Page 54 of Eternal Hoptimist

It broke my heart that Rosie had never been on a plane or farther than any bordering states. I’d offered to fly her out to visit, but she’d said her health was too rocky once I’d made enough money to fly her out. I wasn’t sure I bought the excuse. I bet she was scared to make the trip on her own. Going that many decades without flying could make it intimidating for someone.

“If you accept the offer, you’d have plenty of money to travel around. You could buy a condo on the Oregon coast and visit Ethan as often as you’d like,” my mom said.

A ringing blared in my ears. “Why are you so insistent on her selling? You know how much the house and property mean to her. Why can’t you support people in doing what they want to do?” I let out a harsh breath and closed my mouth when I noticed people at a nearby table turn their heads.

My parents glanced around and gave me a chastising glare. I’d talked to my parents about Rosie’s property on the phone and via text several times, but witnessing the exasperation on their faces in person? It melted the rest of my self-control.

“That money would give her security, and she’d have less to take care of. If she needs a medical facility, she would have the money to go to the best one. It would give her options.”

I glared at my dad. “This isn’t about whatyouwould do in this situation. This is about what Rosie wants, and Rosie loves her home. Not everyone cares about money as much as you do.”

My dad began spouting off some stats about the rising cost of assisted living facilities, but it went in one ear and out the other.

Some weird beeps and buzzing sounds drew my attention to Rosie. She had her cell phone out with the volume up. The table fell silent as we watched her.

She kept her face down. “What? Since you’re talking about me like I’m not here, I figured I might as well play my games.”

A startled snort escaped Parker. He wasn’t used to her antics yet.Yet?It was too easy to think about him being around in the future.

I smiled at her. “Sorry, Rosie.”

She patted my cheek. “That’s okay, dear.”

“Rosie, I don’t understand why you’re not taking this opportunity,” Dad said.

I needed a break before I said something I would regret. “Excuse me.” I escaped the dining room, bypassed the restrooms, and darted into a cubby where a pay phone used to be.

I’d barely wrangled my thoughts when Parker approached with his eyebrows drawn together and mouth pinched. Before saying a word, he pulled me into a hug, which was exactly what I needed. I melted into him and let his strength hold me up.

“I’m sorry I’m being an overdramatic and childish brat. I thought being away for years would raise my tolerance for their judgment and expectations. But I guess it did the opposite.” It mortified me to act childish in front of him. He was probably as embarrassed as my parents.

He rubbed circles on my back. “You’re not being a brat at all. You’re passionate and want the best for Rosie. Your frustration makes sense. They could medal at the Olympics for passive-aggressive comments.”

I snorted and snuggled in closer to him. “Rosie means the world to me. It makes me sick to think about her getting stuck in some assisted living facility she doesn’t want to be in and losing her freedom. My parents act like they want to lock her away and forget about her. She never had kids, and I don’t have a big family, so there are few people to take care of her.”

“Does she need to be in a senior living home?”

“I don’t think so. I think she’s pretty independent, but I’d be a fool not to accept we’ll reach that point someday.” I reluctantly pulled back and leaned against the wall.

Parker leaned against the cubby entrance and kept his hand on me like he knew I needed the connection.

“My parents act like they know what’s best for everyone.” I shook my head. For so much of my life, people treated me like I didn’t know what I wanted or needed, or theyhandledme by not giving me the full truth. People—especially my family—didn’t trust me to make my own informed decisions. Was that why I always tried to convince myself whoever I dated wasthe one? Overcompensating to prove I did, in fact, know what was best for me. When all I ever did was make poor decisions anyway.

“You okay?”

“I will be. It’s hard to imagine losing the house. Being there again brings back a lot of memories. Rosie’s home was always my escape when things got too tough. When my grandfather was too cruel, when my parents were disappointed I wanted to run tech for theater instead of joining the debate club in high school, or when I preferred to spend my time skateboarding than running track and earning medals. Rosie never judged me.”

I considered myself an optimist in most situations. People often described me as cheerful, but I was anything but at that moment. Even as cranky and frustrated as I felt, the one thing I didn’t sense was judgment from Parker. He really cared. I could get addicted to that. Hell, I probably already was.

TEAM TAP THAT GROUP TEXT

Ty:How’s it going introducing your “boyfriend” to your “family”?

Ethan:Why are you putting family in quotes?

Ty:Figured I’d cover my bases. Not sure what’s real anymore

Austin:My god. Dramatic much?

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