Page 68 of The Beat of her Heart

“Busy with what exactly? This?” Her dad motioned around the room.

Giselle stole another glance at Addie. Addie’s presence brought her some comfort. But her parents barely acknowledged Addie’s existence. Their focus remained solely on Giselle.

“What are you doing with your life now?” Mom asked, crossing her arms.

“Why do you care?” Giselle replied, her temper flaring.

Mom’s eyes narrowed. “Of course we care; you’re our daughter. You’ve changed so much since we last saw you.”

“Changed?” Giselle shot back, unable to hide the hurt in her voice. “Maybe I’ve just grown up.”

Her dad leaned forward slightly. “Are you really happy here? This place seems…off. Like you’re trying to prove something.”

Giselle clenched her fists at her sides. “What’s wrong with trying to be happy?”

“Nothing, unless it’s a façade,” Mom replied, her tone condescending.

Giselle’s heart raced with the familiar pressure of their judgment. “It’s not a façade. I’m doing well at work. I’m happy.”

“Happy? With the way you’ve chosen to live?” Her dad asked, tilting his head. “Your career, your life choices…you need to explain yourself.”

“What do you want me to say?”

“Just tell us if you’re content with this,” Mom pressed.

“Of course I’m content!” Giselle snapped, her voice rising.

Addie shifted slightly, and Giselle felt a pang of protectiveness toward her. She didn’t deserve to be pulled into this.

“Would you two just stop for a minute?” Giselle said. Her voice was a tad louder than she’d intended, but she wasn’t sorry.

Her parents turned to face her. Giselle turned slightly to Addie. “This is Adrienne Wolfe, my friend.”

Addie smiled. “Hi, nice to meet you.”

Giselle’s parents nodded.

“Just a friend?” her dad asked, his eyebrow arched.

“Why does it matter?” Giselle shot back. “I invited her here.”

“You invite friends over for dinner, Giselle,” Mom said, her voice dripping with thinly veiled judgment. “Not for whatever this is.”

Giselle imagined they both smelled like sex.

Giselle stood her ground. “This is my life. You don’t get to dictate who’s in it.”

“So, Giselle,” Mom said. “So it’s anotherrelationshipagain?”

Giselle stiffened, stunned. “How can you even bring that up?”

“Nicole wasn’t a good match for you,” her dad added. “You were meant for better things than that relationship.”

Giselle clenched her fists, annoyance bubbling up. “Dad!”

“What?”

“Still, it’s hard not to wonder,” Mom mused. “Since then, you’ve only been involved in temporary relationships. What does that say about you?”

---