Page 134 of Ace of All Hearts

“She’s my girlfriend,” Rachel continues more slowly. “She’s always been my girlfriend. Since the day you met her, she was my girlfriend. And when she stayed over, she was my girlfriend and—"

“Yes, we get it. She was your girlfriend,” her mom replies tightly.

“Not was.Is,” she insists.

“Rachel.” Her mom gives her a sorry look and tilts her head. “You know I have nothing against those…people.” She says the word like she means aliens and looks at me at the same time.

“Oh, here we go,” Rachel mumbles.

“Sweetie, you’re not one of them. Don’t be ridiculous.”

“Mom,” she snaps. “Iamone of them. Okay? I’m gay. It has nothing to do with you or how you raised me—thank god,” she snorts. “It’s got everything to do with who I am. And trust me, I wasn’t sure for a very long time. At some point, I even thought I could like guys.”

She turns to me, and I know she means Lik and Sam.

“But I’m not attracted to men. Do you understand? I love women. Because they’re understanding and feminine, for so many other reasons, actually. But mainly, because that’s just how I feel. I’m a lesbian, Mom.” I don’t miss her mom flinching at the word. “And I’m in love with Rose. I’ve been for as long as I’ve been able to be in love with someone. You trying to marry me off to every billionaire bachelor you encounter isn’t going to change that.”

Under the table, I put my hand on her thigh and she grabs it tightly enough to cut my blood flow. I’m so proud of her for her courage.

Taking a shaking breath, Mrs. Harris puts her cutlery down and her napkin on the table. With trembling hands, she rearranges her dress.

“Rachel, honey. I know you’ve been through a lot with Conor and—”

“Don’tmention him,” Rachel hisses.

“I understand he must have put you off men, but they’re not all like that. He was…sick.”

“Conor knew. He hated me because I wasn’t attracted to him. He hit me because I hated being with a man. He raped me because I couldn’t enjoy our sex.”

Her mom lets out a loud gasp of despair. “Aah…please.” She puts a hand on her chest dramatically. “Don’t say those words. Ah, Rachel, please.”

“Stop being so dramatic, Mom. You’re being ridiculous.”

Her act is over in a split second, and she’s shooting daggers at me. “If it wasn’t Conor, it was her. She made you that way.”

“Actually, you and Dad made me. So, if anyonemademe that way, it was you two.”

I have to roll my lips inward to stop myself from smiling. I give her a squeeze under the table, encouraging her silently. This is her moment.

“That’s not true!” she shrieks. “Take it back!”

“Jocelyn, that’s enough.”

My eyes widen. I don’t think I’ve ever heard her dad’s voice. He’s like background noise. You kind of forget he’s there.

“Don’t, Robert. Let me handle this.”

“No. I’ve had enough of you treating our daughter like shit.”

“What?” Rachel and her mom’s shock are simultaneous.

“Daddy,” my girl chuckles before smiling widely.

“This is ridiculous,” Jocelyn snaps.

“No. What’s ridiculous is me watching you put our daughter through hell and not doing a thing about it. What’s ridiculous is staying married for so long to a money-sucking harpy.”

“Robert!” she gasps.

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