Page 26 of Vince
Vince
The momentI spot Sydney rushing out of the restaurant like a bat out of hell, I know something’s wrong. Without giving Vanessa any explanation, I quickly mutter, “Can you get Jules settled? I need to go check on something.”
Of course, my sister’s gonna grill me for all I’m worth when I return, but I’ll deal with that later. Something’s wrong with Sydney, and I need to make sure she’s okay.
I watch her sprint across the parking lot and stop in front of the hedge along the fence. She’s bending over as if she’s about to be sick, and I know with every fiber of my being that I need to be there for her.
When she mistakes me as her friend Chloe, I’m almost amused. Clearly, she has no idea I’ve followed her out. Maybe she didn’t even see me in her haste to leave. But when she says she needs time to think, I’m utterly confused.
Especially when she spins around and glares at me as if I’ve just murdered her favorite puppy.
Holding my hands up in defense, I do my best to defuse the situation. “Whoa… What’s going on?”
She’s pissed.
Her eyes narrow as she takes in a deep breath.
Her fists ball up, like they did at my buddy Derek. But this time, I’m fairly certain she’s gonna let me have it.
Holy shit. What the hell did I do?
When she points an index finger, she nearly pokes me in the chest as she enunciates each and every word in my direction. “What areyoudoing out here with me?Youshould be inside with your family.”
Without thinking, I blurt out, “Why would I be in there with them when you’re clearly upset?”
“I’m notthattype of girl, Vincent Daniel Larson.”
Okay… she’s using my full name. I have no fucking clue where her rage is coming from. Clearly, she thinks I’ve wronged her, and I’m getting to the bottom of this.
“Exactly what kind of girl am I supposed to think you are?”
“I don’t break up families.” She practically spits in my direction.
“Uh… I never thought you would,” I clarify.
“Then what’s going on in there?” She points to the diner where I see her friend getting a front row seat of this spectacle from the window.
“Van had to work an unexpected shift, so I brought Julia here for dinner?” I ask, trying to see what this fuss is about.
She takes a long, slow breath as if she’s trying to keep from telling me how she really feels. “So, Van’s still pretty much in the picture then, I take it?”
“Uh… of course. She’s Julia’s mom. But what does that have to do with you and me?”
Sydney blanches as if I’ve just slapped her across the face.Which for the record, I’d never do—even if I do think she’s off her rocker at the moment.
Before I can contemplate her mental stability, she launches another question at me, “So… do you like co-parent with her?”
“I guess you could say that. I transferred schools to help her out, and we do live together, so yeah—we co-parent.”
“Let me get this straight.” Sydney takes a long breath to steady herself as she’s clearly getting worked up. “You. Live. With. Her?” comes out on each breath as if it physically pains her to complete her thought.
Wait—Why would it matter if I live with her?
“Oh.” Oh, shit. No—she couldn’t think that.
But the venom in her voice and the death stare that could kill me on the spot says otherwise.
Oh, fuck. Talk about misconceptions.
