Page 67 of Confusing Cade
Life went a little pear-shaped after Mom died.
“I’m glad you’re done with FanZone and I am totally sure you’ll slay it with the scarves. We’re Morettis. We don’t give up, right?”
“Right.” I managed a smile, her words echoing the mantra I’d clung to for years. Did I really still believe it?
Lilly tilted her head, thinking. “What would Mom say? Or Dad, before... you know.”
I swallowed hard, picturing Mom’s warm smile, Dad’s booming laugh before the drinking took over. “Mom would tell me to listen to my heart but keep my eyes open. Dad would probably say to never let a Weston win.” We both laughed. “But honestly, I think he’d want me to be happy. And Cade... when it was good, it wasgood. Like I could breathe again.”
“Seriously, Bella, I’m sorry you’re going through this. I wish I could help more.”
“You’re helping right now.” I pulled her into another hug. “Seeing you, knowing you’re killing it here... it’s why I keep going. You’re gonna do big things.”
She hugged me back, her voice muffled. “Only because you gave me the chance.”
We sat like that for a while, the dorm’s quiet hum wrapping around us. Outside, the snow fell harder, blanketing the world in silence. For the first time, I felt a flicker of hope.Maybe I can find my way through this.Cade’s words still hurt, but Lilly’s belief in me, her unshakable Moretti spirit, reminded me I was stronger than my mistakes. Stronger than FanZone, stronger than a broken heart.
“I’m gonna stay for the concert,” I said, pulling back enough to look at her face. “But also... what if I stayed longer? Through the holidays, I mean. And maybe a little after that.”
Lilly blinked, her eyes widening with surprise that quickly melted into excitement. “Wait, really? Like, stay here in Wessex? With me?”
I nodded, the idea solidifying as I said it out loud. “Yeah. I could rent a place nearby or even crash at a hotel for a bit. I’ve got some savings now, and honestly, Lil, I need this. Time away from Florida, from all the mess back there. We used to be so close, you know? Before Dad, before everything fell apart. I want that back. Us, bonding again. Just sisters, no secrets.”
Lilly searched my face, her expression softening as she processed my words. “Bella, that sounds... amazing.” She squeezed my hand, her grip firm and reassuring. “Can we talk about the bullying thing here? Remember I told you about those girls in my bio class giving me crap about our family name?”
I nodded. “Such horseshit.”
“It’s died down a little, but if you’re around, maybe we can deal with it together. Talk to the dean or something. I don’t want to run from it anymore.”
I winced, remembering her texts about the snide comments, the whispers about Dad’s downfall echoing even up here. At first, I’d hoped it would go away, but it clearly hadn’t.
“God, Lil, I’m sorry I haven’t been more on top of that. Yeah, we’ll handle it. I’ll go with you to talk to whoever we need to.” Warmth spread through me, chasing away some of the chill from outside. “So, you’re cool with me sticking around?”
“Absolutely.”
“We could do holiday stuff, like bake Mom’s old cookie recipe, watch those cheesy movies you loved when you were a kid, maybe even hit up Boston for New Year’s.”
Her grin lit up the room, brighter than the fairy lights above her bed. “Stay as long as you want. It’ll be like old times, but better.”
“Deal,” I said, pulling her into another hug.Whatever happens, I’m done letting the past call the shots.This was about the future, and for the first time in a long while, it felt within reach.
We spent the rest of the evening talking about her classes, her friends, the cute boy in her history class who kept stealing her pens. Normal stuff, and the kind that made me forget, for a little while, the chaos waiting back in Palm Beach. But as I curled up in the nearby hotel room that night, I knew I couldn’t run forever. Somewhere deep down, I wanted to believe there was a way forward, a way to rebuild what we’d lost.
But it’s gotta be on my terms.
