Page 78 of Out of the Shadows
Bile rose in my throat. “You’re seriously thinking about avillaright now?” My voice cracked. “That’s your priority? Ahouse?”
“It’s not just a house, Hailey,” she snapped, her tone sharpening. “It’s a chance for us to have a life that others can only dream of. Your father has worked so hard to get us here, and sometimes, we have to do things we don’t want to do in order to maintain it all.”
I blinked, the words cutting into me as they registered. “Oh. I’m sorry. Of course, it’s notjusta house, and he’s doing all of this forourbenefit. From where I’m standing, all he’s done is turn this family into his personal chessboard, and you’re perfectly fine being one of his pawns.”
“Don’t talk to me like that,” she hissed, her voice suddenly cold. “You don’t understand the way the world works, Hailey. You think life is about love and happiness, but it’s about stability. Making smart choices.”
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. “So you’re saying going on this date is the‘smart choice’ even though Dad knows I’m already dating someone?”
There was hesitation on her part, and her silence spoke louder than words would. “Hailey … your father doesn’t think Colt is a good match for you. Not long term. And, well …” She lowered her voice, as if telling me a secret. “You have to admit, Colt doesn’t exactlyfit the picture.”
I laughed bitterly. “You’ve let Dad blindside you into thinking money and appearances matter more than anything else. None of this is real. Not you, not him, not this life.”
Her voice softened, but I could hear the impatience creeping in. “Hailey, this isn’t about money. It’s about setting you up for the future. A safe and secure future. Your father’s just trying to help—”
“No, he’s not,” I interrupted, my voice trembling. “He’s trying to control me. And you’re letting him. I’m your daughter, Mom. Don’t you care about how this is making me feel?”
She was silent for a long moment, and I thought maybe, just maybe, she was finally getting it. But when she spoke again, it was filled with the same exasperation I’d heard a thousand times.
“I do care, Hailey. But sometimes, we have to put our feelings aside for the greater good. Just go on the date. It’s one night. That’s all we’re asking.”
My throat tightened. “No, Mom. That’s not all you’re asking. You’re asking me to pretend likeIdon’t matter. Like myfeelingsdon’t matter.” I squeezed my eyes shut, willing myself not to cry. “And I’m so tired of it.”
Her sigh was sharp, as if I was the unreasonable one. “You’ll understand someday. I just hope you don’t regret being so stubborn.”
I was at a loss for words. As I ended the call,I stared blankly at the screen, my heart throbbing in my chest.
I wanted to scream. I wanted to cry. But I wouldn’t. Not overthis. Not overher.
I threw the phone on the bed and sank down beside it, staring stone-faced at the wall. I wasn’t sure what hurt more — her complete lack of support or the fact it didn’t even surprise me.
Twenty Nine
Colt
“He wants you to dowhat?!”
I knew that whatever Hailey had to tell me wasn’t going to be good news, judging by her tense posture and the way her delicate fingers restlessly fiddled with the hem of her top. An unmistakable sign if you knew her well enough —or had watched her long enough.
Her gaze dropped to the floor and a resigned sigh escaped her lips. “It’s just a date. A fake one, I can promise you. Playing his games is the best option right now. Trust me, I’ve been playing them for a long time. I was hoping he wouldn’t try to set me up with someone else again after I stood Nico up, but I guess that was wishful thinking.”
Motherfucker. Just a date.My fists tightened around the wheel, and I quickly loosened my grip when the leather made an unsettling creak, but my temper wasn’t so easy to control.
“That thing between us was fake too,” Ireplied through clenched teeth. The words slipped out before I could stop them, sharp and bitter.
She winced, and I immediately felt terrible.Not selfish at all, you fucking asshole.
I backpedaled. “Hailey, I … I shouldn’t have said that, I’m sorry. I mean, I know it’s not your fault, and I know it was different between us. Just can’t believe he’d make you do shit like that.”
Hailey let out a bitter laugh, and I put my hand on her thigh to comfort her. “Yeah, well, I do. I’m not surprised at all. He doesn’t care. About me. About us. He doesn’t even think this is real, and if he did, it wouldn’t matter.”
Motherfucker.My jaw clenched so tight it hurt. “You’d think my parents telling him would’ve been enough.”
She laughed, but it was empty. “You don’t get it, Colt. He doesn’t care how good you are or how perfect your family looks on paper. You’ll never be good enough for him because you’re … you.”
That stung. Not because it was untrue, but because it was true for reasons that had nothing to do with me. I wasn’t the pretty-boy investment banker he’d imagined marrying his daughter. I was everything he couldn’t control.
As I continued to drive us toward the stadium, my thoughts were a jumble of anger, sympathy, and outrage. I couldn’t imagine having parents like Hailey’s, and I wanted to be her protector, to shield her from them and their bullshit.
