Page 98 of Why Not Us?

Elliot snorts. “Next thing you’re going to tell me, I have to pay to use your venue.”

“Of course you do. It’s still a business, Elliot.”

“Didn’t Spencer’s girlfriend’s sister get married there last summer?” Calista cuts in.

“Yes. Daze got married there. And yes, she got a deal. But that’s because she took a cancellation, last minute at theendof wedding season. She and Sophie still paid. And Spencer and Lis are getting married in a few weeks and are also paying even though Spencer is partowner. This is abusiness. We can’t give things away for free to everyone or we’ll never make money.”

Calista scoffs. “It’s called complimentary tickets and happens in the industry all the time. You know, for exposure.”

A wash of anger and frustration floods through me. I clench my teeth and take a deep breath through my nose as Mom brings out dinner.

“Blue Vista doesn’t need exposure. We’re doing very well. In fact, we’re expanding next year to open a second location.”

Everyone starts dishing out the food, some kind of lasagna that has a lot of liquid in the bottom of the pan. I realize as I put some on my plate, the noodles have been replaced with zucchini.

“Expansion or not, ten per cent owner in a little wedding venue is hardly anything,” Elliot mutters as he fills his plate.

“Wait,” I say, suddenly furious. “So my money is good enough for you to ask for, sorry,borrow, and my venue is good enough for you to get married at, but because I’m not a doctor, I’m not good enough?”

“I don’t like your tone, Addie,” Dad cuts in.

I feel like I’m standing on the edge of that bridge again, looking down, about to jump off. This time, I don’t have Nate to help me make the leap. I have to do it myself.

I swallow and straighten in my seat, looking at my dad. “I don’t like how you constantly talk down to me. All of you. And, by the way, I don’t own ten per cent. I own twenty-five per cent now.”

“How?” Mom demands.

No matter what I answer, they’ll have a problem. If I bought in, they’d say I wasted my money. If they find out Spencer gave me the extra fifteen per cent, they’d say I was taking charity. So I decide not to answer.

“Wouldn’t you like to know?” I say. Then I turn back to my brother. “I make twice as much as you do, Elliot. And I’ve made a decision. No. I won’t loan you money. Not now. Not ever again. I won’t help you schedule your wedding at Blue Vista. If you want to get married there, you can make an appointment with Spencer, just like everyone else.” I look at my sister next. “No, Calista. I will not give you tickets to our events. If you want to attend our Halloween party this year, you can buy your ticket, and you’d better do it soon, because even though it’s still only August, we’re at seventy-five per cent capacity already. Finally, just so you know, all those times I said Vic said no, it was me.Ididn’t want to give you a ticket.Ididn’t like you taking advantage of me simply because I’m your sister.” I take a deep breath and remove my cardigan, showing off the tattoo on my shoulder. Then I smile, a huge weight lifted. “That’s much better. It’s warm today, isn’t it? Suzanne, could you pass the bruschetta?”

Everyone stares at me, agape, but I don’t say any more. Suzanne eventually passes me the plate and I begin to eat. It takes a few minutes for my family to come out of their shock and begin eating as well.

After a moment, Mom says, “You didn’t bring your boyfriend tonight.”

Nowshe decides to ask about him. I have no intention of telling these people that I don’t know what’s happening between me and Nate. Or how much it hurts that she’s even brought it up. Instead, I say, as sweetly as I can, “Well, you attackedNatewhen I brought him before, so I figured I’d spare him.” I put a slight emphasis on his name since Mom routinely refuses to use it on the few times I’ve brought him up.

“I assume this new attitude is because of him,” she says.

“No, Mom. It isn’t. This is because of me. Like I said. I’m tired of you all talking down to me. I chose to go into business. I had some lucky breaks, yes. But I’m successful. That’s nothing to be ashamed of. I bought my condo in Vancouver even though you think I would have got a better deal if I’d bought something closer to here. I bought a car you think is ridiculous. I got a tattoo. These are all decisions I made on my own. I’m not going to let you make me feel bad about these choices anymore.”

We eat in silence for a while before Suzanne starts talking to Calista about wedding plans. The conversation moves on and I don’t try to get involved with it. I feel better than I have in a long time. I don’t need the good opinion of these people. I remember something Spencer told me so long ago.You are perfect exactly as you are, Adalie. Anyone who disagrees doesn’t deserve to have you in their life.

He was right. If I can’t be myself around my family, it’s time to stop worrying about what they think. My friends will be happy for me. I just wish I could tell Nate. I’m sure he’d be happy for me, too.

Chapter 33

Nate

Ialmost called Adalie last night. She was supposed to go to her parents’ house yesterday and I want to know how it went. She would have gone by herself, and they were probably horrible. I hadn’t called her. She said she didn’t need anything from me, and if I’m honest, I know that. She’s so strong on her own, whether she believes it of herself or not.

I get home from work and sit in the family room dejectedly. I hate Mondays when Dani goes back to Katie’s house. But when my daughter comes inside, followed by her mother, I manage to pull up a smile, hiding my melodramatic feelings.

“Hey, pipsqueak. You got everything you need?” I ask.

“It’s all ready,” she says, skipping over to give me a hug. “I’ll go up and get it.”

“Actually,” Katie says. “Can I have a minute to talk to you both?”

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