Crazy Stupid Love (Crazy Love #1)(54)

My stomach is a ball of nerves as Garrett guides me through the restaurant. It’s elegant and far too fancy for my personal taste which means my parents’ probably absolutely love it. I guess none of the restaurants near campus were up to their standards which is why they chose a location over thirty minutes away.

I finally spot my parents’, who are seated at a small intimate four-person table in the corner of the room. My mother sees me first, a tight smile forming on her thin lips as she stands.

She looks exactly as I remember: her dark blonde hair pulled back in a tight bun, a navy suit dress and blazer covering her small frame. It’s strange how I’m just now noticing how much I look like my mother. We’re the same build, same height, same eye and hair color. It’s weird that I’ve never really noticed before.

“Kimber,” she croons, pulling me into a weak hug like she’s afraid to touch me.

“Mother.” I step back and give her a soft smile before nodding towards my father.

He looks like he’s aged five years in the four months I’ve been here; thick patches of gray hair pepper his temples and his eyes are lined with dark bags. He keeps his gaze firmly on me as I slide into the seat that Garrett pulls out for me directly across from him.

“Well it’s good to see you’re still dressing appropriately,” he observes, unfolding his napkin as he lays it into his lap.

“I am capable of dressing myself.” I try to keep the sarcasm from my voice, but it still seeps out thick and full of resentment.

Thankfully our waitress appears before anyone can say anymore. It isn’t until several moments later after drinks are served and orders are taken that I find myself back in the spotlight of my parents’ glare.

“So Garrett tells us the restaurant you’re working at is nice.” My mother speaks first, a desperate attempt to make small talk.

“It is,” I confirm.

“If you came home you wouldn’t have to work,” My father immediately interjects. “You would be able to focus on your studies instead of wasting your time serving others.”

“I like my job. You speak as though it’s beneath me, and it’s not. I am no more special than the next person.”

“You are, too.” His tone is low and warning. “You are my daughter.”

“Biologically maybe,” I agree. “But in the way that it counts, no I’m not.”

“How dare you, after all we’ve done for you.”

“Will you two stop?” My mother objects. “This isn’t helping matters.”

Garrett chimes in, distracting my father enough with talks of politics and re-election and we are at least able to make it through dinner without killing each other. It isn’t until after the plates have been cleared away and the realization sets in that sooner or later we are going to have to talk that my mother finally turns the conversation back to me.

“Kimber, why don’t you tell us about your studies?” she suggests. “How are classes going?”

It takes less than two minutes before my father is at it again. The moment I mention Art he’s off on another rant, talking about how I’m wasting my time and that my degree will never amount to anything.

“Art is not an acceptable major; I’ve said this time and time again,” he objects.

“Luckily it’s not up to you to decide,” I bite back.

“Is this the way we raised you?” The look of disgust on his face as he stares back at me tells me everything I need to know; this is never going to work.

“You’re never going to accept me for who I am, are you?” I question, cocking my head to the side. “You’re never going to stop trying to change me?”

“Not until I’ve talked some sense into you; no,” he answers without hesitation.

“Then we’re done here.” I stand, ignoring my mother’s protests to sit back down.

Shoving away from the table, I am out of the restaurant and already several feet outside before Garrett’s voice catches up to me.

“Kimber, wait.” I hear him say just moments before his hand clasps down on my forearm, spinning me towards him.

“Get off of me, Garrett,” I bite, shaking his hand away.

“Stop this. Come back inside,” he demands.

“No.” The anger in my voice is enough to derail Garrett’s attempt at getting me to go back.

“Okay. Okay.” He holds his hands up in front of himself. “At least, let me take you back to your dorm.”

“I can find my own way.” I insist, knowing the car that dropped me off is long gone and my only other option is to call a cab, which I will gladly do if it means getting me the hell out of here.

“Don’t be ridiculous. Come on, I’ll drop you off,” he says, taking my elbow as he leads me towards the valet station.

As much as I don’t want to sit in the car with Garrett for the next thirty minutes, I also know it’s my quickest way out of here and right now that’s all I want to do. I need to put as much space as I can between me and my father as quickly as possible.

It’s only minutes before I am sitting in the passenger seat of Garrett's rental car, panic gripping at my chest as the reality of my situation sinks in. I’ve lost all hope of regaining any type of relationship with my parents’. There would be hope for my mother if not for my father. But she would never choose me over him, and he has clearly drawn that line. That’s it, it’s over. The thought of how completely alone I am in the world suddenly seems to settle over me like a thousand pounds of rubble, burying me beneath their weight.