Page 114 of Before We're More Than Friends
I groaned. “Tell her I threw up or something.” I’d been close to it, given that my stomach had been in knots since Thursday.
“She won’t buy that.” Kami sighed. “Just come down for breakfast.”
“Fine.” I rolled out of bed, nearly kicking Houston, who sat at the foot. “Let me get dressed first.”
Kami nodded and closed the door.
I opened my closet before deciding that I couldn’t do this right now and shutting it again. School was the last place I wanted to go. As soon as I’d gotten in the car Saturday night, I muted all my text notifications. I knew my worried friends had probably blown up my phone, but I didn’t want to face them.
Gosh, had I learned nothing from ghosting Chloe? I was already back to pushing away people who loved me.
Someone needed to give me an award. Or punch me in the face.
I stumbled my way downstairs, where Mom, Dad, and Kami were eating cereal at the table.
“Good morning, Dallas,” Mom said with a smile. “Are you feeling better today?”
“No.” I slouched in my seat. “I’m not ready to go back.”
“I think he should stay home,” Dad said as he flipped through his Kindle. “The kid has been through it.”
Mom shook her head. “I already let him stay home from the shelter yesterday. He can’t miss school because of a friendship situation.”
Oh gosh, if only it were just a friendship situation. Kami had given Mom and Dad a summary of what happened Saturday night, but they had no idea about the extent of things. That I’d fallen in love—and flat on my face.
“Are you sure you’ll be okay?” Kami asked me as she ate her cereal.
“I never said I would,” I muttered, picking at my own cereal.
“Please improve your attitude, Dallas,” Mom warned. “I know what happened with Raina this weekend was hard, but you can’t just mope around all day about it. You’re going to have to pick yourself up and put on a brave face.”
I knew it wasn’t fun to be someone who drained the energy in the room, but forcing myself to feel differently hadn’t worked. Shoot, I wished I’d gotten over everything by now and was ready to face my mistakes head-on. “I wish we hadn’t moved here.”
“I’m sorry that it’s been difficult,” Mom said. “But it will get better.”
“I still think it would’ve been better if you hadn’t waited to tell them,” Dad said as he took a bite of cereal.
“Gerald, we’re not having this conversation again.” Mom’s face hardened. “The past is in the past. Dallas hit a bump in the road.”
“I wish it were more than a bump,” I murmured, staring at the cinnamon flakes in my bowl.
Mom got up from the table. “I’m getting ready for work.”
“Come on, Leah,” Dad said. “Don’t be like that.”
“Be like what? My whole family has been upset with me for over a month and a half.” Mom’s gaze bounced to the Peanuts calendar on the wall, where Snoopy looked way happier than any of us right now.
Guilt twinged in my chest. “I-I’m not upset with you,” I rushed to say, hating that I’d hurt someone else. “I’m just . . . upset.”
“I’m not upset with you either,” Kami said. “You followed your passion like you should have. You’re a woman who’s free to make her own decisions.”
“But I’m also a mother,” Mom said, her voice shaking like she was about to cry. “I’m supposed to make decisions that are best for my family before thinking about myself.”
“Leah,” Dad said softly. “Don’t be upset.”
“I will once you stop making me feel like I did something wrong,” Mom huffed and stormed out of the kitchen.
Kami raised an eyebrow at Dad. “Are you guys still fighting over the move?”
