Page 164 of Wish You Were Mine
“Yeah.” I managed a weak smile. “And…sorry again for all the things my dad said.”
“It’s okay. I know he loves you and is just trying to keep you safe.” He cupped my face for a second, his thumb brushing lightly along my cheekbone. “And if I still get to be with you in the end, it will all be worth it.”
“That’s what I’m telling myself, too.” I hugged him again, tighter this time, wishing I could disappear into his arms and stay there. Just for a little while longer. Long enough to forget everything else.
He nuzzled his cheek against mine. “Text me later, okay?”
“I will.”
When the door clicked shut behind him, I didn’t move. I just stood there, letting the weight of everything settle deep in my bones.
Finally, after drawing in another breath to steady myself, I walked back into the kitchen to where my dad was pacing.
“I sent Owen home,” I said, looking between my mom and dad.
My dad’s expression flickered, something subtle shifting behind his eyes. And I knew it was time to start bargaining.
“I know you’re still upset about all of this,” I began carefully. “About me dating my professor. So…if it helps, I’ll switch out of his class. And if that’s not enough—if you’re worried his feelings might’ve affected my grades—I’ll delay graduation and retake chemistry next fall.” I swallowed hard, the reality of what I was offering hitting me like a brick. “Graduation’s only a month and a half away. But I’ll do it if it means he can keep his job.”
My dad’s steps slowed, but he didn’t speak.
“Owen loves this job. He’s worked so hard to get there. He’s an incredible teacher.” I kept going. “Just ask any of his students. You said it yourself. He’s passionate. Kind. He actually caresabout doing things right.” My voice cracked, but I pushed through it. “He doesn’t deserve to lose everything because of me. I should’ve tried harder to get out of his classes. Should’ve made something else work. But I didn’t. I—” I paused, my voice thick. “I didn’t really want to. I liked the idea of seeing him every week.”
My dad didn’t speak right away. He just looked at me like he was searching for some trace of the little girl he used to understand.
Finally, he let out a long, steady breath and dragged a hand down his face.
“You can stay in his class,” he said gruffly. “You’ve come this far, and it’s too late in the semester to shift everything around. But Lucy—” His gaze met mine, hard and unwavering. “You need to cut off all personal contact. Completely.”
I flinched, like the words had shot me straight in the chest.
“You’ve got championships coming up. You’re on the edge of something big. This is your last year, your last shot. I won’t stand by and watch some…forbidden fling blow it all up.”
“It’s not just a fling,” I whispered.
But he didn’t seem to hear me. Or maybe he just didn’t want to.
“You’ll have your whole life to figure out relationships. But this—your future, your gymnastics career—it needs your full attention right now. So, no more secret meetups. No more texts. Whatever’s been happening outside of class ends now.”
“But he’s not a distraction,” I said, my voice breaking. “If anything, he’s helped me. Just knowing he’s cheering me on has kept me going on the hard days.”
Dad’s expression didn’t soften. “This is how it has to be.
I turned to my mom, grasping for a sliver of support. “Do you agree with him?”
She met my eyes, her expression sad and conflicted. After amoment, she gave a helpless shrug. “I don’t know what the right answer is, honey. But…he is so much older than you. That makes me nervous.”
“He’s a good guy,” I said, my throat burning. “He’s not some predator.”
Helplessness swept over me like a wave.
But when I looked into both their faces, I knew they wouldn’t budge. They’d read too many horror stories about gymnasts being taken advantage of over the years, and to them, me falling for a man in a perceived position of power was one of their worst nightmares coming true.
But Owen wasn’t like the guys from those news stories. He would never do those kinds of things to me. He’d never hurt me like that.
If my dad didn’t hold power over Owen’s future, I’d tell them to get over it. That I was an adult now and not a teenage girl anymore. I could make my own choices.
But hedidhave power.
