Page 91 of Bending Under Pressure

“Is there any particular reason you wanted to see me?” I ask, trying my best to keep my annoyance out of my voice. She doesn’t get a say in what I do or whom I see. She doesn’t get to show her disapproval either.

“Actually, yes.” Surprise, surprise. “Have you changed your mind about visiting your father?”

“No.” The short word quickly comes out of my mouth. “I don’t want to see him.” It’s bad enough that I’m seeing her. I don’t want to visit a man in prison.

“C’mon, Keelan. He’s your father and he would love to see you and talk to you.”

“I don’t care,” I interrupt before she can continue her spiel. “I don’t want to. I don’t know him and I don’t want to know him. Don’t push me on this.”

“If you’re worried about the Sandersons—”

“I’m not worried about my parents getting in the way. I don’t want to. Why do you want this so much?”

“Because he’s your real family. We are your real family and you don’t want to know us. It’s not fair that you aren’t giving us a chance.”

“It’s not fair?” I scoff. “Being in foster care because you have shitty parents isn’t fair. Being adopted by my parents was the best thing to ever happen to me. I don’t have to be here at all. I don’t want to be, if you want me to be honest. I love my life just the way it is. My real family is the parents who raised me and the brother I grew up with. I don’t want to visit someone in prison, even if I’m related to him by blood. I don’t even know what he did!”

Natalie’s eyes harden. “You don’t know anything about any of us because you don’t ask.”

“No, I don’t know because you went to jail when I was a kid and I was put into the system and then adopted. It’s your fault you lost your son, not mine. I’m not your son anymore, and you’re not making me want to be.” She opens her mouth to respond, but I beat her to it. “This isn’t going to work for me anymore. If I want to talk, I’ll call. I’m sorry.” I stand and hurry out of the restaurant.

My parents wouldn’t even let me drive my own car, so I had to borrow my mom’s. I wish I could punch it, let the speed calm me, but I can’t. Instead, I have to drive responsibly. When I get home, my main goal is to go straight to my room.

“What are you doing back so soon?” Mom asks when she rounds the corner and sees me.

I hand her the car keys. “I don’t want to talk about it. Can I go to my room?”

“No, let’s sit down and talk.”

“Mom,” I groan. “I don’t want to.” Quickly, I add, “Not yet.”

She eyes me for a moment before nodding. “Okay, but you will as soon as you’re ready?”

Yeah, I will. Just not today.

Torture.

Grounding like this should fall under cruel and unusual punishment. For a long, long month, I’ve only had lunch during the week with Haley at school and our one class together. Five extra minutes before and after school to talk and kiss her, thanks to Cam being a good brother. Other than that, I haven’t been with her. It’s been torture.

I also never realized how much I loved driving my car. While it’s been fun picking on Cameron by calling him my personal chauffeur, I miss my car as much as I miss Haley. I can’t wait to drive and race it again. The short drive to Haley’s house won’t be enough.

Today, we’re going to her father’s wedding. I can’t lie and say I’m not worried about how it’ll go. She’s only spoken to her father three times while we’ve been grounded, and he hasn’t made any efforts to see her since he forgot about her. That can’t be a good sign, right?

I grab my phone, I’ve missed it as well, and text her.

Me: I can’t wait to see you in your dress. :)

My phone lights up with an incoming call from Haley.

“Hey, Hales.”

“Hey, it’s going to be just us. Mom and Walter are sick with the flu and can’t go. So, I need you to ask your parents if it’s still okay for you go with me and drive us back tonight.”

“Okay, give me a second.” My heart is beating faster now. I’ll have Haley all to myself and I’ll be able to drive my car for hours tonight? Best way to come off of being grounded. I race downstairs and into the living room. “Haley’s parents have the flu. If it’s okay with y’all, the new plan is for us to go and then drive home tonight.”

Dad’s eyes narrow. “Her parents are okay with that plan?”

“Do you want to talk with her mom?” I ask. I don’t know if they trust me again, so I’ll jump through whatever hoops I need to.

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