universe was punishing me for disappearing on him, so not only did Momma open my mail, invading my privacy, but I know Doc has most likely told James, and it hurts knowing I couldn’t go by my timeline to tell people; preferably after I get my results.

I just needed a little time.

I groan, sitting on my black chair behind my desk, and leaning back. Doc made it obvious he would tell James this morning, but I’ve yet to hear from James.

I want to think he changed his mind, but this morning, he seemed determined….

I quietly look around the floor.

Where in the hell did he throw my shirt?

I squint my eyes, trying to remember what happened when I walked through his front door….

He grabbed my waist and lifted me….

My legs wrapped around his waist while his lips went to my neck, his hand….

I blink. The image of James tearing my shirt near the front door hits me, and I silently groan, betting he did it on purpose so I wouldn’t sneak out….

“Guess I’ll be wearing one of his, then….” I mutter and go into his walk-in closet, only to pause.

Most of my belongings hang on his hangers, taking up the left side of his closet, including the cut he gave me.

Holy….

My head has been all over the place lately. With the pending results and losing Shadow, I’ve barely had time to think, which means I didn’t notice my stuff gone from the apartment.

That son of a bitch!

I bite my bottom lip, really tempted to go in there and kick him in the balls, but that would mean he’d stop me from leaving, and I don’t need that right now; I was supposed to leave for the farm twenty minutes ago, but his arms just felt too good.

Shaking my head, I take his black, button up shirt and put it on. It reaches near my knees, but I don’t care.

He can take my stuff, then I’ll take his!

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