Crazy Stupid Love (Crazy Love #1)(40)

“Is it so much to ask that you call your parents’ from time to time? Honestly, Kimber, did we not raise you better than this?” Her judgmental tone is no less effective thousands of miles away, and I still find myself shrinking slightly.

“Your father is convinced the only way to reason with you is to come to Oregon and put you on a plane himself,” she continues.

“I’m not a child. He can’t just force me to come home,” I object, knowing the last thing I want is for Dan James to show up here.

“You are our child, or have you forgotten that?”

“Of course, I haven’t. Just because I’m following my own path doesn’t mean I love you any less. But this is my life, Mom. You’re just going to have to find a way to live with my choices.”

“One day, Kimber, you’ll have children of your own...”

“And I will love them and teach them. And when they’re old enough, I will trust them to choose for themselves and know they will do the right thing because I raised them right,” I cut her off.

“It’s not always so black and white,” she snips, sighing loudly into the phone.

“No, it’s not,” I agree. “But you know me; have you no faith that I can do this on my own?”

“It’s not that,” she objects.

“Then what is it? Because from where I’m standing that’s exactly what it boils down to, you don’t trust me. But here’s the good news, you don’t have too. I am an adult, and I will make my choices whether you support them or not.”

“Kimber.”

“I’m not doing this.” I look up from my place on the bed, throwing a frustrated glance to Harlee who quietly closes the door behind her as she steps inside the room.

“You’re leaving us with very little choice,” my mom warns.

“And you’re leaving me with very little,” I promise, feeling the emotion clog my throat.

I’ve tried telling my parents’ how much their support would mean to me, but it still seems to make no difference. I just don’t understand how parents can treat their own child this way. I’d be lying if I said this whole situation doesn’t break my heart a little. I want nothing more than to live my life my way and know I have my parents’ there to back me every step of the way. No child should ever have to choose between their family and their freedom.

“I have to go, I have class,” I lie, not waiting for her response before ending the call, dropping the phone on the mattress in front of me.

“Again?” Harlee drops her bag onto the floor before taking a seat on the edge of my bed.

“It’s never ending.” I sigh, meeting her sympathetic gaze.

If anyone understands bad parenting it’s Harlee, though her situation is so much worse than mine. Her mom died of a drug overdose when she was only ten years old which left her with her drunk of a father until he was sentenced to ten years in prison when she was fifteen. She got taken in by a wealthy aunt after that, but that’s all I really know.

“You can’t force them to come around. All you can do is live your life for you. Either they’ll decide it’s better to let you be yourself rather than lose you all together or they won’t. Either way, I think you’ll be just fine.” She gives me a reassuring smile.

“I know. It’s just hard.” I let out a deep sigh.

“I get it.” She pats my leg before pushing up off the bed. “So how are things with lover boy?” I don’t object to her abrupt subject change, having no desire to beat the dead horse that is my relationship with my parents’.

“Good.” I smile at the thought of Decklan. “Really good actually.”

“So things are getting more serious?” I watch her grab her book bag from the floor and cross the space to her own bed before she finally turns her gaze back to me.

“I don’t know that I would say that. I mean, it’s intense,” I admit. “He’s intense.” I sigh. “And very hard to read.”

“How so?” she asks, flopping down onto her mattress as she pulls her bag into her lap.

“I mean, it’s amazing when we’re together, but I can’t seem to get past how closed off he is. Every time I ask him anything personal, he shuts down. Kind of makes me feel unimportant, like I’m not worth sharing things with.”

“Give it time,” Harlee reassures me. “Some guys just have a really hard time opening up. He’ll get there.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“Because I’ve seen the way that man looks at you.” Her answer is immediate.

“What do you mean?” Her response makes me curious.

“I can’t explain it. It’s just something about the way he watches you like you belong to him.”

“Is that a good thing?” I laugh, still not sure how I feel about this whole situation.

I’m terrified by how strongly I feel for him over such a short period of time. It seems unnatural to me that after just a few short weeks he has such a hold on me. He’s all I can think about; all I dream about. When I’m with him I never want to leave. When I’m not with him, all I want to do is be with him again.

Despite how quickly my feelings for Decklan have formed, I think I’m more worried that I’m just being caught up by a smooth talking playboy that will discard me the moment he’s finished with me. The thought leaves me with a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach, and I have to shake off the direction my mind is going.