Page 194 of Only With You

It wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world.

“I’ve just been thinking about a lot of things, things that I wanted to talk to you guys about.”

“Not this again.” Her father pinches the bridge of his nose. “Landon, get out. This is a family matter.” Irritation laces his voice.

Anger rises, but again I tell myself to calm down. “Respectfully, I’m going to stay right here.”

He finally regards me, eyes filled with rage. “I didn’t ask you if you wanted to stay. I said, get out. I want to speak to my daughter. I don’t care that you’re her boyfriend. Get out.”

“No. I’m going to stay right here.” I stay rooted in my spot even though I can feel Julianna’s eyes on me, begging me to leave.

Her father laughs condescendingly, rubbing his chin. “Is this how you repay us after everything we’ve done for you? Everything we’ve given you?Thatis what you repay us with? We’ve?—”

“Dad, it’s not?—”

He stands and she shrinks back. “Don’t interrupt me! I didn’t fly out, leave my very busy job, to be disrespected by the both of you.”

I fist my hands at my sides, biting back the anger that threatens to explode.

I wait for Julianna to stand up for herself, to explain why she wants to drop her sorority, to tell them about becoming a teacher, but the silence feels like an eternity and I realise she’s not going to say anything.

“If you’d let her speak, she’d tell you why she wants to drop it.” I attempt to keep my voice levelled, but they look at me like I’ve threatened them.

“You’re with our daughter for a week and you think you know her?” her mother now speaks up and stands. “You know nothing. She does this thing all the time, gives up when it becomes hard. So, I suggest that you shut up because?—”

“Give up or you force her to do something she doesn’t want to?” I counter back.

Julianna’s head whips in my direction, but I don’t look at her because if I see her cry, I’m going to lose it.

“We’re leaving,” she grits, eyes like dagger on me.

“Mom—”

“We flew out to see you, because we thought you were sick. We’re leaving and when you’ve thought about what you did wrong, call us.”

It’s all happening too fast. They’re up and gone, slamming the door behind them before Julianna can get a word out.

“What the hell did you do?” she snaps at me, her eyes filled with remorse and sadness.

I’m taken aback. “Not let them disrespect you.”

“I didn’t need you to say anything,” she says, disgruntled. “Everything would’ve been okay if you had?—”

“Stayed quiet? Julianna, they talk to you like that because youstayquiet.”

“They’re my parents. What am I supposed to say after everything they’ve done for me?” she argues back.

“It’s their job. They’re your parents for a reason. You’re not their employee to treat you however the hell they want. Parents or not, that doesn’t give them a right to talk to you like that.”

She blows out a harsh breath and sniffs. “You don’t get it. This isn’t how it was supposed to go. If you hadn’t?—”

“Hadn’t what? Said anything, maybe everything would be okay? Everyone would be happy?” I scoff in disbelief. “Open your eyes. Your parents don’t give a damn. I came in and they thought I was delivering your groceries. They wouldn’t acknowledge me and called methat. They didn’t give me a chance because they made assumptions about me, but I’ll be damned if I stand there and take it just toplease them.”

“What are you trying to say?”

“You know exactly what I’m trying to say.”

“I don’t. Say it.”

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