Page 25 of Red, White, and You

The question catches me off guard. “What?”

“I mean—realistically. He was one of the highest-paid wide receivers in the league. He’s got endorsement deals, investments, probably a mountain cabin filled with blocks of solid gold. Why would he need a bonus from your parents?”

I falter. “Because... I don’t know. The challenge? Or maybe he was just doing my parents a favor. It doesn’t matterwhyhe agreed to do it. It just matters that hedid.”

She looks at me. “Maybe he agreed before he realized what was really at stake.”

I want to argue. But the more I think about it, the more her words settle deep in my chest like unwelcome truth.

“He still lied,” I say.

“He did.” Ella rests her elbows on the counter and leans in. “And you’re allowed to be mad. But do you think that maybe,just maybe, you shut him out before he could explain?”

I stare at her incredulously. “You’re saying this is my fault?”

“No. But you do have a tendency to shut the door and deadbolt it whenever someone hurts you. I think that may be what you’re doing with Phoenix, too.”

I flinch. “So, what’s wrong with protecting myself?”

“Nothing,” she says. “But there’s a difference between protecting yourself and never letting anyone in.”

I stare at her, silent.

Then she adds softly, “Just... don’t let fear make your decisions for you.”

Her words hit hard. Because deep down, I know she’s right. I’ve been running from my parents’ expectations for years. And when Phoenix walked into my life, part of me thought—maybe. Maybe he saw me for who I was. Not for who they wanted me to be.

But now I don’t know what he saw. Or what was real.

“Even if he really did fall for me,” I say, “it doesn’t change the fact that it started with a lie.”

“No, it doesn’t.” Ella gives my hand a quick squeeze. “But maybe it gives you a reason to ask for the rest of the story. Don’t give up on love, Gigi.”

I stare down at the counter. At the cookies I baked this morning with my jaw clenched and my heart in shambles. And I think about Phoenix—his face when I told him to leave, his voice cracking when he said it was real.

“What do I do?”

“Well, first,” Ella says, standing up, “you call your mom.”

“What?”

“She’s the one who started this mess. Time for you to finish it. Tell her how you feel, Gigi. About the business. About the bakery. About everything.”

I hesitate.

“You don’t have to take the job. But maybe you can stop letting her define you.”

I think about that. About everything I’ve spent my adult life trying to escape.

Maybe it’s time to stop running.

“And after that?” I ask.

Ella gives me a half-smile. “Then you figure out if Phoenix is worth the risk.”

I nod slowly. “Thank you.”

“Anytime.” She grabs her bag. “I love you.”

---