Page 99 of Would You Rather
“He didn’t hit me,” I confirm, my lips wobbling while I try to keep it together. “But he hurt me in other ways.”
“I knew it. I should have kicked his fucking teeth in when I had the chance.” My dad doesn’t swear much, so my eyes widen when I hear him speak.
“He was a minor,” my mom tells him.
“Not anymore, he’s not,” he replies. “No one hurts my baby girl and gets away with it.” A sob catches in my throat, and Lucas pulls me toward him, wrapping his arms around me.
“I wish you would have told us,” my mom continues.
I let out a breath, shaking my head. “I do, too, but you guys were so upset about Nia that I didn’t want to upset you even more. I…” My voice cracks, and I clear my throat. “I thought you resented me.”
“Darling.” My mom’s sweet voice makes me cry even more. “Why would that thought ever cross your mind?”
“Because you lost your real daughter, and I was all that was left.”
“Madeline,” my dad speaks up. “Tell me you don’t think that.”
Lucas’ hand lifts to wipe away my tears, and I let out a shaky breath. “I don’t anymore… but at the time, it felt like you stopped caring about me.”
My mom lets out a sigh. “We were distraught over what happened with Nia,” she starts. “How could we not be? She was so smart and destined for great things. What happened to her was awful, and it broke my heart, but that doesn’t mean we stopped caring about our other daughter, too. I’m sorry if you felt pushed aside because that’s the last thing I ever wanted for you.” Her voice cracks, and I blink away the tears, my heart warming at everything I thought I would never hear. “You werealways ours,” she says. “Doesn’t matter who birthed you. You’re my daughter.”
“And you’re my baby girl,” my dad joins in.
“You have been since we laid eyes on you. We love you so much, Madeline,” my mom says.
I wipe away the tears, letting out a laugh through the tears. “I love you guys too. So much.”
“Darling, when can we come see you?” my mom asks. “I want to meet that boyfriend of yours.”
I smile, glancing at Lucas, who sits up straight and brushes a hand through his hair. A laugh bubbles out of me when I turn my attention back to the phone on my lap. “He’s actually here,” I tell them.
“He is?”
“Yeah, do you want to see him?” I ask her.
“Oh my god,” I hear my mother mutter. “It’s happening.” My brows knit together in confusion. “How do I turn the damn Facetime camera on?” she asks my dad, making me laugh.
“Calm down,” he says.
“We’re about to meet our daughter’s boyfriend. How are you so calm?”
My dad scoffs. “Because I’m the only man in her life. This guy is just a little boy.”
Lucas breathes out a laugh, wiping a hand down his face. He fixes the collar of his black shirt. The camera turns on, and my parents are on the screen. I smile down at them. I miss them so much. I haven’t been home since Christmas, and I can’t wait for them to come visit.
“Darling,” my mom says with a smile on her face. “You look so beautiful.”
“Thank you,” I say, feeling my cheeks heat. I debate whether I should tell them or not, but after everything that I did tell them, what’s one more thing? “I actually just came from an audition.”
Her eyebrows shoot up. “You did?” she asks.
“Yeah,” I admit, feeling suddenly a little nervous about what they’re going to say. “I think it went well.”
“And you’re still studying?” my dad asks.
My heart drops slightly. I don’t know what I expected their response would be, but I shouldn’t be surprised that it’s this.
“I am,” I tell them. “But I’m also following my dreams. I want to become an actress.”
