Playing Hard to Get(95)

“We’re finally going. We bought a piece of property there a couple of years ago,” Mom adds.

“A couple of years ago? Seriously? And you never told us?” Blair sounds furious.

“We didn’t tell you because we didn’t think it was a big deal at the time. We bought it as an investment piece. A little what if, kind of purchase. Maybe we would build a house. Maybe we would eventually sell the land. We weren’t sure.” Dad pauses, and I glance over at him real quick, noting his serious expression. “We had plans drawn up and the construction has already started.”

“Oh, that’s nice. I love how you put this entire plan into action and never once consulted any of us,” my sister says.

Ouch. She’s pissed. I can’t blame her, but damn. Way to take it out on our parents, when they’re just trying to live their lives.

“We didn’t do it to hurt you,” Mom says to Blair. “But you’re all out of the house, living your own lives. We decided to do something for just us. And for your dad. He loves and misses Fable. They only have each other, you know?”

I think about my sisters—living next to them. I already sort of do that with Blair and I could probably do without it, just saying. I love her, would do anything for her, but she can be a pain in the ass.

Yeah, I don’t really mean that but we come from a big, loving family that takes care of each other. My dad and Aunt Fable didn’t. They had different dads, who weren’t in their lives, and their mom was a drug addict who neglected them most of the time. Hell, my aunt and uncle took my dad in when he was still in high school and basically raised him themselves. Meaning they’re all extra close.

I get it. I do.

“I think it’s great,” I say, overriding Blair’s continuous complaints I can still hear her saying to Mom. “If moving to California and living by them makes you happy, then I’m all for it.”

“Suck up,” Blair mutters, but I ignore her.

“No, I’m just trying to be the mature one here,” I tell her as I turn into the hotel parking lot. “And not complaining constantly like you are.”

She glares at me in the rearview mirror and I glare right back.

“You two.” Mom sighs, and my gaze goes to her in the mirror. It hits me suddenly, how much Joanna resembles her. Mom was Dad’s tutor in college as well. I’m totally following in their footsteps and I didn’t even mean to. “Stop fighting.”

“I’m not fighting. Just stating facts,” I tell Mom.

“God Knox, you’re such an asshole.” This comes from Blair.

“Hey.” Dad’s voice is firm. “Be nice.”

Now I feel like we’re little kids again, getting in trouble.

“We shouldn’t even be fighting over this stuff.” I pull up to the front of the hotel and put the car in drive, turning so I can look at Mom and Blair in the back seat. “I’m sorry if I was a jerk, but you have to admit you’re being a jerk too, Blair.”

“You don’t understand.” She shakes her head and I swear to God, tears are forming in her eyes.

“We’re going to check in.” Dad opens the passenger side door and Mom opens her door as well. “Make up, you two. Our moving is going to be a good thing. You’ll see.”

The moment Mom and Dad are out of the car, I’m on my sister, giving her shit.

“You’re being ridiculous.”

“And you’re being an ass kisser,” she throws back at me, tears freely falling down her face now.

“Better than acting like a selfish brat. Come on, Blair. Not like you’re going back home to visit all the time. You used to say you couldn’t wait to get out of there,” I remind her.

“I don’t like how they’re just leaving and they didn’t tell us. They’ve been planning this for years, and keeping it a secret!” She crosses her arms in front of her, sniffing loudly. “I don’t like secrets.”

“Maybe it wasn’t your secret to know? Sometimes people make decisions that have nothing to do with you.”

“It’s our house too! You don’t get it.” She sulks, looking away from me. “I don’t like change.”

“Who does? It’s fucking scary, but our parents want to do something different with their lives. Who are we to stop them? I’d rather support them than fight about it.”

Blair says nothing. She’s always been the most stubborn out of the three of us. She knows how to hold a grudge, and she knows how to hold back her words.

Like she’s doing right now.

Frustrated, I turn around and face forward, drumming my fingers nervously on the steering wheel. Glad that Joanna didn’t come with us after all.

At least she didn’t have to witness this shitshow.





THIRTY-SIX





JOANNA





I’m nervous.

I’ve been awake since six in the morning, anticipating meeting Knox’s parents at breakfast. He’s reassured me constantly that they’re nice, they’ll go easy on me, and he’s positive that they’ll love me, but I don’t know.

It’s still such a scary experience, meeting a guy’s parents for the first time, especially since we haven’t been dating for very long.