Page 26 of Saving You Losing Me

Vikki turns away and I say gently, “Listen, mom. You’ve got to allow me to make my own mistakes. If I don’t, how will I ever learn?”

“You don’t have the luxury of mistakes and I am here to stop you making bad decisions and this is an extremely bad one.”

“Not for me. You haven’t even met Atom yet and you are judging him. What is admirable about that?”

“I don’t need to meet him to realize he’s not for you. He probably doesn’t even possess a country club membership, and I doubt he frequents the Rubens Club. More like the dive across town instead. Have some self respect, Clara. Men like that are for common girls, not respectful women who will make a decent hardworking man a good wife one day.”

Vikki hands her the brandy, which she knocks back in super quick time and calms her breathing and says slowly, “So, we will hear no more of this man. You will meet Michael as arranged and charm him as expected. He will be your best bet for a golden future, not a club member with the strangest name I’ve ever heard.”

I make to speak and she holds up her hand. “I donotwant to hear it. Now go to your room and think about what you’ve done.”

“I’m not a child anymore, mom. You don’t get to banish me to my room like a naughty child!”

I raise my voice and she shakes her head in deep disappointment.

“Then stop acting like one and grow up. I don’t want to hear another word on the matter.”

She stands and says over her shoulder. “I am going for a lie down. I’ll see you at dinner.”

As the door closes, Vikki joins me at the table and shakes her head sadly. “You were very brave, Clara.”

“I meant what I said.”

“But how? You know how powerful your parents are.”

“The only power they have over me is threatening to cut me off. To pull me from college and sling me out on the streets.”

“That’s a lot of power.”

She sighs. “Is this worth the trouble?”

“Of course.”

She smiles at the rapture on my face and reaches across the table. “Then I wish you well, Clara. And a lot of luck because you’re going to need it.”

“I’m not so sure, Vikki.” I face her with a determined gleam in my eye.

“I’m their daughter which counts for a lot. I will get my way and there is nothing they can do but suck it up. Watch me.”

I lean back in my chair, a plan forming in my mind. I’m so done with being manipulated by my parents and it’s about time they faced up to exactly the kind of daughter they raised.

CHAPTER 14

ATOM

Clara called and told me she would meet me later. Something came up that she would talk about when we meet, so I head to the gym instead. I like to work out. It feeds my adrenalin rush and after last night, I am invincible.

Some may say I was a fool for waiting for a woman like Clara when there are easy pickings being offered every day. I disagree. It made it count for something. Was a sweeter experience because we experienced it together. I regret nothing and as I lift the weights, it’s with a deep sense of satisfaction that everything is going right with my world.

“Hey man.”

Razor takes the bench beside me.

“How did it go last night?”

He is the only person I told and I smirk, “It turned out well. Clara is my woman now.”

“I’m happy for you bro but–”

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