Page 80 of All Along

Chloe points to Paisley’s hand. “You’re holding your phone.”

Paisley’s cheeks darken but she doesn’t give up. “Yes. After I found it on the floor.”

I open my mouth to comfort her – being teased about the man you can’t have is no fun – but the door to the bar slams open and my parents saunter inside.

“Shit,” Chloe mutters.

Nova tries to shove me behind her. “I’ve got this.”

I shackle her wrist to stop her. “No. This is my problem. My responsibility.”

She studies my face. “Are you sure?”

“I already messaged Caleb and I’m messaging Weston now,” Sophia says.

I smile at her in thanks before inhaling a deep breath and making my way to my parents.

Mom sneers at me. “I heard you were making a fool of yourself.”

Making a fool of myself? I’m having a drink to celebrate our business. How is—

Holy smugglers on the run! Everything suddenly makes sense. She’s jealous. My mom is jealous of my success.

It’s all becoming clear to me now. She’s lashing out at me because I have the life she wishes she could have. She’s my mother. She should be happy for me. But she never will be.

The truth of the statement hits me in my chest and I nearly stumble. Nova presses a hand on my lower back to keep me steady. I glance behind me. All of my girlfriends followed me and are now standing behind me. Surrounding me with their support.

Their support gives me the courage to speak my mind. “I’m not the one making a fool of herself.”

“How dare you?” she screeches and I wince at the high tone.

“Maya,” Dad grumbles. “Treat your mother with respect.”

Respect? He doesn’t know the meaning of the word. Where is his respect for Mom? Or me?

And just like that I’m done. I’m done trying to win their love. I’m done kowtowing to them. I’m just plain done.

I snort. “The way you treat her with respect?”

His eyes narrow and his nostrils flare. “Do not question me, Maya. I am your father.”

“No, you’re not. You were never a father to me. You never encouraged me, supported me, nurtured me. You never loved me.”

Mom leans close to sneer at me. “Maybe because you’re unlovable.” This time I do stumble. The venom in her voice feels like acid in my stomach.

“I love Maya,” Nova says.

“I do as well,” Paisley adds.

“Me too,” Sophia and Chloe say in unison.

Their love washes away the acid working its way through my stomach. I should have let my friends in more growing up. I should have leaned on them more. I can’t fix the past but I can work to create a better present and future.

I shoo my parents toward the door. “You should go before Caleb shows up.”

“Poor little Maya. She needs a man to save her,” Mom taunts.

I chuckle. “Are you serious? I don’t need a man to save me. I’m not the one who’s clinging to a husband who abuses her. I have a man who loves me. Who cherishes me. Who would never in a million years hit me in anger.”

---